Douglas Olsen
The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities away from their home institutions. Elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, and visiting opportunities. Offered by participating host institutions in the US and globally, these electives are available in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites. International medical students can apply to the VSLO program, but they must first be invited by their home institution and meet the requirements of the host institution, which may include immunization forms, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The VSLO application service allows students to search for electives based on specialty, host institution, and geographic location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) |
| Who can apply? | Medical and public health students |
| Opportunities | Short-term observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities |
| Locations | Participating Host institutions in the U.S. and around the world |
| Requirements | Invited by Home institution, AAMC Account, CV/resume, letter of interest, immunization form, transcripts, letters of recommendation |
| Application Process | VSLO application service, upload supplemental materials, no pre-enrollment, withdraw at least 6 weeks before starting date |
| Resources | Webinar recordings, AAMC directories, clinical rotation evaluation form, post-rotation survey |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Application process
The Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program is an online platform that connects medical students with host institutions offering elective clinical rotations. The VSLO application service makes it easier for medical students to apply to clinical or research opportunities.
To begin the application process, students must first be invited by their Home institution before they can access the VSLO application service. The list of participating Home institutions can be found on the AAMC website, which can be searched by institution name or filtered by country. Once invited, students can sign in to the VSLO application service using their AAMC Account username and password. If students have not used other AAMC services before, they can create an AAMC account.
The next step is to provide personal and academic information, including contact and biographical details. Students can then review information about each participating Host institution, including key application dates and fees. The elective search feature allows students to search for electives based on specialty, Host institution, and geographic location. After viewing the description, application requirements, and available dates for each elective, students can submit their elective requests through the VSLO application service.
The VSLO program charges a flat fee of $15 per application, regardless of the number of requested dates for that elective. Once the application is submitted, the Home institution will verify the student's information and fulfill any additional requirements before releasing the application to Host institutions for review. Students can track the status of their applications as they move through the review process. Host institutions may request additional requirements, which students can resubmit through the Tracking tab.
Supplemental materials, such as a CV/resume and Letter of Interest, must be uploaded to VSLO. No action will be taken on the application until it is complete. Students must withdraw at least 6 weeks before the starting date if they wish to cancel their application. All cancellations and changes must be made in writing to the Clerkship Administrator.
Interns: Students or Employees?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Short-term learning opportunities
The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities.
The VSLO program helps medical and public health students connect with institutions offering short-term elective opportunities that can enhance their medical education. Institutions that join the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program may post elective opportunities in the VSLO application service and/or allow students to apply for electives posted by other participating institutions. The VSLO program provides support for away rotations and promotes best practices in diverse settings and contexts.
Through the VSLO® application service, it is easier for medical students to apply to clinical or research opportunities. You must be invited by your Home institution before you may access the VSLO application service. If you have used other AAMC services (the AMCAS® system, the MCAT® exam, etc.), you will then sign into the VSLO application service using your AAMC Account username and password. Otherwise, you will be able to create an AAMC account. You will provide your personal and academic information in the VSLO application service, including contact and biographical information.
The AAMC VSLO® program includes a network of more than 300 medical schools and teaching hospitals, located in the United States and internationally, that collaborate to offer short-term learning opportunities to visiting medical students. When your institution becomes a VSLO Home institution, your qualified students can browse and apply to preclinical, clinical, global health, and research opportunities at VSLO Host institutions.
Green Card Holders: International Students or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Clinical or research opportunities
The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term clinical or research opportunities away from their home institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities.
Host institutions in the US and worldwide offer electives in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and urban or rural sites. Preclinical, clinical, or final-year students can access these opportunities, as determined by the Host institution.
The VSLO application service makes it easier for medical students to apply for clinical or research electives. Students must be invited by their Home institution before accessing the VSLO application service. They can then sign in using their AAMC Account username and password or create a new account.
The University of Michigan Medical School, for example, accepts applications through the AAMC VSLO Domestic Network. It offers clinical electives to visiting medical students in their final year of medical student education. However, it is not available to individuals who have already received an MD degree. Michigan Medicine also sponsors a 4-week Health Equity Visiting Student Clerkship for M3 and M4 students to advance their medical residency pathway and develop leadership skills for fair healthcare.
Other examples of Host institutions include:
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
- University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
- Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Canada Welcomes International Students: What's the Reality?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Requirements and responsibilities
The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities away from their home institutions. These elective opportunities include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, away rotations, away electives, clinical rotations, and visiting opportunities.
To apply for the VSLO program, students must be invited by their home institution before accessing the VSLO application service. Students with an existing AAMC account can use their login credentials, while new users will need to create an account. The application requires personal and academic information, including contact and biographical details.
Supplemental materials, such as a CV/resume and a letter of interest, must also be uploaded. Students are responsible for ensuring their applications are complete, as no action will be taken on incomplete submissions. Departments do not "pre-enroll" or hold spaces for potential visiting students.
Institution requirements vary for visiting students, and a complete list of requirements can be reviewed in the application service. Sample requirements for students may include an immunization form, while their home institution may need to provide transcripts and letters of recommendation.
After submitting their application, students may be required to undergo a criminal background check and provide proof of malpractice/liability insurance. Cancellations must be made at least six weeks before the starting date, and all cancellations and changes must be made in writing to the Clerkship Administrator.
International Students: Apple Promotions Eligibility
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![MCAT Prep Books 2023-2024: MCAT Study Guide Review and Practice Test Questions for the AAMC Exam: [7th Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71yLZuOetiL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Cancellation policy
The Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Program is a service that enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their home institutions. The program is open to preclinical, clinical, or final-year students, as determined by the host institution.
The cancellation policy for the VSLO Program is as follows:
- You must withdraw at least 6 weeks before your starting date.
- Fees are non-refundable.
- All cancellations and changes must be made in writing to the Clerkship Administrator.
It is important to note that departments may not "pre-enroll" or hold spaces for potential visiting students, regardless of their intent or qualifications. Therefore, no action will be taken on your application until it is complete, and all supplemental materials have been uploaded.
Excelsior Scholarship: Eligibility for International Students
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, international medical students can use the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program. The program offers short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their home institutions. These include observerships, summer research programs, clinical opportunities, and visiting opportunities.
To apply for the VSLO program, you must first be invited by your home institution. If you have used other AAMC services, you can sign in to the VSLO application service using your AAMC account username and password. Otherwise, you will need to create an AAMC account and provide your personal and academic information.
Institution requirements vary for visiting students. Some common requirements include immunization forms, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. It is recommended to review the complete list of requirements for each institution in the elective details of the application service.
