IMPORTANT: ALL STEPS MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE AN AWAY ROTATION CAN BE APPLIED TO YOUR MD DEGREE
STEP #1: FIND AND APPLY FOR AN AWAY ELECTIVE
Use the AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) Program
Many – perhaps most – US medical schools, teaching hospitals, and health systems use a centralized application service called the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities Program (VSLO)
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Find participating institutions and programs.
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Find away electives being offered by participating institutions – Find Electives.
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Use VSLO’s resources: A guide to navigating the VSLO system – Watch “Overview of the VSLO Application Services” (14:37 min).
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Step-by-step guide to VSLO – How to Use the VSLO Application Service.
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VSLO FAQ.
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Sign-in VSLO.
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For VSLO assistance: call (202) 478-9878 or contact them online.
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Apply Directly to Non-VSLO Programs
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If a medical school, teaching hospital, or health system does not use VSLO, go to the institution’s website to research visiting elective opportunities and to find application instructions.
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STEP #2: ADD YOUR AWAY ROTATION TO YOUR TRANSCRIPT
Your acceptance of a visiting elective does not automatically add it to your schedule or enroll you in it for credit at UW SOM. You are responsible for making sure any away elective (VSLO, non-VSLO, military, international) gets added to your schedule.
THE DETAILS OF HOW TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR AN AWAY ROTATION – Review the instructions. Read and follow directions carefully.
A summary of steps of Receiving Credit for an Away Elective.
STEP #3: RECEIVE CREDIT FOR AN AWAY ELECTIVE (AKA GET A GRADE)
If the host institution has their own evaluation form: Have them return the form to the Clerkship Administrator of the UW department that approved your away rotation.
If the host institution uses the UW evaluation form:
VSLO institutions: UW SOM Registration will upload a blank UW evaluation form for that department to your VSLO account. The VSLO institution will be able to retrieve it from there.
Non-VSLO institution: Students should email somreg@uw.edu and request us to send a blank copy of the evaluation form to your host institution. Because evaluation forms vary by UW department please specify the department in your email.