“DON’T SINK”A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE STUDENT

VSAS APPLICATION PROCESS

WHAT IS VSAS?VSAS IS A STANDARDIZED ONLINE APPLICATION FOR 4TH YEAR CLINICAL AWAY ELECTIVES

VSAS OFFERS:

• A SHORT, STANDARDIZED APPLICATION• A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF ELECTIVES• ONE LOCATION FOR ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS• TRACKING OF APPLICATION STATUSES• THE ABILITY TO TRANSMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

WHEN CAN I LOG IN?YOU MAY LOG IN ONCE YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL ISSUES YOU VSAS ‘AUTHORIZATIONS’.

THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH.

DO I NEED TO USE VSAS?

• PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW A LIST OF PARTICIPATING VSAS HOST INSTITUTIONS

• (NAVIGATE TO PAGE 3)

• HTTPS://WWW.AAMC.ORG/STUDENTS/DOWNLOAD/46302/DATA/VSASSTUDENT.PDF

STUDENTS SUBMIT VSAS APPLICATIONS ONLY IF

ENROLLED AT A U.S. LCME OR COCA ACCREDITED MEDICAL SCHOOL AND

APPLYING TO A PARTICIPATING VSAS HOST

INSTITUTION

WHERE CAN I REVIEW APPLICATION

REQUIREMENTS?

IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD VSAS APPLICATION, HOSTS MAY

HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.

EACH INSTITUTION’S REQUIREMENTS ARE

ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE VSAS “INSTITUTIONS” TAB.

REVIEW HOST REQUIREMENTS

EXAMPLE

REVIEW HOST APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS,

INSTITUTION INFORMATION, AND WHEN EACH WILL

BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

WHEN CAN I SUBMIT APPLICATIONS?

YOU MAY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS ONLY WHEN A VSAS HOST IS READY TO

RECEIVE APPLICATIONS.

THESE APPLICATION DATES VARY BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS AND ARE

LISTED ON THE VSAS “INSTITUTIONS” TAB.

HOSTS TYPICALLY BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS MARCH THROUGH MAY FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR.

HOW DOES VSAS WORK?STEP 1. RECEIVE VSAS AUTHORIZATIONS

• YOU WILL BE EMAILED VSAS LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS ONCE YOUR SCHOOL ISSUES AUTHORIZATIONS.

• EACH ELECTIVE REQUEST REQUIRES ONE AUTHORIZATION • ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS MAY BE REQUESTED FROM YOUR SCHOOL

STEP 2. COMPLETE

APPLICATION PROFILE

PART 1:

PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION

STEP 2.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

PROFILE

PART 2:

APPLICANT DETAILS

STEP 2.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

PROFILE

PART 3:

ENTER CORE CLERKSHIPS

STEP 2.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

PROFILE

PART 4:

UPLOAD DOCUMENTS• PHOTO

• CURRICULUM VITAE

• SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS

(IMMUNIZATION FORMS CAN ONLY BE UPLOADED DURING OR AFTER SUBMISSION

OF YOUR VSAS APPLICATION)

STEP 2.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

PROFILE

PART 5: CERTIFY

SEARCH FOR & APPLY TO

ELECTIVES

SEARCH THROUGH ELECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND SAVE THOSE

YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FOR FUTURE APPLICATION.

WHEN READY, SELECT SAVED ELECTIVES (WITH REQUESTED

DATES) AND SUBMIT APPLICATION.

CLICK ON THE CHECK BOXES NEXT TO YOUR SAVED ELECTIVES

CLICK “APPLY TO SELECTED ELECTIVES”

FOLLOW THE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO REMIT PAYMENT

STUDENTS ARE CHARGED $35 FOR THE FIRST INSTITUTION AND $15 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL INSTITUTION

TRACK APPLICATIONSACCEPT OR DECLINE RECEIVED OFFERS AND MONITOR APPLICATION STATUSES THROUGH YOUR TRACKING TAB.

COMMON QUESTIONS

“WHAT IS A TOKEN?”A “TOKEN” IS ANOTHER NAME FOR AN AUTHORIZATION. EACH TOKEN GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR AN ELECTIVE AWAY ROTATION IN VSAS.

“HOW DO I KNOW IF MY

APPLICATION IS COMPLETE?”

ON THE TRACKING TAB, CLICK “PENDING APPS”

FOLLOW THE LEGEND

“IF AN INSTITUTION DENIES MY APPLICATION MAY I REAPPLY?”

YES, BUT YOU MUST SELECT DIFFERENT ELECTIVE ROTATION DATES

ONCE MY APPLICATION IS COMPLETE WHERE DOES IT GO?YOUR APPLICATION

GOES TO YOUR HOME SCHOOL FOR

REVIEWTHE “PENDING APPS” STATUS

WILL REFLECT “PENDING HOME INSTITUTION REVIEW”

HOME SCHOOL SENDS TO HOST

INTUITIONSIF YOUR APPLICATION IS COMPETE

PENDING HOST INSTITUTION

REVIEWTHIS IS THE LAST STATUS BEFORE

A DECISION IS MADE

IF AN INSTITUTION DECLINES MY APPLICATION CAN I REUSE MY

AUTHORIZATION?NO, AUTHORIZATIONS CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE. HOWEVER, YOUR HOME

SCHOOL CAN INCREASE YOUR AUTHORIZATIONS AT ANY TIME.

“CAN OTHER INSTITUTIONS VIEW MY OFFERS?”

NO, INSTITUTIONS CAN ONLY VIEW YOUR APPLICATION WITH THEIR SCHOOL.

“IF I WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE DIRECTLY AT AN INSTITUTION SHOULD I

CONTACT A DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR?”

WE WOULD ADVISE YOU TO REACH TO THE VISITING STUDENT CONTACT LISTED ON THE INTUITION INFORMATION PAGE

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL VSAS

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT OUR

HELP DESK

VSAS@AAMC.ORGOR

202-478-9878OUR HOURS ARE 9-5 EASTERN

STANDARD TIME