1. “DON’T SINK”
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDETOTHE STUDENTVSAS
APPLICATION PROCESS

2. WHAT ISVSAS?
VSAS IS A STANDARDIZED ONLINE APPLICATION FOR 4THYEAR CLINICAL AWAY
AWAY ELECTIVES
VSAS OFFERS:
• A SHORT, STANDARDIZEDAPPLICATION
• A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF ELECTIVES
• ONE LOCATION FOR ALLAPPLICATION MATERIALS
• TRACKING OF APPLICATION STATUSES
• THE ABILITYTOTRANSMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

3. WHEN CAN I LOG IN?
YOU MAY LOG IN ONCEYOUR MEDICALSCHOOL ISSUESYOUVSAS ‘AUTHORIZATIONS’.
THISTYPICALLY HAPPENSJANUARYTHROUGH MARCH.

4. DO I NEEDTO USE
VSAS?
• PLEASECLICK ONTHE LINK BELOWTOVIEWA LIST
OF PARTICIPATINGVSAS HOST INSTITUTIONS
• (NAVIGATETO PAGE 3)
• HTTPS://WWW.AAMC.ORG/STUDENTS/DOWNLOAD/
46302/DATA/VSASSTUDENT.PDF
STUDENTS SUBMITVSAS
APPLICATIONSONLY IF
ENROLLED AT A U.S. LCME
OR COCA ACCREDITED
MEDICAL SCHOOL AND
APPLYINGTO A
PARTICIPATINGVSAS HOST
INSTITUTION

5. WHERE CAN I REVIEW
APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS?
IN ADDITIONTOTHE STANDARDVSAS
APPLICATION, HOSTS MAY HAVE
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL
REQUIREMENTS. EACH INSTITUTION’S
REQUIREMENTS ARE ACCESSIBLE
THROUGHTHEVSAS “INSTITUTIONS”
TAB.

6. REVIEW HOST
REQUIREMENTS
EXAMPLE
REVIEW HOST APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS, INSTITUTION
INFORMATION, ANDWHEN EACH
WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS

7. WHEN CAN I SUBMIT
APPLICATIONS?
YOU MAY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS ONLY
WHEN AVSAS HOST IS READYTO
RECEIVE APPLICATIONS.
THESE APPLICATION DATESVARY
BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS AND ARE
LISTED ONTHEVSAS “INSTITUTIONS”
TAB.
HOSTSTYPICALLY BEGIN ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS MARCHTHROUGH MAY
FORTHEUPCOMING ACADEMICYEAR.

8. HOW DOESVSASWORK?
STEP 1. RECEIVEVSAS AUTHORIZATIONS
• YOUWILL BE EMAILEDVSAS LOGIN INSTRUCTIONSONCEYOUR SCHOOL ISSUES
AUTHORIZATIONS.
• EACH ELECTIVE REQUEST REQUIRESONEAUTHORIZATION
• ADDITIONALAUTHORIZATIONS MAY BE REQUESTED FROMYOUR SCHOOL

10. STEP 2.
COMPLETE
APPLICATION
PROFILE
PART 1:
PROVIDE CONTACT
INFORMATION

11. STEP 2.
COMPLETE
APPLICATION
PROFILE
PART 2:
APPLICANT DETAILS

12. STEP 2.
COMPLETE
APPLICATION
PROFILE
PART 3:
ENTER CORE CLERKSHIPS

13. STEP 2.
COMPLETE
APPLICATION
PROFILE
PART 4:
UPLOAD DOCUMENTS
• PHOTO
• CURRICULUM VITAE
• SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS
(IMMUNIZATION FORMS CAN ONLY BE
UPLOADED DURING OR AFTER
SUBMISSION OFYOURVSAS APPLICATION)

14. STEP 2.
COMPLETE
APPLICATION
PROFILE
PART 5:
CERTIFY

16. SEARCH FOR &
APPLYTO ELECTIVES
SEARCHTHROUGH ELECTIVE
OPPORTUNITIES AND SAVETHOSEYOU ARE
INTERESTED IN FOR FUTURE APPLICATION.
WHEN READY, SELECT SAVED ELECTIVES
(WITH REQUESTED DATES) AND SUBMIT
APPLICATION.

17. CLICK ONTHE CHECK BOXES NEXTTOYOUR SAVED
ELECTIVES
CLICK “APPLYTO SELECTED ELECTIVES”

18. FOLLOWTHE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONSTO REMIT
PAYMENT
STUDENTS ARE CHARGED $35 FORTHE FIRST INSTITUTION AND $15 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL INSTITUTION

19. TRACK APPLICATIONS
ACCEPT OR DECLINE RECEIVED OFFERS AND MONITOR APPLICATION STATUSES THROUGH YOUR TRACKING
TAB.

20. COMMON QUESTIONS

21. “WHAT IS ATOKEN?”
A “TOKEN” IS ANOTHER NAME FOR AN AUTHORIZATION. EACHTOKEN GIVESYOU AN
OPPORTUNITYTO APPLY FOR AN ELECTIVE AWAY ROTATION INVSAS.

22. “HOW DO I KNOW IF
MYAPPLICATION IS
COMPLETE?”
ONTHETRACKINGTAB,CLICK
“PENDING APPS”
FOLLOWTHE LEGEND

23. “IF AN INSTITUTION DENIES MY APPLICATION MAY I
REAPPLY?”
YES, BUTYOU MUST SELECT DIFFERENT ELECTIVE ROTATION DATES

24. ONCE MY APPLICATION IS COMPLETE WHERE
DOES IT GO?
YOUR APPLICATION
GOESTOYOUR HOME
SCHOOL FOR REVIEW
THE “PENDING APPS”STATUSWILL
REFLECT “PENDING HOME INSTITUTION
REVIEW”
HOME SCHOOL SENDS
TO HOST INTUITIONS
IFYOUR APPLICATION IS COMPETE
PENDING HOST
INSTITUTION REVIEW
THIS ISTHE LASTSTATUS BEFORE A
DECISION IS MADE

25. IF AN INSTITUTION DECLINES MY
APPLICATION CAN I REUSE MY
AUTHORIZATION?
NO, AUTHORIZATIONSCAN ONLY BE USED ONCE. HOWEVER,YOUR HOME SCHOOL CAN
INCREASEYOUR AUTHORIZATIONS AT ANYTIME.

26. “CAN OTHER INSTITUTIONSVIEW MY OFFERS?”
NO, INSTITUTIONS CAN ONLYVIEWYOUR APPLICATIONWITHTHEIR SCHOOL.

27. “IF IWANTTO SPEAKTO SOMEONE DIRECTLY
AT AN INSTITUTION SHOULD I CONTACT A
DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR?”
WEWOULD ADVISEYOUTO REACHTOTHEVISITING STUDENT CONTACT LISTED ONTHE
INTUITION INFORMATION PAGE

28. IFYOU HAVEANY ADDITIONAL
VSAS QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT
OUR HELP DESK
VSAS@AAMC.ORG
OR
202-478-9878
OUR HOURS ARE 9-5 EASTERN STANDARD
TIME