How to Use VSAS

Below is a general guide of how to use VSAS. Since each user is set up to see and do different home school tasks in VSAS, not all of these steps will be applicable for everyone.

Step 1: Log In to VSAS

If you are not the VSAS primary contact at your institution, you will be able to log in to the software once the primary contact has added you as a VSAS user.

• Complete the Registration Process
  Go to the AAMC's registration Web page and submit the access code that was e-mailed to you in the VSAS: New User Instructions email. If you have an AAMC username and password, please log in. Otherwise, please complete the registration process so you may acquire an AAMC login.
  
  
• Log in to VSAS
  Go to VSAS and log in using your AAMC username and password.
  
  
• Update Profile Information
  Click the My Profile icon, located at the top right of the VSAS screen, to review and update your contact information. Make sure there is an e-mail address included.

Step 2: Set School Preferences

You can configure and manage these home school preferences through the Setup tab.

• Create School Users
  The VSAS primary contact, or their designee, is responsible for creating all additional VSAS users at their school. Each new user will be assigned one or more roles that determine what they can or cannot do in VSAS.
  
  
• Edit School Information
  Review and edit the home school's "My Student Contact". This information will be displayed to each of your students upon login.
  
  
• Set Default Verification Settings
  Verified data must be provided for each student who submits a VSAS application, and this data consists of the home school's responses to 16 statements. Set defaults for these statements as the majority of students will likely require similar responses.
  
  
• Set School Preferences
  Choose the default number of authorizations each of your students will be granted.
  
  
• Edit E-mail Templates
  Review and edit the home school e-mail templates. Use "wildcards" to add dynamic data.

Step 3: Authorize Your Students to Use VSAS

Students may not log in to VSAS until they have been issued authorizations by their home school.

• Review SRS Student E-mail Addresses
  VSAS automatically e-mails each authorized student their detailed login instructions at their e-mail address housed in the Student Records System (SRS). From the Issue Authorizations screen, review the E-mail column to see how many SRS e-mail addresses are missing or are out of date. Each school has one or more designated SRS users that can assist with updating this data so that authorizations can be issued and e-mails delivered.
  
  
• Authorize Students
  Students will not be able to access VSAS until they have been issued authorizations. The number of authorizations issued indicate how many elective applications a student may submit through VSAS. This number may be increased or decreased at any time by the home school.

Step 4: Support Your Students' Applications

After students begin submitting applications, each home school will support their students' applications through the My Students tab.

• Upload Documents
  While home schools may upload student photographs and CVs (both may be optional), primarily they will upload student transcripts. The transcript file will be transmitted to each host institution to which the student applies.
  
  
• Verify Student Data
  Before a student's application can be released to a host institution, the student's status must be verified by the home school. This occurs by the home school providing responses to 16 verification statements (PDF, 1 page) for each student, choosing between Yes, No, or Other for each. A comment can be added when Other is chosen.
  
  
• Release Applications to Host Institution
  Student applications may be released to host institutions for processing once the home school verifies the student's data.

Your Resources

VSAS 2009 Manual
Located in the Resources section, the VSAS Home School User Manual provides detailed information and instructional how-to's.

VSAS Help Desk
Help Desk staff are available to answer your questions Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern.

By Phone: 202-478-9878
By E-mail: Email VSAS