Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to use VSAS?
- What are the VSAS application requirements?
- How do I get started using the software?
- Where do I find my VSAS username and password to
log in?
- I have an access code, what's next?
- How do I log in to VSAS?
- Can international and osteopathic students use
VSAS?
- Which schools are participating in VSAS during
the pilot?
- How were the 10 pilot host schools chosen?
- Will all schools be host schools after the pilot?
- What is a home school?
- What is a host school?
- What is VSAS?
- How much does VSAS cost?
- What is an "authorization"?
- What if I forgot my password?
- What if I forgot my username?
- Who at my school issues authorizations?
- Do you offer online tutorials?
- How do I cancel/withdraw a submitted application?
- Do the host schools have additional application
requirements outside of VSAS?
1. Do I need to use VSAS?
You will only use VSAS if you are enrolled at a U.S. LCME
medical school and are applying for senior away electives at any
of the following 10 host schools:
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine
- University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine
- University of Kansas School of Medicine
- University of Michigan Medical School
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
- University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
If you are not applying to one of these 10 schools, please
use the Extramural
Electives Compendium (EEC) for visiting student application
information.
2. What are the VSAS application requirements?
Each student will be asked to submit the following information
when filling out the online VSAS application:
- Contact Information
- Core Clerkship Completion Dates
- Photograph (optional)
- Curriculum Vitae (optional)
Once you certify (PDF, 1 page)
and submit your application, your home school will add the following
data to your application:
Some host schools may require additional documentation to supplement
the VSAS application. We encourage you to review Application
Requirements for VSAS Host Schools (PDF, 5 pages) for
a full description of each school's requirements.
3. How do I get started using the software?
Once you have determined that you will need to use VSAS, your first
step will be to log in to VSAS. But, before you may do so, you will
need to request that your home school issue you authorizations.
When authorizations are issued to you, VSAS will send you a detailed
"VSAS: New User Instructions" e-mail containing all your
login details and instructions. Review Using
VSAS for step-by-step instructions in how to submit a VSAS application.
If you're not sure who at your home school can issue you authorizations,
start with the office or person who assists with your 4th year schedule
(e.g., student affairs office or visiting student coordinator).
4. What username and password do I use to log
in?
After your school issues you authorizations, VSAS will send you
the "VSAS: New User Instructions" e-mail containing your
login details and instructions. If you have used an Association
of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) service before, such as AMCAS
or Careers in Medicine, you will be sent your AAMC username inside
of that e-mail. If you do not remember the corresponding AAMC password,
you may reset
it. If you do not remember the e-mail address registered with
your AAMC login, please contact VSAS for assistance at vsas@aamc.org
or 202-478-9878.
If you do not have a AAMC Login, this VSAS e-mail will instead
include an access code and a registration URL (this registration
page requires your access code). You will be asked to submit your
contact information and choose a username and password to complete
the registration process.
5. I have an access code, what's next?
If VSAS e-mailed you an access code with your "VSAS: New User
Instructions" e-mail, please go to the AAMC's registration
Web page, submit your access code and follow the instructions
to register with AAMC. Before completing this process, you will
be asked to choose a username and password and, finally, you'll
be transferred in to the VSAS software.
6. How do I log in to VSAS?
Before you may log in, your home school will need to issue you
authorizations. When authorizations are issued to you, VSAS will
send you a detailed "VSAS: New User Instructions" e-mail
containing your login details and instructions.
My e-mail contained an access code
Go to the AAMC's registration
Web page, submit your access code and follow the instructions
to register with AAMC. Before completing this process you will be
asked to choose a username and password and, finally, you'll be
transferred in to the VSAS software.
My e-mail contained a AAMC registered username
Go to the VSAS login
page and enter this username and corresponding password to log
in to VSAS.
7. Can international and osteopathic students
use VSAS?
VSAS is not yet available for international and osteopathic student
use. Please use the Extramural
Electives Compendium (EEC) for visiting student application
information.
8. Which schools are participating in VSAS during
the pilot (2008-2009)?
During the VSAS pilot year, the following 10 schools are host schools.
These schools will receive visiting student applications and assign
electives through VSAS.
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine
- University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine
- University of Kansas School of Medicine
- University of Michigan Medical School
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
- University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Home schools will participate in VSAS only when their
students apply to one of the above 10 host schools.
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9. How were the 10 pilot host schools chosen?
Twenty-nine schools volunteered for host school duty during the
pilot and this group was reduced to 10 when the following criteria
was applied: schools with a relatively high volume of applications,
two schools per region, and schools with centralized and decentralized
processes.
10. Will all schools be host schools after the
pilot?
No. Host school participation in VSAS will remain optional. Each
year, schools will have the opportunity to sign on as a host school
for the following academic year.
11. What is a home school?
The term "home school" identifies the school from which
you will receive your medical degree.
Your home school will support your VSAS application by uploading
your transcript, verifying your student status, and releasing your
application to potential host schools.
12. What is a host school?
The term "host school" identifies any U.S. medical school
where students take electives as visiting students. VSAS host schools
are schools that will be accepting visiting student applications
through this software. See FAQ #8 for a complete
list of participants.
13. What is VSAS?
The Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) is a brand-new
AAMC application designed to streamline the application process
for senior "away" electives at other U.S. LCME medical schools.
This service requires students to submit just one application for
all schools, effectively reducing paperwork, miscommunication, and
time. VSAS also provides a centralized location for managing offers
and tracking decisions. It was created at the request of two GSA
committees: Committee on Student
Records (COSR) and Committee
on Student Affairs (COSA).
14. How much does VSAS cost?
VSAS application fees are based on the number of schools you apply
to, not the number of electives applied for.
The fee for the first school you apply to is $35, regardless of
the number of electives you've applied for at that school.
The fee for each additional school is $15, again, regardless of
the number of electives you've applied for at those schools.
For example, if you apply for electives at three schools, your
total fees will equal $65:
| |
$35 |
1st school fee |
| |
$15 |
2nd school fee |
|
+
|
$15 |
3rd school fee |
| |
$65 |
TOTAL fees |
*If you re-apply to one of these three schools, you will not be
charged a second application fee.
Will VSAS host schools also charge application fees?
The 10 participating host schools will not be charging students
additional application fees. But, the host school reserves the right
to assess a processing fee when they are offering an applicant a
spot in an elective.
Who else pays VSAS fees?
After the pilot year (2008-2009), each home school will pay a $5
fee for every student applying through VSAS and participating host
schools will pay an annual fee of $500.
15. What is an "authorization"?
An authorization gives you the ability to log in to VSAS and the
amount of authorizations issued determine how many elective applications
you can submit.
If you were issued 10 authorizations you could apply for up to
10 electives. For example, you can apply to the same elective 10
times by choosing a different date each time. Or you can apply to
10 separate electives.
If you use up all your authorizations VSAS will not allow you to
submit additional applications. You would need to request further
authorizations from your home school.
16. What if I forgot my password?
Go to the AAMC's Forgot
Password Web page. Enter your username and the e-mail address
you submitted when you created this username. For example, if AMCAS
was the first AAMC service you used, it would be the e-mail address
you were using during that time.
17. What if I forgot my username?
Review your "VSAS: New User Instructions" e-mail to see if your
username is listed there. If it is not, please contact VSAS at vsas@aamc.org
or 202-478-9878.
18. Who at my home school issues authorizations?
If you're not sure who at your school can issue you authorizations,
start with the office or person who assists with your 4th year schedule
(e.g., student affairs office/visiting student coordinator).
19. Do you offer online tutorials?
Yes. We offer four online tutorials that will walk you through
the following VSAS application steps:
To view these tutorials, and other online resources, see Resources.
20. How do I cancel/withdraw a submitted application?
Currently, there is not a way to withdraw an application once it
has been submitted; this is a function we will be adding in the
future. In the meantime, there are two options:
My application's status is "Pending Home School Release"
Please contact VSAS at 202-478-9878 or vsas@aamc.org
for assistance in removing this application from the system.
My application's status is "Pending Host School Decision"
Please contact the respective host school, explain the situation
and ask that they deny the application.
21. Do the host schools have additional
application requirements outside of VSAS?
Yes, please refer to Application
Requirements for VSAS Host Schools (PDF, 5 pages) for
a full description of each school's requirements.
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