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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Do I need to use VSAS?
  2. What are the VSAS application requirements?
  3. How do I get started using the software?
  4. Where do I find my VSAS username and password to log in?
  5. I have an access code, what's next?
  6. How do I log in to VSAS?
  7. Can Canadian, international and osteopathic students use VSAS?
  8. Which institutions are participating in VSAS?
  9. Will all medical schools and members of COTH eventually be VSAS host institutions?
  10. What is a home school?
  11. What is a host institution?
  12. What is VSAS?
  13. How much does VSAS cost?
  14. What is an "authorization"?
  15. What if I forgot my password?
  16. What if I forgot my username?
  17. Who at my school issues authorizations?
  18. Do you offer online tutorials?
  19. How do I cancel/withdraw a submitted application?
  20. Do the host institutions have additional application requirements outside of VSAS?
  21. How do I reorder my submitted applications?
  22. If I accept an offer, will that affect my pending applications at another host institution?

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 VSAS host institutions.

If you are not applying to one of these institutions, 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 (may be optional)
  • Curriculum Vitae (may be optional)
  • Immunization form (per host institutions, may be optional - can be uploaded only after you submit applications)

Once you certify (PDF, 1 page) and submit your application, your home school will add the following data to your application:

Additional Requirements: Some host institutions may require additional documentation to supplement the VSAS application. We highly recommend you use the "Schools" tab in VSAS to review each host institution's application 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. The one-page "Quick Start Card" for students is also a handy resource.

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 Canadian, international and osteopathic students use VSAS?

VSAS is not yet available for international, osteopathic, or students enrolled at Canadian medical schools to use. Please use the Extramural Electives Compendium (EEC) for visiting student application information.

8. Which institutions are participating in VSAS?

In addition to inviting more U.S. AAMC member schools to join the program for 2010, VSAS is expanding availability to members of the AAMC's Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH) through a pilot program next year.

During the 2009-2010 academic year, 64 schools are VSAS host institutions. These institutions will receive visiting student applications and assign electives through VSAS.

Home schools will participate in VSAS only when their students apply to one of the VSAS host institutions.

9. Will all medical schools and members of COTH eventually be VSAS host institutions?

Host participation in VSAS will remain optional. Each year, U.S. AAMC-member medical schools and members of the AAMC's Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH) will have the opportunity to sign on as a host institution for the following academic year.

10. 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 and immunization records, verifying your student status, and releasing your application to potential host institutions.

Only students enrolled at at a U.S. LCME medical school may apply through VSAS.

11. What is a host institution?

The term "host institution" identifies any U.S. AAMC-member medical school or members of the AAMC's Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH) where students take electives as visiting students. VSAS host institutions are institutions that will be accepting visiting student applications through this software. See FAQ #8 for a complete list of participants.

12. What is VSAS?

The Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) is an AAMC application designed to streamline the application process for senior "away" electives at other U.S. LCME medical schools and independent teaching hospitals that are members of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH). This service requires students to submit just one application for all institutions, 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).

13. How much does VSAS cost?

VSAS application fees are based on the number of institutions you apply to, not the number of electives applied for.

The fee for the first institution you apply to is $35, regardless of the number of electives you've applied for at that institution.
The fee for each additional institution is $15, again, regardless of the number of electives you've applied for at those institutions.

For example, if you apply for electives at three institutions, your total fees will equal $65:

  $35 1st institution fee
  $15 2nd institution fee

+

$15 3rd institution fee
  $65 TOTAL fees

*If you re-apply to one of these three institutions, you will not be charged a second application fee.

Will VSAS host institutions also charge application fees?
The participating host institutions will not charge additional application fees. But, the host institution reserves the right to assess a processing fee when they offer an applicant a spot in an elective.

Who else pays VSAS fees?
Beginning in Fall 2009, home schools will pay an annual fee of $500 (an introductory fee of $250 will be assessed for 2009) and participating host institutions will pay an annual fee of $500 to receive applications through VSAS.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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).

18. Do you offer online tutorials?

Yes. We offer six online tutorials that will walk you through the following VSAS application steps:

To view these tutorials, and other online resources, see Resources.

19. How do I cancel/withdraw a submitted application?

Students may withdraw single applications through your "Applications" tab. Once on this tab, you will see "withdraw" buttons for each of your pending applications.

20. Do the host institutions have additional application requirements outside of VSAS?

Some host institutions may require additional documentation to supplement the VSAS application. Use your "Schools" tab in VSAS to review each host institution's application requirements.

21. How do I reorder my submitted applications?

You may change the rank order of your submitted applications through your "Applications" tab. Once on this tab, choose the "View by: School" option and you will then see a "Change Order" button appear for each institution to which you have applied. Once you save your new order, this information will be automatically updated at your home and host institution(s).

22. If I accept an offer, will that affect my pending applications at another host institution?

Your decision on one application will not affect any others, nor will one host institution know what decisions you've made at another. For example, you can accept two offers at two different institutions as you determine which one you will attend. Please note that VSAS will send you reminders if you have scheduling conflicts with accepted or offered electives, but the software will not take any actions on the applications themselves.

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