VSLO® Program Updates

NEW: Best Practices for Processing Visiting Student Applications

The AAMC Group on Student Affairs’ Committee on Student Records (COSR) recently sent institutional colleagues best practice recommendations for processing visiting student applications. A letter was also sent to students to share key recommendations for a successful away rotation season. That letter can be accessed on the VSLO Student Resources page.

The VSLO Program Welcomes New Host Institutions

We would like to welcome the following Host institutions, and look forward to their contributions to the robust set of opportunities available to students in the VSLO application service: 

• BayCare Health System 
• Doctors Hospital at Renaissance  
• Intermountain Medical Center  
• Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital  
• Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center  
• McLeod Regional Medical Center 
• Memorial Hospital Gulfport  
• Sutter Coast Hospital 
• Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center  
• Willis Knighton Health 

VSLO Student Training Part 1: Application Overview

This one-hour training provides students with an in-depth overview of the VSLO application service. It covers the application process from beginning your elective search all the way through tracking your submitted applications. Watch now.

VSLO Student Training Part 2: Resources, Data, and Next Steps

This one-hour training provides students with an overview of VSLO resources and data, addresses common student questions, and guides students through tasks and scenarios they may encounter in the VSLO application service. Watch now.

VSLO^® Applicant Checklist

This resource will help applicants keep track of tasks they need to complete while applying to electives in the VSLO application service.

VSLO Student Infographic

The VSLO student infographic provides information to assist students (and advisors guiding students) through the process of developing individual away rotation strategies. The infographic illustrates a range of data points, including specialty data, average time between application submission and elective start dates, cadence of student and Host institution activity in the VSLO application service, and more. 

Explore more VSLO student resources on our webpage.

Last Updated: August 20, 2026

Message from the VSLO Team

Dear VSLO Colleagues, 

This month, the team has been focused on engaging with community leaders. We held our summer Visiting Student Learning Opportunities^™ (VSLO^®) Advisory Committee meeting and appreciated hearing reflections on this season’s data and system plans for the next away rotation season. We also had the opportunity to join the Learner Access, Support, Opportunity, and Retention Group to provide similar updates on highlights from the 2026 VSLO season. 

I’m also pleased to share that we have recently updated the VSLO Student Infographic with data from the 2026 season. This resource provides data to assist students and advisors in the process of developing away rotation strategies. The infographic illustrates a range of data points, including specialty data, average time between application submission and elective start dates, cadence of student and Host institution activity in the VSLO application service, and more.

Wishing everyone a smooth start to the new academic year! 

Sincerely,  

Dana Dunleavy, PhD 

AAMC Senior Director for Career Exploration Services and Selection R&D 

VSLO Program Updates and Resources

Institution Reminders 

To ensure the application process is completed, Host institutions are encouraged to notify all students of their application decisions during the processing period. After you have notified students of their acceptances or denials, please remember to update the elective status to “closed.” For quick reference, refer to these Host institution Application Processing job aids.

AAMC Resources for Medical Educators

New Advisor Compass Resource Bundle Supports Medical Student Advising 

The AAMC’s new Advisor Compass Resource Bundle offers a centralized collection of tools for career advisors, specialty advisors, and others involved in student advising. Organized around the M1 to M4 journey, it includes advising checklists, guidance, case-based resources, professional development opportunities, and a peer network where advisors can connect, exchange insights, and collaboratively address advising challenge. The bundle is the first component of Advisor Compass, an AAMC initiative designed to support medical student advising through additional resources, insights, training, and community engagement.

New Residency Explorer^™ Feature: Interview Likelihood 

Choosing where to apply for residency can be challenging, especially when students are trying to balance competitiveness, program alignment, and personal preferences. To support this process, the AAMC launched Interview Likelihood, a new feature within the Residency Explorer^™ tool. 

Interview Likelihood provides applicants with data-informed insights into how applicants with similar application characteristics received interview invitations from specific residency programs during the previous application cycle. By combining these insights with information about program alignment, students can more confidently evaluate programs, build balanced application strategies, and have more informed conversations with their advisors. 

To support your advising efforts, the AAMC has developed an overview webpage, FAQs, and recorded webinars that explain the feature and how students should use it as part of a broader application strategy. Learn more.  

New AAMC Data on Transition to Residency Courses at U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools 

Data from the 2023-2024 AAMC AACOM Curriculum SCOPE Survey reveal that most medical schools (68.7%) required at least one transition to residency (TTR) course. A new Data Snapshot explores required TTR course timing, duration, and content covered. It highlights common priorities as well as institutional differences and outlines future research needs to support this important learner transition. 

Additional Resources of Interest

AAMC Statement on Duration of Status Final Rule  

The AAMC issued a statement on the final rule for updates to the Duration of Status (D/S) policy released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that replaces the current system with a fixed-term period of stay, not to exceed four years. “The AAMC is concerned by the changes DHS has made to the longstanding D/S policy in the final rule published on July 17. As we said in our September 2025 comment letter to former Secretary Noem, we strongly believe there is no compelling need to change the current visa system for international students, trainees, and postdoctoral scholars. By ending current D/S admissions in favor of a fixed-term period of stay framework, the final rule does not take into account the breadth of complexities of graduate, postdoctoral, and medical residency programs, many of which often take longer than four years to complete.” Read more. 

Upcoming Events

ERAS Specialty Spotlight Webinar Series for Residency Applicants and Advisors 

The AAMC is hosting a series of webinars featuring specialty-specific guidance for medical school advisors and 2027 residency season applicants. Each webinar includes a program director and an advisor who will share best practices in preparation for the 2027 ERAS application season. The webinars also include a Q&A and will be recorded for later viewing. The next session in the series will take place today, Thursday, Aug. 20 with an inside look at diagnostic radiology. View past recordings and register for future webinars on the ERAS and Transition to Residency Webinars page. 

About the VSLO Program

The AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO^®) program enables medical and public health students to pursue short-term learning opportunities in locations away from their Home institutions.

View Program Updates

Contact AAMC Support

We appreciate your candid feedback as it helps us identify and prioritize any resource or system enhancements. Please contact the AAMC Support Center or call 202-478-9878 if you have any questions. Representatives are available Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.