Thank you for your interest in away rotations! Away rotations, also known as audition rotations, offer elective opportunities in teaching hospitals, community clinics, and other academic-affiliated sites across the U.S. and abroad. As a fourth-year medical student at GWU, you can apply for these rotations through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) system or directly to programs outside VSLO. This guide will walk you through the preparation and application processes.
Quick Contact:
The MD Registrar's Office: registrarmd@gwu.edu
The Office of Student Affairs: OSAMD@gwu.edu
VSLO Applications:
- Step 1: Submit your application through the VSLO portal. Once submitted, the Office of Student Affairs will be notified to verify and upload institutional requirements. Allow up to 72 hours for processing. If additional requirements are needed (e.g., background checks, drug screenings, letters of recommendation), the process may take longer.
- VSLO authorizations are issued in December. If your token has expired, or you have not received one, contact Gabriela Macias at gabriela.macias@gwu.edu to request a reissued token.
- Step 2: Submit the Extramural Elective Request Form to alert the MD Registrar of your intention to take the accepted opportunity. This form must be submitted AFTER accepting an away rotation, at least 4 weeks PRIOR to rotating.
Non-VSLO Applications:
- Step 1: Submit the Extramural Elective Request Form, which will act as your application, to the MD Registrar.
- Step 2: Once submitted, the MD Registrar and Office of Student Affairs will ensure that an affiliation agreement is in place.
- The process of securing an affiliation agreement can take 3–6 months, and securing an affiliation agreement is not guaranteed, so starting this process early is advisable. Sherry Brody will communicate with any student in the event an affiliation agreement is not currently in place and needs to be secured. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Sherry Brody at sherrybrody@gwu.edu.
Important Notice for ALL Applications: Students must submit a signed Extramural Elective Request Form to the MD Registrar PRIOR to rotating away, to receive credit for your away rotation. This form must be submitted at least 4 weeks before rotating.
a. Letters of Good Standing
- Request your letter through this form.
- Standard letters include details on academic standing, expected graduation date, insurance coverage, coursework, and certifications. Processing time can take up to 72 hours.
b. Letters of Recommendation
- Letter writers should send letters of recommendation to Gabriela Macias at gabriela.macias@gwu.edu on official letterhead, in PDF format, and labeled as: LastName, FirstName - LOR.pdf.
c. Transcripts
- For VSLO applications: Email Gabriela Macias (gabriela.macias@gwu.edu) with your GWID number to request your unofficial transcript be uploaded to the VSLO portal.
- For non-VSLO applications: Email the MD Registrar's Office at registrarmd@gwu.edu with your GWID number to request your unofficial transcript.
- If an official transcript is specifically requested, these can be requested and electronically sent through the main campus Registrar’s Office.
d. Background Checks and Drug Screenings
- These are available through Certiphi. For assistance, contact Sherry Brody at sherrybrody@gwu.edu.
e. Health Records
- Access your records through My Record Tracker (MRT). Only you can authorize their release, as they are protected under FERPA.
- For verification signatures, visit the Employee Health Office (Suite G-1092).
- Note: Physicals are not certified by the Office of Student Affairs; please arrange these with your primary care physician.
f. Certifications: OSHA, HIPAA, BLS, Mask Fit, Malpractice
- For VSLO applications: Gabriela Macias will verify these in the VSLO portal.
- For non-VSLO applications: The Registrar’s team will verify these through the Letter of Good Standing.
- Contact the BLS Office at (202) 741-2958 or the Mask Fit Office at safety@gwu.edu for certification copies or expiration verification.
g. Malpractice Insurance
- For VSLO applications: Malpractice insurance is verified by the Office of Student Affairs.
- For non-VSLO applications: The Registrar’s team can request a copy of the certificate if needed, or included in the Letter of Good Standing.
- Coverage values are $5 million per occurrence and aggregate.
h. Away Rotation Evaluations
- Uniform Clinical Evaluations can be found on the MD Registrar's webpage here.
- The MD Registrar's Office will reach out to the contact provided on the Extramural Elective Request Form with instructions and the grading deadlines for final grades.
i. Extramural Elective / Away Rotation Registration Form
- As stated above, students must submit a signed Extramural Elective Request Form to the MD Registrar PRIOR to rotating away, to receive credit for your away rotation. This form must be submitted at least 4 weeks before rotating.
Additional Tips and Resources
- Consult your specialty advisor to strategize your applications.
- Apply to multiple programs across various months to increase your chances of securing a rotation.
- 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 VSLO’s resources, including FAQs and how-to videos:
- VSLO FAQs: For more detailed information, check out frequently asked questions about the VSLO program.
- VSLO Student Training #1: Application Overview
This one-hour training video provides students with an overview of the VSLO application service, addresses common student questions, and walks through the dashboard and application. - VSLO Student Training #2: Resources, Data, and Next Steps
This one-hour training video provided students with an overview of Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) resources and data, addressed common student questions, and guided students through tasks and scenarios they may encounter in the VSLO application service.