UNSOM Students: 4th Year Class: Applying for Out of State Electives

Visiting Student Application System

VSAS Tutorials

VSAS Screen Shots

December/January

• Use the internet to “shop” for electives, narrow down the institutions/communities where you might want to do an elective.
• Seriously consider at least one elective at a “big name” school. Letters of recommendation from these well-known institutions may help students increase the number of invitations for residency interviews if you are applying for positions in more competitive specialties.
• Check out the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. It includes a compendium of electives for all member medical schools.

• Attend the Office of Medical Education Planning Your 4th Year workshop

February/March

• Contact schools/programs to find out their application procedures and requirements. E-mail works best at this stage.
• Check out the VSAS (Visiting Student Application System) online application service Over 60 schools are participating in VSAS’s second year. Very easy to use and makes the application process much faster.

• Every program/school is unique and will require different information.

• Ask how early the school/program accepts applications. Schools usually are in one of two categories:
  1. Applications accepted only after the May deadline when schools place their own students in fourth year slots.
  2. Applications accepted early, date stamped, and reviewed in the order received.

• Make sure your immunizations and PPD are up to date. Schools typically require complete immunization records, including up-to-date TB documentation, hepatitis, varicella or other health information.
• Students can work with the Office of Student Affairs, in either Reno or Las Vegas, to begin getting their elective applications organized prior to the March deadline for beginning to reserve your SOM 4th year electives.
• The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs will process and mail your applications. You can see Brandi Taylor in the Reno office and Ann Diggins and Cindy Eggleston in the Las Vegas office.

April/May

• Plan your out of state (OOS) electives in your fourth year schedule first. You can schedule your other electives around your OOS and required rural electives.
• All application information will be available in both the Reno and Las Vegas offices for review and reference so students can use the most convenient location, regardless of where you’ll be based 4th year.
• A cover letter of recommendation from the SOM is included with all applications. Some electives (usually competitive subspecialties) require a letter from a faculty member in the specialty area. You can request these for specific programs as needed.