Guidelines for Elective Applications

Application Requirements & Guidelines:

Only fourth‑year medical students from LCME‑accredited allopathic or COCA‑accredited osteopathic medical schools are eligible.
Applicants must be in good academic standing.
Successful completion of USMLE Step 1 is required.

All applications must be submitted through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) platform.
Each elective requires a separate application.
Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the elective start date.
All required documentation must be uploaded to VSLO no later than 14 days before the elective start date.
Current visiting students applying for an additional elective must submit a new VSLO application.

Verification of good academic standing from the home institution.
Proof of health and liability/malpractice insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 / $3,000,000.
Compliance with all immunization requirements.
Completion of OSHA Universal Precautions training (certificate must remain valid for the full rotation period).

All electives are four weeks in duration, and completion of the entire rotation is mandatory.
Off‑block rotations are not permitted; students must follow UMSOM’s scheduled elective blocks.

Students may withdraw their application through VSLO up to two weeks before the elective start date.
For withdrawals less than two weeks before the start date, students must notify both of the following via email:

Elective department coordinators will submit the final evaluation directly to the student’s home institution.