Tips to Prepare for the Away Rotation Application
Written by Neha Deo
Having almost completed my 3rd year of medical school, I can understand why many seniors mention that it’s a really busy period. Between 10-12 hour days, having to study for the shelf exams, and keeping up with extracurriculars (and a social life!), it’s hard to balance everything. However, what I was not at all ready for, was how much work would be involved in applying to 4th-year rotations. Hopefully, readers will be able to learn from my experiences and plan ahead:
1) Figure out when applications open
This was a really important thing to figure out. It wasn’t until I started speaking to 4th-year students that I realized that away rotations on VSLO would open on March 1st. I was already halfway into February and hadn’t started any preparations. For each specialty and each school-specific rotation, there are different dates. You’ll want to know these because offers are given on an on-rolling basis, so you want to apply early.
2) Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
I hadn’t realized that for at least half the rotations I wanted to apply for, a LOR was needed. Generally, giving 4-6 weeks for a physician to write your letter is standard practice. Some schools have their own portal that the letter writer will need to upload to. I would try to mention these details earlier than later so that you’re not scrambling to get it done. A quality letter takes time to write.
3) AAMC Standard Immunization Form
This was a hefty form to collect information and complete. If you are born in the US, you have likely completed all the vaccination series needed for this form and would ask your school representative to sign off and verify the vaccinations. However, for individuals like me who were not born in a developed country, we need titers as proof of vaccination status. This resulted in 2-3 trips to the lab for me. I would suggest searching this form on the internet (it is publicly available) and start collecting the lab work/proof of vaccination status to complete these forms.
4) Write your personal statement
Yes - some schools will want a personal statement, or a paragraph explaining why you want to rotate at their program. This will require some time to edit, and for others to proofread. Instructions vary from school to school.
5) Other requirements
Some schools will have other forms or certificates that are required to apply to their program. This includes things like BLS/ACLS, a CV, or criminal background checks.
6) Know who to email to have your transcript uploaded to VSLO
All your classmates will also be applying at the same time, and this can overwhelm the student affairs office. Therefore, planning ahead of time, and asking the administration to upload your transcript in advance, will speed up the process.
Each school will list its specific requirements about a month before when its applications open. My best advice would be to look ahead of time and make an excel sheet to figure out what needs to be done, and by what date. Good luck!
