Updated
VSLO and Away Rotations: How to Apply for Sub-Is in 2027
Planning your away rotations for 2027? Here is how VSLO works, what it costs and what host schools and specialties expect.
VSLO is the AAMC's application service for away rotations, sub-internships and other visiting electives. Your school has to invite you first. Each application costs $18 per elective for the 2027 season, and hosts often add their own fees. For the 2027 season, hosts open in early January and students start applying in early February. How many away rotations you need depends on your specialty. Some expect none, others two or three.
What is VSLO?
The 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”. Your own school is the home institution. The school or hospital you visit is the host. An away rotation done at intern level is often called an away sub-internship (sub-I) or acting internship, and students also call away rotations audition rotations.
Who can use VSLO, and how big it is
“The VSLO program is only accessible to students at participating Home institutions.” Graduates can't apply. Students at international schools can use it if their school is in the VSLO Global Network: “Medical or public health students enrolled at VSLO program-participating Home institutions in the Global Network are able to search and apply for opportunities in the VSLO program.” International graduates have other routes, covered in our USCE for IMGs guide.
In the 2025-26 academic year, VSLO had 319 host and 314 home institutions and 16,356 electives in 143 specialty areas, according to the AAMC's VSLO infographic.
How does a VSLO application work?
“You must be invited by your Home institution before you may access the VSLO application service.” Then you pick electives, meet each host's requirements and pay. Your home school checks the application and releases it to the host. The steps on the AAMC's how-to page:
The five steps, in order
- Sign in with your AAMC account and fill in your profile.
- Search electives by specialty, host and location, and save the ones you want. VSLO emails you when a saved elective opens.
- Read each host's requirements and key dates, accept the applicant agreement, upload what the host asks for and pay.
- Your home school verifies your details and adds its own documents, such as your transcript, before releasing the application to the host.
- Answer offers quickly. “It is important to respond to an offer within the time allotted to ensure the Host institution can prepare for your visit.” After you accept, the host may ask for more, such as a copy of your passport, immunization records or proof of HIPAA training.
You can track each application, withdraw it, add more electives or dates after you submit, and update documents such as a new background check from the Tracking tab.
How much does VSLO cost?
“The VSLO program charges a flat fee of $15 per application.” That rises for 2027. “The VSLO student application fee will change from $15 to $18 for each elective when the 2027 season opens in February.” In 2025-26, MD students applied to 9 electives on average and DO students to 12. At $18 each, that is $162 and $216.
Extra dates, tax, host fees and travel
“There are no additional fees if a student applies for alternative dates for that same elective.” The 2027 rise is the first since 2021. Sales tax applies in some states.
Host fees are separate and vary a lot. The University of Colorado charges MD students $150 when they accept an offer, and Kansas charges about $110. In the AAMC's 2022-23 post-rotation survey, students mentioned travel, short-term housing and application or tuition fees most often.
When do VSLO applications open for 2027?
The AAMC is moving VSLO to a new system and opening it in phases. It says “Students will gain earlier access to opportunities”. The plan on its 2027 season page:
December 14, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ET
VSLO closes for the move to the new system. Hosts get back in early January, and home schools and students in mid-January. Finish anything urgent before December 14.
Early January 2027
Host institutions open and make their catalogs and electives visible.
Mid-January 2027
Home institutions invite students. You can explore electives and plan with your advisors.
Early February 2027
Students start sending applications to hosts that are accepting them.
January to May
The AAMC calls this the primary application season, though hosts can open and close at any time.
Each host sets its own dates
“The VSLO program is open year-round, so Host institutions are able to open and close their elective catalogs at any point.” So check each host's Important Dates section, not just the AAMC plan. Last cycle UCLA opened applications on March 9, 2026, Colorado on March 2 and Kansas on March 13, and Kansas later closed early once it was full. Apply early for summer and early fall rotations. The AAMC says “Hosts are encouraged to provide offers to students at least 30 days prior to the start of a rotation.”
What do host schools ask for?
“Institution requirements vary for visiting students.” You usually supply a CV and the AAMC Standardized Immunization Form, and your school supplies transcripts and letters. Here is what six hosts say on their own pages, read October 30, 2026:
UCLA (David Geffen School of Medicine)
Who can apply: MD and DO fourth-year students.
- Core clerkships finished and good academic standing.
- A letter of recommendation from a clinical faculty member for every elective, plus a statement of intent of 150 words or less.
- AAMC Standardized Immunization Form with TB clearance within a year of the elective, OSHA certification, a mask fit test and proof of health insurance.
- No more than 6 pending applications at a time. For 2026-27 the catalog opened January 26 and applications opened March 9, 2026.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
Who can apply: Students at LCME or AOA-accredited schools (MD and DO).
- Core rotations in medicine, surgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics and psychiatry finished.
- Written permission from your dean confirming good standing, plus proof of health and malpractice insurance.
- A full immunization list and a TB test within the past 12 months.
- No more than eight weeks in total, usually four. Required acting internships are generally closed to visitors, and you arrange your own housing.
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Who can apply: Final-year students at US MD and DO schools.
- Application complete at least eight weeks before the course starts.
- USMLE or COMLEX transcripts, a criminal background report, an immunization form signed by your school and a mask fit test.
- Malpractice insurance of $1,000,000/$3,000,000 and personal health insurance.
- A $150 fee for MD students on accepting an offer. Students from schools outside the LCME, which includes DO schools, pay $4,150, with discounts for Rocky Vista students and Colorado residents. For 2026-27 it opened on March 2.
University of Kansas School of Medicine (Kansas City)
Who can apply: MD students and students from three named DO schools.
- One four-week away rotation per student, fall term only.
- A fee of about $110 once accepted, and an N-95 fit test before you arrive.
- For 2026-27 it opened to applications on March 13, 2026 and later closed early once it reached capacity.
UAB Internal Medicine (Tinsley Harrison program)
Who can apply: Fourth-year students at US MD and DO schools.
- All core clerkships finished and a passed USMLE Step 1.
- Four-week blocks only. Applications were reviewed in early April with rolling offers from mid-April, and none after July 1.
University at Buffalo Orthopaedics
Who can apply: US MD and DO students.
- A four-week sub-internship through VSLO.
- From 2026 it follows the AOA/CORD away rotation recommendations, including the application deadline and the Universal Offer Day.
Other common requirements
Hosts may also ask for a background check, a mask fit test and proof of health and malpractice insurance. Send only what VSLO asks for. UCLA, for example, writes “Please do not email personal statements or letters of interest to course chairs or coordinators.” Step score rules vary by program, so read each elective's listing.
How many away rotations should you do?
It depends on your specialty. Every surgical guide below rates away rotations strongly recommended. Orthopaedics caps it: “AOA/CORD recommends a limit of 4 medical student rotations, inclusive of all rotations (home and away).” What the current 2026-27 OPDA guides say:
Emergency medicine: Strongly recommended: at least 1, no more than 2
The guide says to meet a specialty-specific advisor before you plan. If you don't have one, CORD runs a distance advising service. OPDA guide
General surgery: Strongly recommended: at least 1
Finish it early enough to ask for a letter from that rotation. OPDA guide
Orthopaedic surgery: Strongly recommended: at least 1, no more than 3
AOA/CORD recommends no more than 4 rotations in total, home and away, and asks programs to use Universal Away Rotation Offer Days. OPDA guide
Neurological surgery: Strongly recommended: 2 or 3, no more than 3
One home acting internship and one or two away. OPDA guide
Otolaryngology: Strongly recommended, no set number
Most applicants do one home acting internship and one to three away. OPDA guide
Plastic surgery (integrated): Strongly recommended: at least 1
With a home program, no more than three plastic surgery rotations in total (home plus two away). Without one, no more than three away. The guide's summary table says no more than four. OPDA guide
Urology: Strongly recommended, no set number
Not required, but almost all recent applicants did at least one and most did more than one. OPDA guide
Dermatology: Optional, not expected
If you do them, up to two external electives with a home dermatology program, or up to three without one. OPDA guide
Anesthesiology: Optional, not expected: no more than 2
Applicants won't be penalized for skipping away rotations at programs they apply to. OPDA guide
Neurology: Optional, not expected
Often strongly encouraged or even expected if your school has no neurology clerkship. OPDA guide
Internal medicine: Optional, not expected
Check each program's requirements and ask a career advisor. OPDA guide
About these guides
The AAMC links each specialty society's guidance on its specialty guidance page. Guides for the 2028 season, when 2027 rotators apply, aren't out yet, so recheck them next summer. In orthopaedics, the 4-rotation limit includes your home rotation. In every field, talk with an advisor at your school before you build your list.
How do away rotations connect to signals and letters?
For the current (2027) ERAS season, “The AAMC suggests that applicants signal their most interested programs regardless of whether they are home or away rotations.” Away rotations are also where many specialty letters come from, so schedule your most important one early enough for the letter to arrive in time. See our ERAS program signals guide and residency letters of recommendation guide.
What the emergency medicine and surgery guides say
The emergency medicine guide says “It is recommended that applicants do NOT signal home or away/visiting rotations.” The general surgery guide says “They should attempt to complete this rotation in time to request a letter of recommendation from that experience to help support their application.” Guidance for the 2028 season, when 2027 rotators apply, isn't out yet, so recheck it next summer.
Why is an away rotation like a month-long interview?
The AAMC puts it from your side: “Pursuing clinical rotations at another site enables you to evaluate the residency program, the clinical setting, and to assess your residency training choices.” The program is evaluating you just as closely, every day for a month. Treat each day like interview day, and have a specific answer ready for what you learned about the program.
What programs say about visiting students
The anesthesiology guide asks visiting students to “perform at an acting intern level”. UAB Internal Medicine says “participating in a visiting student rotation does not guarantee an interview”, but adds that “program leadership is happy to meet with visiting students during their rotation”. Arrive prepared, own your patients, go to conferences and meet the program director and chiefs.
“Tell me about your away rotation here. What did you learn about our program?”
This is a question about fit, not a recap of your month. Name one patient or moment, one thing you saw in how the program runs, and why it makes you want to train there.
Our example answer (we wrote it, not a real applicant)
I spent four weeks on your wards team in July, and the moment that stayed with me was a night admission for a patient in DKA.
The senior resident let me run the first hour with her standing beside me, then walked me through what I had missed before rounds.
That matched what I heard from every resident: teaching happens on shift, not just in conference.
I also saw how much the residents shape the program. The interns told me the night float schedule changed last year because they asked for it.
I want to train somewhere I'm taught that closely and where residents are heard, and that is what I saw here.
More on this kind of question in why this residency program. When interviews start, use our guide to preparing for residency interviews, the interview season calendar and the residency interview hub.
Sources: the AAMC's VSLO pages (overview, how to apply, FAQ, U.S. rotations, global, specialty guidance, 2027 season and 2025-26 infographic), the AAMC program signaling page, the 2026-27 OPDA specialty guides and each host school's own visiting student page. All checked October 30, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is VSLO?
VSLO (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) is the AAMC's application service for away rotations, sub-internships and other short electives at host institutions in the US and abroad. Your medical school has to take part and invite you before you can apply.
How much does VSLO cost?
VSLO charges $18 per elective for the 2027 season (up from $15), and extra dates for the same elective cost nothing. Applying to 9 electives costs $162. Many host schools add their own fees, such as $150 at the University of Colorado for MD students.
When does VSLO open for 2027 away rotations?
The AAMC plans for host institutions to open in early January 2027, for home schools to invite students in mid-January, and for students to start sending applications in early February. Each host sets its own dates, so check its Important Dates section.
Can DO students use VSLO?
Yes, if their school takes part. Many hosts accept DO students, including UCLA, UAMS and UAB Internal Medicine. Some limit or charge them more. Kansas takes students from only three named DO schools, and Colorado charges students from schools outside the LCME tuition.
How many away rotations should I do?
It depends on your specialty. The current 2026-27 OPDA guides advise one to two for emergency medicine, at least one for general surgery and one to three for orthopaedic surgery. Away rotations are optional, not expected, in internal medicine and dermatology. Recheck when the 2027-28 guides come out.
Is a sub-I the same as an away rotation?
Not always. A sub-internship or acting internship is a senior rotation where you work at close to intern level, and it can be at your own school. An away rotation is any rotation at another school. An away sub-I is both.
Does an away rotation guarantee an interview?
No. Programs such as UAB Internal Medicine and University at Buffalo Orthopaedics say plainly that rotating there does not guarantee an interview. A strong month gives the program a close look at your work and can lead to a letter.
Can IMGs or graduates apply through VSLO?
Graduates can't. The VSLO applicant agreement requires that you haven't graduated before the elective ends. Students at international schools in the VSLO Global Network can apply, and other routes for IMGs are in our USCE guide.