Away rotations are essentially “audition” rotations. They have many names, so don’t be confused when you’re applying in AAMC’s VSLO (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) portal. You may see it listed as “acting internship” or “sub-internship”.
Why I did an away rotation
I knew early on what my dream program would be and what my geographic preference for residency was. I grew up in Anaheim, Southern California and it has always been my dream to go to UCLA for residency training, especially because they have a strong Internal Medicine program with a special, primary care track. I could tell from their website that they cared about diversity, community medicine, and social determinants of health.
I was also interested in geriatrics. UCLA is one of the few institutions that have an ACE unit, or Acute Care for Elderly unite, where geriatricians instead of internists are the primary team for patients older than 65 in the UCLA Health system. I wanted to experience what it would be like and to see if UCLA would be a good fit for my residency training needs.
With that said, because I didn’t go to a top tier medical school in the East Coast, I wanted to show that I was genuinely, strongly interested in this program, so I did an away rotation there.
I completed a sub-internship in the geriatrics unit at UCLA (typically not recommended because sub-internships are tougher, have more expectations, and if you don’t do well, you may risk your chances of interviewing there if they remember you. It was challenging because I had never used the EPIC EMR before, but by the end of the four weeks, I learned a ton and felt more efficient. Overall, I think I did okay? Unfortunately I sent the wrong evaluation form (Pass/Fail rather than Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail), so I don’t know how I actually did. Most of my evaluation comments were positive. But I assume I didn’t leave a negative impression because I did end up matching there!
Purpose of an away rotation
- See how your specialty is practiced in another setting
- Can help you show that program you’re interested in training there for residency
- Request additional letter of recommendation that may be helpful for your residency application
- For competitive specialties
- Typically, at least 1 is expected for competitive specialties (orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, dermatology, etc.)
- For less competitive specialties (eg. internal medicine)
- Only complete one if you are interested in a specific program or region
- Better to do a clinic or consult service rather than an acting/sub-internship because AI/sub-I’s come with higher expectations. That’s why it’s called an acting/sub-internship because you are auditioning as an intern/PGY-1. So it’s a bit tougher!
Where and when can you apply?
Applications are through the AAMC’s VSLO/VSAS portal and you will need a token from your school to register! Please contact your school if they haven’t emailed you already about this. Mid-April is when you start to apply. Not all institutions use the VSLO, so if there are programs you’re interested in, visit that program’s website and look for information for visiting students. Every program reviews applications differently. Again, it is important to visit the program’s website to make sure you have the right information for that program!
When should I complete my away rotation?
Ideally, between May and July if you want to obtain a letter of recto give plenty of time to get a letter of recommendation for residency applications which are due in September (or whenever ERAS is due, you should check this).
How many should I apply to?
Apply to 3-5 per block. The away rotations are about 1 month long and each month is a block.
How many should I complete?
Depends on specialty. For less competitive specialties, 1-2 max. For more competitive specialties, 2-3.
What will I need for the application?
It depends on the program. Check with the program’s website to make sure you’re not missing specific requirements! In general:
- Immunization records
- Personal Statement
- Background check
- Transcript
- Your school’s point person or whoever is in charge of away rotations should upload this for you. Check with your admin.
- Letters of Recommendation
- You can have your letter writer send it to your school’s point person or whoever is in charge of away rotations.
Will doing an away rotation ruin my chances of interviewing/matching there?
Evaluate yourself honestly by looking at your clinical grades. Did you perform well on your rotations? Did you perform well in your specialty of interest? If you feel like your clinical skills are solid and you think you can make a good impression, definitely do one! If you’re unsure, it may be best to pass on an away rotation. It’s up to your comfort level. For me, I was highly motivated to do well. I asked for feedback often. I tried to be the best acting intern I could.
