We accept applications for senior medical students from any United States or Canadian medical school fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA) or by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Students are scheduled on a space-available basis. A maximum of two four-week electives may be scheduled.
Currently, international students are NOT eligible to apply. We do not offer observerships for visiting students.
USC SOM Columbia processes applications through the AAMC's Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program. The service allows students to browse and apply for electives.
The applicant applies during the third year of medical school. The elective catalog opens for viewing on March 8, 2024. We begin accepting applications on April 1, 2024. Application decisions will be processed in early May and no later than four weeks prior to the elective's starting date. The applicant will be notified when departmental approval has been received by the Visiting Student Coordinator.
Our electives are four weeks in duration. Not all electives are available for these rotations. Visiting students who request a rotation are not guaranteed a rotation, as prioritization is given to our students.
| Block | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 8, 2024 | August 2, 2024 |
| 2 | August 5, 2024 | August 30, 2024 |
| 3 | September 2, 2024 | September 27, 2024 |
| 4 | September 30, 2024 | October 25, 2024 |
| 5 | October 28, 2024 | November 22, 2024 |
| 6 | November 25, 2024 | December 20, 2024 |
| 7 | January 6, 2025 | January 31, 2025 |
| 8 | February 3, 2025 | February 28, 2025 |
| 9 | March 3, 2025 | March 28, 2025 |
All Visiting Students must
- be currently enrolled and in good academic standing as a candidate for the M.D. or D.O. degree at their home school.
- have completed all required clerkships at their home school prior to initiating elective work at USC SOM Columbia.
- provide a criminal background report and malpractice liability insurance.
- have their own personal health care insurance and provide current documentation of immunization status.
- must pay a non-refundable processing fee of one hundred and seventy-five dollars ($175) per elective, after the rotation has been offered and accepted. An email will be sent.
- notify us as soon as possible if unable to attend an approved elective
- secure their own housing. Students in the past have contacted local hotels and/or have utilized Airbnb. Students may also try furnished apartments or traveling professionals.