Planning Your Fourth Year and Beyond

• Fourth-Year Elective Choice Form (This is campus specific, please contact your home Campus Admin to obtain this form)
• Limitations to Specialty Electives policy 4.7
• Electives and Elective Guidelines
• Suggested 4th year Electives Based on Anticipated Specialty
• Electives by Specialty

Away Elective Procedures:

• UND SMHS Procedures & Steps for Away Electives

Searchable Database of All Away Electives in the United States

• AAMC On-Line Extramural Electives Compendium

Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO or also called VSAS)

Formerly known as VSAS, VSLO is the centralized application process many schools use for visiting medical student rotations.

• About VSLO
• How to use VSLO
• VSLO: Information for Students
• VSLO Training Videos

Global Health Learning Opportunities (GHLO)

GHLO is the standardized application process for international electives offered through AAMC (Similar to VSAS for domestic away rotations). For more information, contact Dr. Zelewski.

UND is a GHLO home school. We will send UND SMHS students to other institutions but will not be accepting applications for visiting students to our school through GHLO.

UND SMHS Electives

International Elective Procedure

Accepted Electives for Credit

1. UND sponsored electives (ie: Peru exchange)
2. GHLO sponsored rotations. See details regarding GHLO below.
3. Rotations approved on an individual basis by the Office of Student Affairs. These rotations must:
   1. Have the proper level of supervision available for the medical student.
   2. Have a supervisor who is able to fill out the SMHS 4th year elective evaluation form (preferable electronic).
   3. Have a policy or procedure regarding the health and safety of the student in event of a needle stick or splash exposure.
   4. Have learning objectives for the student while on the rotation.
   5. Meet the travel requirements specified below.

Travel Restrictions and Requirements

• UND SMHS will not approve the travel of a student to an area with a US State Department travel warning which discourages all but essential travel to the area. Other US State Department warnings will be reviewed on a country by country basis and may prevent approval of the elective.
• International electives must be registered with the UND International Center. The student must contact Emily Dougherty one month prior to your rotation.
• The student must be registered with the US State Department's STEP program prior to departure.
• The UND SMHS malpractice insurance does not cover a student's experience while on an international rotation. If malpractice insurance is required while on the rotation, the student must purchase this independently.
• All UND students studying abroad are required to purchase the Culture Insurance Services International (CISI) Health Insurance which specifically covers international health issues that most domestic health insurance does not cover for health related issues outside of the US ($40 per month).
• The student will be required to receive vaccinations recommended by the CDC for their international destination prior to travel.
• The student must have a passport which is valid 6 months after the expected return date, carry a copy of the passport in a separate safe location and leave a second copy with a trusted source at home.
• The student is responsible for determining whether they also need a Visa for travel on the international elective.

Prior to travel, the student must complete: edx: BUx: GlobalHealthX The Practitioner's Guide to Global Health.

• The Practitioner's Guide to Global Health Parts 1-3
• Do not need to pay for certificate, but must submit a screenshot of your completed progress page.
• Part 1, ideally completed 6-12 months prior to departure.
• Part 2, 1-3 months prior to departure.
• Part 3, immediately prior to departure.

Fees

The student is responsible for the $45 GHLO application fee, any fees associated with passports, visas, travel, travel and health insurance, room and board, tuition if charged by the institution they are doing the rotation through and any other incidental costs incurred during the rotation.

• Please check with your personal health insurance prior to getting travel vaccines as these are often no longer covered.

Credit for Rotations

• To receive credit for the rotation, the student must complete all pre-rotation requirements as specified above.
• Upon return, the student will complete a written reflection on their experience discussing differences seen in healthcare between their international site and home and relating their experience abroad to their future career and the impact the international rotation has had on their planned practice of medicine.

• Careers in Medicine
• AMA Choosing a Medical Specialty
• AAFP Choosing a Medical Specialty
• Strolling Through the Match - Choosing Primary Care - Section 1 See pages 7-17

Specialty Colleges and Societies

• American Academy of Dermatology
• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • A Career in Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Guidelines for Pursing a Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery
• American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  
• College of American Pathologists
  
• American Academy of Pediatrics
  
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  
• American College of Physicians
  
• American College of Preventive Medicine
  
• American Psychiatric Association
  
• American College of Radiology
  
• American College of Surgeons
  
• American Urological Association
  
• AMA Directory of Federation Societies

Finding Residency Programs

• FREIDA Online and AMA Residency and Fellowship Database

Applying For Residency

• AMA: Applying for Residency Checklist
• ERAS Residency Applicant Checklist
• Roadmap to Residency

Applications

The Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) is the standardized system almost all residencies use to receive applications.

• ERAS Tools and Worksheets
• Apply Smart
• MyERAS Worksheet
• MyERAS Residency User Guide

The personal statement is your chance to get the residency program's attention when reading your application.

• One page in length
• Gives information about your unique characteristics and why you are a good candidate for residency
• Gives information on why you are choosing your specialty
• Opportunity to discuss your future goals

These example personal statements are provided as examples only. Please do not copy anything from these for your personal statement as this will be considered as plagiarism.

• Personal Statement Examples
• Careers in Medicine: Writing Your Personal Statement
• AAFP Writing a Personal Statement for Residency
• Strolling Through the Match- Preparing your Credentials - Section 3 See Pages 26-36

• Careers in Medicine: Writing a CV and CV Examples
• CV Checklist
• Strolling Through the Match- Preparing your Credentials - Section 3 See Pages 26-36

You should have at least 3 letters of recommendation for your applications. The letter writer needs to be familiar enough with you to write a detailed letter. Please check to see if your specialty requires a chair letter (letter of recommendation from the UND SMHS academic chair of your department).

You are able to designate which letters go to which programs when applying.

All letters uploaded to ERAS must be uploaded by the faculty writing the letter or their designee. If your letter writer is unable to upload their own letter, please contact your campus office for a list of designees.

• AAMC Careers in Medicine: Letters of Recommendation
• AAMC Letter of Recommendation Portal FAQ

Some specialties require standardized letters of recommendation.

• Emergency Medicine
• Plastic Surgery

• AAMC Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools
• AAMC Debt Repayment
• The Cost of Applying for Medical Residency
• Careers In Medicine: The Cost of Residency Interviews

• Careers in Medicine: Interviewing
• Frequently Asked Interview Questions
• Interviewing Residency Programs
• AMA Interviewing for Residency
• AAFP: Interviewing Tips
• AAFP: Questions to Ask During Your Residency Interview
• Strolling Through the Match - The Interview Process - Section 6 See Pages 55-70

After the Interview

• Following Up After Residency Interview
• Careers in Medicine Rank Order Lists
• The MATCH Ranking Residency Programs
• Residency Evaluation Guide

You must register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) as well as ERAS to participate in the main match.

• NRMP
• Main Residency Match Applicant Checklist
• American Academy of Family Physicians Match Information
• Ophthalmology Early Match (sfmatch)
• Urology Match
• Military Match Info:
  
  • EMRA Military Match
  • Military Residency Match 2020
• Couples Match
• Careers in Medicine: Navigating the Match as a Couple
• Strolling Through the Match - The Match: What it is and How It Works - Section 7 See pages 71-80
  
  

SOAP is the process used if you are not offered a position in the main match process.

• NRMP SOAP Information
• Careers in Medicine: SOAP
• Strolling Through the Match - Section 7 See page 78

• Introduction to the 4th Year
• UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Student Policies
• UND School of Medicine & Health Science Resident Policies & Procedures
• AAMC Careers in Medicine Student Guide
• AAMC Careers in Medicine: Choosing a Medical Specialty
• AAMC: Roadmap to Residency
• AAFP: Strolling Through the Match