Electives in America - Frequently Asked Questions by Jaidev Nath

Written on August 02, 2011

Contact address: jrn772@bham.ac.uk

1) Who are you?

My name is Jaidev and I am a final year medical student here at Birmingham. I grew up in
America and am planning to go back after graduation for a pediatric residency. So if I get a job, I
promise I'll write up a guide on how to go to America for post-graduate training :)
2) Where did you go for your elective? And what did you do it in?
I did my elective in Pediatrics at INOVA Fairfax Children's Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, about
20-30 miles away from Washington DC.
3) Is it easy to get an elective in America?
It's not that easy! The main reason for this is the USMLE Step 1. This is an eight hour,
standardized preclinical exam that every American medical student is required to take after year
2. Without a passing score on USMLE Step 1, your options are significantly limited. I had to do
Step 1 to get a placement in Virginia. That being said, if you know which Unis don't require step
1, you have a high chance of securing an elective and there's no reason to give up on that
American dream!
4) So should I take USMLE Step 1 to increase my chances?
Please don't! Not unless you are serious about applying to America for postgraduate training
(either residency or fellowship). This is a daunting exam that requires months and months of
preparation. It also costs about $800!! If you are serious about taking this exam, feel free to
email me and I will be more than happy to help.
5) Which universities don't require Step 1?
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine - New York City, New York
http://www.mssm.edu/education/student-resources/registrar/electives/foreign-visiting-students
Washington Hospital Center - Washington DC (You need to email individual departments.
Tuition is free and there is no application fee)
http://www.whcenter.org/body.cfm?id=555884
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/visitingstudents/internq2.cfm

University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/education/md/prospective-students/cached/informationapplication.cfm
National Institute of Health - Clinical Elective - Bethesda, Maryland
https://www2.cc.nih.gov/apps/publicForms/cep/forms/cepApp.aspx
Harvard - Boston, MA
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/registrar/aServices/xClerk.html
Yale - New Haven, CT
http://medicine.yale.edu/globalhealth/international/about/application.aspx
Emory - Atlanta, GA (Their application says step 1 is required, but I know someone in my year
who secured an elective without Step 1)
http://www.med.emory.edu/admissions/howtoapplyvisitingmedstudents.cfm
Cornell - New York
http://www.med.cornell.edu/education/curriculum/fourth/electives/vis_int_stu.html
Northwestern University - Chicago
http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/AWOME/visiting-students/
Brown University- Rhode Island
http://med.brown.edu/students/international/
University of Louisville - Louisville, Kentucky
http://medicalstudentaffairs.louisville.edu/visiting-student-clerkships
Baylor College of Medicine - Houston, Texas
http://www.bcm.edu/registrar/?pmid=7504
Tufts University - Boston, MA
http://www.tufts.edu/med/about/offices/osa/visitingstudentinfo.html
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia - You need to email the registrar for more info.
http://www.jefferson.edu/oies/rotations_electives.cfm

University of Missouri - Kanasas City

http://www.med.umkc.edu/electives/visiting.shtml
University of of Kansas- Wichita (Step 1 is required but can be exempted, but please email to
confirm)
http://wichita.kumc.edu/asa/forms/Visiting_Student_App.pdf
University of Washington - Seattle
http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Education/MD-Program/visiting-students/InternationalStudents/Pages/default.aspx
Cook County Hospital/John Stroger Hospital - Chicago
Unfortunately they don't have a website. You have to google search individual departments and
email them.
The general trick to finding these websites are to google search "University Name" and "Visiting
Medical Students".
6) Is that it? Just 19 universities?
This list is almost comprehensive. I might have missed out a few community hospitals that don't
require step 1. The only way you can spot them is by mass emailing random hospital department
faculty members. I have also left out a few places such as UMass and NYU, because I know the
deadline has passed. But the 19 places mentioned above are the major players that don't require
USMLE Step 1.
7) Any other helpful websites?
The VSAS website is really helpful. Make sure you checkmark "Accepts International Students"
when you are performing your searches.
https://services.aamc.org/20/vsas/public/advancedSearch/
8) How do I choose from that list?
Go through the list above and study each and every website. Tuition can be a big limiting factor,
with some places such as Harvard charging up to 3-4000 dollars for four weeks! So narrow down
that list to about 6-7 schools depending on what you are looking for; prestige, budget, location,
specialties available for international students etc.
9) Ok, I have a few schools in mind. What do I do next?

After you narrow it down, email all of them (email addresses are often hidden in these websites,
but they're almost always there). Don't ask questions that are answered in the websites. They
really dislike that, as it shows that you didn't put in the time and effort to study the website
carefully. Therefore please read every single page/form carefully before shooting off any emails.
But good questions to ask would be, how early should I apply? When will I find out if I have
been accepted? What's the competition ratio like? What are the accommodation options nearby?
Visa queries? etc.
10) How early should I apply?
I have a friend who applied and secured a spot while he was still in 3rd year (April). So apply
ASAP if possible! Once you have received your replies and you're happy to apply, narrow it
down to a single program. Download all their application forms and requirements and get started
on them immediately. US universities are notorious for requiring tedious immunization forms,
CV etc. For most applications, time is money. So try not to waste any.
11) I have applied. What next?
Congratulations. The hard part is over! Now just sit back and relax. Sip on a hot cup of tea and
keep clicking the refresh button on your email. Hopefully you will be receiving that acceptance
email soon. And be very wary of applying to programs that won't confirm your acceptance until
a few weeks/couple of months before the beginning of elective. Make sure you have a decent
backup plan if you have your mind set on one of these schools.
12) How are electives like in America?
There is no general answer to this question. It can vary depending on which university and which
specialty. But as a rule of thumb, be prepared to work at least 35-40 hours a week, and up to 80
hours if you are applying for sub-internship electives. American electives are very hands on and
consultants will give you a great deal of autonomy on patient management. This means that you
will get to learn a lot by doing. No matter where you end up going, I can almost guarantee that it
will be a fantastic learning experience.
13) Thanks a lot for this guide. But I have so many more questions dude! What should I do?
You're welcome :) If you have any more questions feel free to email me at JRN772@bham.ac.uk
and I will try and help you out as much as I can. Otherwise I will definitely point you in the right
direction. Best of luck with your application process and enjoy your time in America. It won't
disappoint!!