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Medical College of Wisconsin Medical School Medical School

Visiting Senior Medical Students at the Medical College of Wisconsin

About Our Program

Fall Term

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) welcomes visiting senior medical students who are attending an LCME-accredited medical school or COCA-accredited osteopathic medical school to apply for a 4-week rotation for credit during the fall term. We encourage all senior medical students to review our electives and apply through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) website. We only accept students through the VSLO website.

The Office of the Registrar coordinates applications and scheduling for visiting senior medical students who wish to pursue a 4-week elective for credit.

Spring Term

MCW does not offer spring electives to visiting students. If interested in observing or job shadowing, please review the following links:

Note that some departments may not be able to accommodate observerships/job shadow opportunities. Please contact the individual institution with any questions.

Prospective Visiting Students

Visiting Student Senior Elective Catalog

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Application Requirements

Requirements for all visiting students interested in applying to a rotation at MCW include the following:

  • AAMC Standardized Immunization Form
  • National Criminal Background Check completed on or after July 1 (within 2 years of rotation dates)
  • CV/Resume
  • Transcript
  • USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1 score
  • Photograph
  • Letter of Interest
  • Optional: Visiting Student Health Equity Program (VSP)
  • Optional: Letter of Recommendation (Electives may require, but not all)
  • Optional: Affiliation Agreement. If your institution requires an Affiliation Agreement with MCW, please provide us your institution’s agreement by emailing visitingstudent@mcw.edu.

Apply via VSLO

Important Dates & Reminders

Important Dates

  • Browsing electives in VSLO: First week in January
  • Submitting applications in VSLO: First week in March
  • Decisions being sent in VSLO: First week in May

Reminders

  • MCW is unable to change the dates of rotations. The Medical College of Wisconsin is a large institution and changing dates is not feasible for rotation coordinators.
  • Dates may close prior to the auto-close in VSLO due to the elective being full or no longer being available.

Review VSLO for exact dates in the upcoming fall term

Participating Departments

The list below includes all departments that are currently accepting visiting students. Please note that this list may vary each fall term, and some departments may not be able to host visiting students during a given academic year.

Visiting Student Health Equity Program (VSP)

The Visiting Student Health Equity Program (VSP) offers participating students an opportunity to connect with MCW faculty, students, and trainees, while receiving mentoring and advising from faculty and trainees. This program is open to all full-time senior medical students attending an LCME-accredited medical school or COCA-accredited osteopathic medical school.

Learn about the Visiting Student Health Equity Program

International Students

The Medical College of Wisconsin does not accept students from international medical schools for senior electives. VSLO does provide a list of institutions that do accept international school applicants.

If interested in observing or job shadowing in the Milwaukee area, please review the following links:

Students from the following LCME-accredited medical schools in Puerto Rico, a U.S. Territory, are eligible to apply for electives offered in any U.S. Network Catalogs:

  • Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine
  • San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
  • Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
  • University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

Acceptance Requirements for Current/Accepted Visiting Students

The following requirements must be completed no later than one week after accepting the offer. If not completed, you may be dropped from the rotation.

  • Proof of OSHA safety measures and infection control precautions completion
    (Contact your Home Institution regarding where you completed OSHA safety.)
  • Proof of ACLS or BLS (must be valid for your elective at MCW)
  • Proof of health insurance coverage
  • Proof of mask fit test (if required for your rotation)
  • Proof of medical liability and/or malpractice insurance will be covered by the home school during this elective time (Minimum $3,000,000 Aggregate, Minimum $1,000,000 Per Instance)

These requirements can be completed in VSLO. When submitting the documents, ensure you click submit twice.

Visiting Senior Medical Student Resources

Guides & Handbooks

Housing

MCW does not provide housing. Resources are available to aid in your search.

View student housing resources

Transportation

Parking information will be provided by the rotation department.

View MCW maps & directions

Options for those that don't plan to have a vehicle during rotation:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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I haven’t taken Step 1 or COMLEX 1. Can I apply to electives at MCW?

Yes, you may still apply for electives at MCW. We will make you conditionally eligible when reviewing pre-decision requirements. Once we receive your passing score, we update your eligibility to Eligible.

My school requires COMLEX Level 1 exam and not USMLE Step 1 exam. Can I still apply for a rotation at MCW?

Yes, MCW accepts COMLEX Level 1 exam scores and USMLE Step 1 exam scores.

Does MCW offer 2-week or 3-week electives?

No, MCW only offers 4-week electives.

I applied for a rotation at MCW. When will I know if I was accepted?

The MCW Office of the Registrar and participating departments will begin reviewing all applicants in April and send out offers in early May.

I was accepted as a visiting student. Is there a processing fee to attend MCW as a visiting student?

There is no additional processing fee for visiting students attending a rotation.

I need to upload an updated background check. Where can I get an updated background check?

To receive an updated background check, please work with your institution to see if they can provide you with one or complete a free background check that has all the requirements that are required for an MCW rotation.

I was accepted as a visiting student, but the dates do not align with the dates of my institution. Can I switch my dates to align with my institution dates?

MCW is unable to change the dates of rotations. The Medical College of Wisconsin is a large institution and changing dates is not feasible for our rotation coordinators.

Who should I contact if I need time off during my rotation?

If you require time off during your rotation, please contact your Electives Course Coordinator. Ensure that you provide sufficient notice to allow for approval and to facilitate a plan for making up any missed time, if necessary.

 

Reasons to live in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW residents and fellows take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

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Contact Us

Office of the Registrar

(414) 955-8733
visitingstudent@mcw.edu

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