Student Advising

The Medical Student Team in Emergency Medicine supports you through the application process, with scheduled information sessions each year and one-on-one meetings with all Phase 2 and Phase 3 students to prepare for fourth year and the Match.

Planning Phase 3

Our first group advising session is in October, before the Phase 3 lotteries, and focuses on planning your Phase 3 schedule. Along with the usual requirements (two acting internships and selectives), you must complete one emergency medicine elective at the Madison campus in May, June, or July, plus one away emergency medicine rotation by September 30.

Away Rotations

Our second group advising session is held in January (as you are just starting your dedicated Step 1 study time). This session covers Away Rotations.

Your away rotation must be at a site with a residency program. Start planning in the winter or early spring of your third year, since some programs accept applications for fourth-year summer rotations as early as January. Apply early, and check each program’s website for details on their process and deadlines. You can also contact the clerkship coordinator directly. Most programs require applications through the AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) system.

It is important that you request a Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) from each fourth-year emergency medicine rotation that you do, including home and away(s). Usually, these rotations are expecting you to ask for it! Learn more about SLOEs here. This is why your rotation needs to be at a site associated with a residency program; to ensure you receive a quality SLOE.

Your away rotation is an important step in your journey, and it offers a few key benefits:

• Provides a second SLOE (evaluation of your EM performance).
• Acts as a month-long interview (“audition”) for a residency program, giving you a chance to showcase your skills and see if the program is a good fit.
• Exposes you to different training environments, such as county or community hospitals, which may help you decide what type of program you want to pursue.

If you’re unsure about which rotations to apply for, we’re here to help. You can always reach out to our team, connect with your home institution’s medical student office, or explore the CORD SLOE FAQs.

Rotation Success

We’ll cover how to shine during your rotations in our third group advising session. You’ll also meet with us one-on-one throughout the process — before, during, and after your home rotation — so we can talk through your strengths, areas for growth, and residency application prep together.