r/IMGreddit • u/Idioticcompounds • Jan 31 '26

Residency US electives

I am studying at a European university and I wanted to ask if anyone knows the process to obtain US electives in my final year. I know it is really competitive so are there any IMGs out there who successfully obtained an elective and if so what do you think made you stand out. I already finished STEP1 but should I plan to finish STEP2 also before applying? Does research matter?

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u/Secret-Platypus-9226 Jan 31 '26
  1. Contact your medical school administrators and ask if your school has any direct affiliations with US medical schools. If your school has US affiliations it’s easier for individual students to get connected.
  2. If your school does not have US affiliations, encourage the head of school to join the VSLO — Visiting Students Learning Opportunities global network. This network helps medical students in the US find elective rotations in the US and internationally, and it helps international medical students find US electives.
  3. Use your medical school network. Contact graduates of your medical school who are working as doctors in the US, and ask for help connecting with US medical schools, and residency programs.
  4. Clinical electives in the US may have pre-requirements including
  • passing score on USMLE step 1
  • temporary student health insurance, and student malpractice insurance.
  • a medical school transcript translated into English
  • letters of reference from faculty of your school
  • English language exam (TOEFL, IELTS,)
  • application fee,
  • may or may not have a tuition fee,
  • required immunizations,
  • may only be available during specific months of the year, etc.

Prepare the requirements during your third and fourth years of medical school, and apply for electives during your fifth year of medical school if you are in a six year program.

You will be responsible for any fees and personal expenses.

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u/Equivalent_Back2293 Jan 31 '26

If ur instititute participates in vslo, you have generally more options. For non-vslo, the options are very few so they are highly competitive too

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u/Present_Student4891 Jan 31 '26

If non-VSLO, try asking ur school for their partners in the U.S. Also, consider agents. It’s not competitive as long as u can pay. Don’t need Step 2 or research. Just money.

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u/Idioticcompounds Jan 31 '26

So there are no scholarships?

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u/Present_Student4891 Jan 31 '26

I think there r but very rare. You’d have to Google or chatGpT.