Medical Student Performance Evaluations

The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), commonly known as the Dean's Letter, is a narrative assessment prepared by the associate dean of Student Affairs for each graduating student. During the summer and fall of Year 4, the MSPE is finalized based on coursework for which evaluations have been submitted. This evaluation serves as a key component of your residency application, providing residency directors with an overview of your academic performance and professional qualities. 

MSPE checklist and student to-do list:

June 1 – June 30 

  • Students schedule their MSPE appointment. Emailed instructions will be sent to students May.  
  • Students complete MSPE Prep Document. 
  • Students complete Noteworthy Characteristics section for the MSPE. 
  • Students complete personal statement draft. 
  • Students update CV 

July - early September 

Students prepare for and attend individual MSPE appointments. Each student will upload, one week prior to MSPE appointment date, the following completed forms and information: 

  • Draft of CV 
  • Draft of Personal Statement 
  • Draft of residency application 
  • Completed MSPE preparation document 

September 15 - last week in September 

  • Students proofread individual MSPE prior to national release in ERAS 
  • Sign MSPE release form 

MSPE process and preparation 

The MSPE is provided each September to all residency programs each student has applied to using that service. The last Wednesday in September is a national release date for all medical schools' use. 

Please provide the information requested and upload via the online MSPE portal on the SharePoint site (access information will be sent via separate email). The MSPE preparation document contains instructions for completing your Noteworthy Characteristic and questions assessing your strengths and weaknesses. Your thoughtful completion of this information will assist in the creation of your individual MSPE. Students will upload their CV, personal statement, unique characteristics paragraphs, and biography form directly to their individual folder on the MSPE SharePoint site. Students will also review and edit (grammar and factual errors only) their MSPE on the site. Students must provide a copy of their CV, personal statement and a biographical form one week before their appointment. Your appointment will be canceled if this form is not received one week prior to your MSPE meeting. 

The performance category is determined by the following: 

  • Basic science and clinical clerkship grades 
  • Progress in the student's level of clinical competence and professionalism, as evidenced by evaluation comments in the basic science coursework, clinical clerkships 
  • Major clinical electives during a student's fourth year. 
  • USMLE Step I and Step II (if available by upload date) scores 
  • Leadership, research, and service experiences 
  • Membership in the medical student honor society (AOA) or Gold Humanism Honor Society
  • Remediation, if applicable, during medical school

Samples 

The MSPE is written by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Administrative support is coordinated by the Registrar. Students are provided ample opportunities to review drafts of their MSPE before they are finalized and uploaded to residency application service providers. Changes to evaluative components of the MSPE are not permitted, unless there are typographical changes. 

Students will meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs July through August. The meeting includes: 

  • Discussion and advisement with each student about specialty choice 
  • Review of application strategies, CVs and personal statements 
  • Review and discussion of a draft MSPE 

Students will upload their CV, personal statement, unique characteristics paragraphs, and biography form directly to their individual folder on the MSPE SharePoint site. Students will also review and edit (grammar and factual errors only) their MSPE on the site. Students must provide a copy of their CV, personal statement and a biographical form one week before their appointment. 

Students can contact Brandi Aiazzi or Cherie Singer, Ph.D. with any questions.