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Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)

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The MSPE is prepared for all senior students by a faculty committee that includes the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Clinical Services. The document is a key part of the residency application packet.

If for any reason, a student believes that the assigned MSPE writer cannot prepare the letter in an unbiased manner, the student may request that the letter be completed by another member of the committee.

The document is a letter of evaluation, NOT a letter of recommendation. That is, it is intended to be a comprehensive summary of the student's academic record through the first 3+ years of medical school. The MSPE consists of the student's progress until the MSPE is submitted on or around September 30th as dictated by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is intended to present the student in the best possible light but also to convey accurate information to a residency program director about the student's qualifications for graduate medical education.

Unique to Emory's MSPE is inclusion of information on the student's Discovery project. Regarding MD/ PhD students, who are not expected to do Discovery, expansion of their research from their PhD work will be detailed in that section. For students who complete a master's program (MPH, MA in Ethics, MSCR), details on their completed thesis will be included.

The MSPE is specialty-neutral and has been standardized by the AAMC across medical schools to include six sections that include the following:

Identifying information

  • Noteworthy characteristics (total of 3) written by student and edited by the MSPE writer
  • Academic history – date of matriculation and leave/interruption of medical education (if applicable)
  • Academic progress – includes student performance on USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK, Foundations and Application phases (grades and summative comments of clinical clerkships), the Discovery phase of the curriculum (unique to Emory), and required clerkships in Translation phase completed by July of application year
  • Summary paragraph
  • Medical school information

View additional information on the MSPE

Process

All graduating medical students should make an appointment to meet with their MSPE writer between April and August of their senior year. Students must provide an up-to-date curriculum vita, 3-5 noteworthy characteristics and complete the MSPE form in OASIS, which is required by the dean's office prior to the scheduled meeting. Each noteworthy characteristic should be no more than 6 lines and will be edited by the letter writer in consultation with the student.

Students can review the MSPE for factual accuracy at two points in the MSPE process (after the first and final drafts). All reviews must be done with the oversight of the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Clinical Services (in-person or via Zoom).

Students who will be out of town during August and/or September should notify their MSPE writer as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to have the letter completed before the student departs, so the student can review the final version of the letter in person. For those students who are not able to review their MSPE in the office, they are encouraged to arrange a call in which the MSPE will be read to them by a staff member from the office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Clinical Services. The MSPE will not be transmitted electronically to students for their review.

All MSPEs are transmitted on or around September 30 of each academic year. This can vary, however.

View the most up-to-date timeline on the AAMC website

Inclusion of Progress & Promotions (P&P) Decisions in the MSPE

P&P decisions are included in a student's internal academic file. The following is how P&P decisions are communicated in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation:

  • Letter of Concern does NOT appear in the MSPE
  • Academic Deficiency does NOT appear in the MSPE
  • Academic Probation is generally not reported in the MSPE unless a student receives an Unsatisfactory grade in a clerkship
  • Academic Probation for professionalism will be reported in the MSPE with a notation of which phase the probation occurred in.
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Last modified: 07/08/2024.

Student Handbook
  • General Information
    • Accreditation
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Emergency Processes
    • MD Program
    • Student-Centered EUSOM Contacts and Resources
  • Matriculation
    • Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing
    • Entering Medical Student Health and Immunization Requirements
    • Student Agreements and Release
    • Technical Requirements for Matriculation*
  • Academic Standards, Policies, and Procedures
    • Attendance
    • Absences
    • Academic Integrity
    • Student Records
    • Students with Disabilities
    • Clinical Placement Reassignment and Schedule Changes
    • Graduation Requirements for the MD Degree
    • Leaves/Interruption of Medical Education
    • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
    • National Standardized Examinations
    • End of Applications (EOA) Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)
    • Progress and Promotions
    • Professional Conduct
    • Registration, Cancellation, and Withdrawal
    • Feedback to Students
    • Student Assessment, Grading, and Grade Appeals
    • Remediation
    • Use of Student Feedback
  • Other University and EUSOM Policies & Procedures
    • Emory University Policies
    • EUSOM Policies
  • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Costs of the MD Program
    • Applying for Financial Aid
    • Types of Financial Aid
    • Maintaining Academic Eligibility for Financial Aid
    • Financial Obligations for Graduation
    • Tuition Refunds
    • Financial Aid Resources and Helpful Links
  • Student Wellness, Health and Other Resources
    • Student Health
    • Student Insurance
    • Wellness and Well-Being
    • Infection Control Protocols
    • Academic Assistance
    • Career Advising
    • Other Resources
    • Video Lecture Capture
  • Information Technology
    • Information Technology Conditions of Use
    • School of Medicine Information Technology Services (SOMITS)
    • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) IT Requirements
    • Smart Device Security
    • Student Portal
    • WHSC Library
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