MSPE VERSUS DEAN'S LETTER

Earlier, for the 2006 Match, candidates had to either submit a Dean's Letter OR the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) - but for the 2007 Match, the rules are CHANGED !

Let's have a look at the what the MSPE announcement on the MSPE Guide Reads

(Download the ERAS MSPE Guide Here):

"The name of the dean’s letter has been changed, effective immediately, to Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) in order to reflect its purpose as an evaluation of a medical student’s performance (rather than a recommendation or prediction of future performance). The MSPE describes, in a sequential manner, a student’s performance, as compared to that of his/her peers, through three full years of medical school and, as much as possible, the fourth year. The MSPE includes an assessment of both the student’s academic performance and professional attributes."

And later on this part was included for those people who do not have a MSPE but have a Dean's Letter instead:

"You can submit a Dean’s letter as your MSPE. The term “Dean’s letter” is no longer used. The term “Medical Student Performance Evaluation” (MSPE) has been implemented to better describe the purpose of this document, which is to evaluate the performance of the medical student. It is not a letter of recommendation. The content of the MSPE/Dean’s letter is what matters, not the name of the document."

Which means - even if you submitted a document called "Dean's letter" to ERAS-ECFMG, that will be inlcluded on your application as "MSPE" and will be called MSPE


Download the Sample MSPE Template Format :
MSPE PDF file OR MSPE Word file

Now why did this happen ? The Dean's letter did not adequate reflect a comparison of the candidate with his peers in the class and was written more as a formality by official people not entirely aware of the candidate's merits and deficits. Hence the MSPE is being advocated instead.

What if you do not have an MSPE / Dean's Letter by the time of ERAS applications ?

You are required to mention it's unavailability on the Common Application Form on MyERAS - and ERAS is then supposed to place a standardized document in PLACE of an MSPE for such candidates - as the ECFMG website section thankfully says :

"A neutral filler letter will be provided in place of a MSPE. The filler letter will be provided to all of the programs to which you apply, and will state, This is in lieu of a MSPE." This will ensure that your application will appear as complete, for those programs that require a MSPE before considering your application."



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