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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Medical Student Performance Evaluation?

The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) is a comprehensive assessment of your performance in achieving the educational objectives of our medical school curriculum. It is neither a letter of recommendation nor the college’s prediction of your future performance in a residency program. The MSPE does describe your performance through three full years of medical school and part of your fourth year. It is then transmitted to the residency programs you apply to during your senior year.

Who writes the MSPE?

Susan Leonhart, on behalf of our Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Where does the information come from for my MSPE?

From MedSTAR--for your Medical School Biodata Form and for your preclinical and clinical grades.

What’s the deadline for completing the Medical School Biodata Form?

June 1 is the deadline for third-year medical students to submit their biodata form via medSTAR. After that date, you can send updates anytime via e-mail to susan.leonhart@osumc.edu.

Will I have a chance to review my MSPE before it goes out?

Yes. In early August you will receive a letter from Dr. Stone stating which assistant dean you will meet with to review your MSPE (students are assigned randomly). It is your responsibility to contact that person and to set up a mutually convenient appointment during the middle of August through the first week of October. Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment so that you can proofread your MSPE. Make any notes that you wish on your draft to discuss during your meeting.

Do I get to look at my MSPE a second time to see if I missed anything?

With our tight production deadline, it’s just not possible. That’s why we encourage you to submit a complete Medical School Biodata Form prior to meeting with your reviewer. This way, when you do go over your MSPE, you can see how everything will appear and make the appropriate changes. You can keep track of grades that are posted after your review session through medSTAR.

If we have questions about any changes that you requested be made on your MSPE, you'll be contacted by e-mail for clarification.

What steps should I take if I don’t agree with a clerkship evaluation or grade?

You should see the program coordinator immediately. Don’t wait until you review your MSPE; it may be too late. Neither you nor your reviewer can add or delete statements from clerkship evaluations.

Does the MSPE include the “Additional Comments” that appear at the bottom of the grade card?

In most cases, no. If a negative comment, such as “does not work well with team members,” appears frequently in the additional comments of your evaluations, Dr. Stone does has the prerogative to address that issue in your MSPE.

What rotations are included in my MSPE?

All of your clerkships and electives from July of your third year through August of your fourth year will appear in your MSPE, regardless of the grade and in chronological order. Core clerkships or remediations that come after August will also be included.

Should I include my September rotation in my MSPE?

The deciding factor should be whether or not the clerkship is relevant to what your residency plans are. If you feel this will make you a stronger candidate, by all means ask us to include it. To do so, you must submit your September 2008 Clerkship Request form by August 1 (http://is.med.ohio-state.edu/colmed/MSPERequest.asp).

When you review your MSPE, there will be a notation stating “Requested September (name of) rotation.” You will need to keep checking medSTAR to find out your grade.
If it is not what you expected, just e-mail susan.leonhart@osumc.edu and let her know you want your September evaluation deleted from your MSPE. You’ll receive a confirming e-mail that this has been done.

What if I need to remediate a clerkship?

No MSPE goes out with an Incomplete, Unsatisfactory, or Unsatisfactory Exam grade. Remediations must be completed as early as possible, especially for military personnel.

What is the earliest date my MSPE can be sent out?

The AAMC rules: November 1 is the earliest release date for any MSPE (even for the early Match).