Applying for residencies
Medical Student Performance Evaluation
The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), an evaluation of the student’s academic performance and progression during medical school, is sent to residency programs at the request of the student. The letter is written according to AAMC guidelines.
The MSPE must include adverse actions taken against the student by the College of Medicine as well as leaves of absences for personal, medical, academic, or administrative reasons. A complete chronology must be presented from the student’s initial matriculation into medical school through the first part of the fourth year.
The student is responsible for providing accurate information to the Office of Student Life through submission of the MSPE Questionnaire. This is required of all students to facilitate the writing of their MSPE and is accessed through VITALS. The deadline for submitting the form is in the spring of the student’s third year (exact due date posted to VITALS for each class).
In the months of June, July, and August, each student will be assigned to a member of the Dean’s staff who will meet with the student to review their MSPE and provide residency-specific counseling. Under any circumstance, a student may request that they be reassigned to a different member of the Dean’s staff.
The MSPE is uploaded on or before the AAMC-designated release date in September of the student’s senior year. A sample MPSE is posted here.
Student review and challenge of the MSPE
Students review the initial draft of their MSPE when they meet and work with their assigned MSPE writer to prepare the Noteworthy Characteristics section and for Match advising. They may review their MSPE at any time by contacting the MSPE program coordinator, Stacy Drake, who will either meet with them in person or send them an electronic copy for review.
Challenges regarding grades and narratives should be made according to the policies of the specific curriculum course. Challenges regarding other MSPE content including the Academic History and Summary must be addressed to the Associate Dean for Medical Education who will review and make a determination.
National Residency Matching Program (“the Match”)
The National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) is the process that correlates the interests of graduating medical students with hospitals across the country that have residency positions to fill. The process is a year-long effort that culminates with “Match Day” on the third Friday in March. Some specialties participate in early Match programs: San Francisco Match, the Military Match, or the American Urological Association Match (dates determined by each entity on an annual basis).
Students register for the appropriate application service in the early summer at the end of their third year. NRMP registration opens early fall. Designated dates for release of the application to residency programs are set each year by the AAMC and will be shared with students through career advising and Match sessions. Residency programs will subsequently schedule interviews with prospective students. In late-January to mid-February, students and institutions rank their preferences confidentially. They are then matched nationally by a computerized ranking process that gives greater preference to student ranking choices. At exactly the same time on the same day on the designated date in March, students across the United States are informed of their individual results of the Match.
Participation in the NRMP or early match is a binding, contractual relationship. Students are required to attend the assigned residency programs. Any contract changes must be approved by the NRMP as well as the residency program director if the student is eligible to start a residency program.
Requirements for graduation
Satisfactory completion of the medical curriculum at The Ohio State University is dependent upon the acquisition of knowledge, mastery of skills, and development of attitudes and behaviors necessary for the modern practice of medicine by meeting the core educational objectives of the medical curriculum as detailed in handbook section 6 (Academic Affairs).
The LSI curriculum is a competency-based curriculum. As such, each student must attain a minimally acceptable level of competence in all competency domains within each part of the curriculum (Parts 1, 2, and 3) in a defined sequence. Successful completion of each portion of the curriculum will be judged by the student’s overall performance in all competencies, with the Grading Committees combined with the Academic Advancement Committee charged with the responsibility of certifying that a student has completed all of the technical standards for each part of the curriculum and ensuring readiness for advancement or graduation.
Graduation requirements
Curricular requirements for completion of the MD degree include demonstrated competency in ALL curricular learning outcomes.
In addition, students must pass Parts 1, 2 & 3 of the curriculum, post a passing score on the USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK exams, and meet all professional standards of the College of Medicine. Each of the curricular components is monitored by a separate academic program committee, which must verify successful completion of that component before the student may progress to the next portion of the curriculum.
Students are required to participate in course and program evaluations and are strongly encouraged to complete the AAMC Graduate Questionnaire prior to graduation.
Required direct disclosure for licensure and certification programs
U.S. Department of Education regulations and NC-SARA policies require institutions to disclose whether a program leading to a professional license or certification meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in all U.S. states. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning maintains central disclosure websites, and units must share the following disclosure on the licensure program webpage maintained by the unit.
On-campus licensure or certification programs
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information.
Ohio State makes every effort to ensure state licensure and certification information is current; however, state requirements may change. Please contact the applicable licensing board(s) in the state where you may want to pursue licensure or certification before beginning an academic program to verify whether a program meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state.