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The Dean's letter (MSPE): what it is and how to get it from your medical school.

What the Medical Student Performance Evaluation contains, how to request it from your current or previous medical school, how it reaches programs, and what to do if your school does not provide one.

The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), often called the Dean's letter, is your medical school's official summary of your performance. Programs read it carefully because it comes from your institution and describes you in the context of your classmates. It is not written by you, but you can make sure it is requested, accurate and on time.

What an MSPE contains

  • Identifying information and unique characteristics: a short, school-written statement of what makes you distinctive.
  • Academic history: your path through school, including any leave, remediation or extension, with an explanation.
  • Academic progress: summaries of your preclinical and clinical performance.
  • Summary: an overall assessment, often with a comparison to your class.
  • Medical school information: how the school grades and ranks.

How to request it

  1. Find the right office. It is usually the office of student affairs or the dean's office. Ask who writes and releases the letter.
  2. Ask early. Contact them in the spring or early summer before you apply, and ask about their timeline, the required forms and any fees.
  3. Meet your advisor or dean. Many schools hold a meeting so the writer can learn about your goals and your strongest experiences. Bring a draft CV and a short list of points you want considered.
  4. Review for accuracy. Check that dates, courses and awards are correct. Ask for corrections through the official process.
  5. Confirm how it will be sent. Schools generally upload the MSPE through their ERAS process, and the AAMC sets the date when programs can see it. Check the official AAMC page for the current release date.

If you have already graduated, or your school is far away

  • Write a formal request to the registrar or dean's office of your school, with your full name, student ID, graduation date and the programs or service you are applying through.
  • Ask for a written timeline, fees, and the format they will use to send the document.
  • Follow up politely and keep copies of every message. Remote schools can be slow, so start earlier than you think you need.
  • If documents must be translated, use certified translations and ask whether the school or ECFMG requires a particular process.

If your school does not provide an MSPE

Some schools produce a different document, such as a dean's letter or a medical school letter. Ask your school for the closest equivalent, and check with ERAS or ECFMG how it should be submitted. Explain in your application if your school's format differs from what U.S. programs usually see, and ask your advisor how to handle it.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until the application opens to start the request.
  • Assuming the school will send it automatically without checking.
  • Not reviewing the letter for factual errors.
  • Missing the date the document is required by the application service.

International graduates should also read our guide for international medical graduates for how documents reach ERAS through ECFMG.