Medical Student Performance Evaluation
The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) is a written transcript of the student's performance in medical school and a required component of the residency application. The School of Medicine prepares MSPEs for all students regardless of their residency application plans in accordance with the AAMC’s guidelines.
Sample MSPEs:
Providing information for the MSPE
Students will be contacted by email in April of the year before they graduate with instructions on how to submit a current CV and complete an MSPE Info Form to highlight their significant activities and accomplishments during medical school.
Students have the opportunity to review and correct factual errors before MSPEs are finalized and sent to residency programs.
The format of the MSPE
MSPEs include the following:
- Noteworthy Characteristics: three short paragraphs organized by theme or topic that include students’ activities or accomplishments during medical school. The student selects which characteristics are included in this section.
- Academic History: information on matriculation and expected graduation dates, and any extensions in educational program or time off.
- Academic Progress: summary evaluation comments and/or grades from courses and clerkships. This section must include details of any non-passing grades or remediation. Remediation language is standardized by the Assessment Dean and used across all MSPEs. Standard descriptions are also included in the MSPE for curriculum, special programs (JMP, MD/MAS, MSTP, PRIME), and clinical tracks (LIFE, Model SFGH, KLIC, PISCES, VALOR). Program directors also contribute summaries for students who participated in the JMP, MSTP, and PRIME.
- Summary: A statement of the student’s fulfillment of the requirements to date in medical school, and diversity statement (if applicable).
- Medical School Information: An appendix that lists information about the School and composition of the MSPE.
Evaluations included in the MSPE
Summary evaluation comments are included for FPC or CMC, all Foundations 2 core clerkships, and Career Launch clerkships and courses that submit final evaluations by a September deadline determined annually by the MSPE team.
Summary evaluation comments are edited for grammar in the MSPE, but not for content. Students must submit any requests for revisions to summary comments to the course director within four weeks of an evaluation being completed.
The MSPE adjective
The UCSF School of Medicine does not assign an MSPE adjective or class rank.
MSPE addenda
At the discretion of the Associate Dean for Competency Assessment and Professional Standards, an MSPE may be addended to include all evaluations received after the MSPE was originally transmitted. An addendum becomes a permanent part of the MSPE. Please contact LJ [email protected] with questions.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How do I request my MSPE for fellowship applications?
A. For fellowship applications through ERAS, please first email the Student Assessment Team [email protected] to let us know of your request, then submit an electronic request through the EFDO Medical Institution Document Upload Service (MIDUS) to have your MSPE uploaded, and include the following contact information:
Student Assessment Team
UCSF School of Medicine
Medical Student Education
San Francisco, CA 94143
[email protected]
To have your MSPE sent directly to a program or institution, please send the contact information in an email to the Student Assessment Team [email protected]. In your email, please include explicit permission for the SOM to transmit your MSPE. The email should say: “I, [fill in your name], give permission to the UCSF SOM to transmit my MSPE for my applications to [fill in name of institution or program].”
Please note: It is our policy to send MSPEs directly to ERAS or to the program/institution. We do not release official MSPEs directly to students or alumni.
Q. How do I request my transcript for fellowship applications?
A. Our office can upload your UCSF transcript via MIDUS. Link for ordering transcripts:
https://registrar.ucsf.edu/transcripts/ordering-transcripts. Please order a PDF transcript.
After obtaining the PDF, please send your transcript in PDF form, or the pick-up codes to the Student Assessment Team [email protected], in an email that includes explicit permission for the School of Medicine to re-release your transcript to ERAS. The email should say: "I, [fill in your name], give permission to the SOM to disclose my transcript for my applications to programs administered by the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).”
It is essential that the School of Medicine obtain this permission from you so we remain in compliance with federal privacy regulations. Additionally, submit a request in MIDUS for your transcript to be uploaded and enter the Student Assessment Team contact information above.
Q: Will I be able to review my MSPE before it is finalized?
A: Yes, MSPE drafts for MS4s are available in late August for review. Students receive an email with their MSPE draft and instructions for review.
Q: I am applying in an early match specialty (ophthalmology or urology). Will my MSPE be sent earlier to programs?
A: MSPEs are released on the yearly national release date, regardless of specialty. The national release date is at the end of September each year, and programs will not expect your MSPE before then.
Last updated: 5/30/24
