Your MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics section can be the make-or-break section of your ERAS residency application. To stand out from the crowd, you need compelling descriptions that truly reflect your unique qualities. But how do you ensure the Noteworthy Characteristics section of your MSPE catches the eye of residency program directors? Start with this short guide! We’ll walk you through examples and proven strategies for writing high-impact descriptions to help you get into your top-choice residency.
>>Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<
Listen to the blog!
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Guidelines
The MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation) Noteworthy Characteristics section summarizes your top achievements, personal qualities, and experiences. This section showcases the diverse experiences, skills, backgrounds, and perspectives you can bring to the residency program.
Unlike the ERAS letters of recommendation, which provide persuasive narratives and in-depth analysis from your writers, the MSPE strives to be as objective as possible. Rather than offering subjective opinions, the MSPE delivers a clear and organized overview of your achievements and skills.
The AAMC has some general MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics guidelines to help you get started:
- Include up to three key characteristics that best represent you.
- The examples should be written in the third person.
- Provide specific, measurable examples that demonstrate your readiness for residency.
- Each characteristic should be limited to two sentences.
- If relevant, mention any significant challenges or hardships you encountered during medical school.
- Avoid lengthy biographical details, as they may be time-consuming for reviewers.
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Examples
Understanding the MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics section is important, but we know that what you really want to see are some examples! Take a look at these, and then we’ll dive into tips and strategies you can use when preparing your own.
- Adam hosts a popular podcast on student life in medical school and has discussed media relations on public radio, making medical education more accessible. His interviews highlight the crucial role of media in bridging gaps in medical education.
- Beth researched the pulse oximetry newborn screen's effectiveness for critical congenital heart disease in underserved populations, leading to presentations at two national conferences and a published paper. Her work has significantly contributed to improving newborn screening practices.
- Edouard will be the first in his economically disadvantaged family to graduate from medical school and mentors undergraduates from similar backgrounds. His dedication to supporting underprivileged students demonstrates his commitment to expanding opportunities for others.
- Francesca, raised by a single father, overcame economic hardships throughout her education and excelled academically and athletically. Her resilience earned her multiple awards and scholarships for her outstanding performance in both fields.
- Gregory played a key role in analyzing splenectomy data at Massachusetts General Hospital, with his research receiving high praise at an international conference. His work on laparoscopic splenectomy outcomes highlights his contribution to advancing community health systems.
- Hilde passed her USMLE Step-1 exam just two weeks after her father’s death, demonstrating remarkable resilience and dedication. Her ability to overcome personal loss while maintaining academic excellence is truly commendable.
- Ivan collaborated with Dr. Peter Pendragon to develop and characterize conditionally immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells, resulting in a publication. His research adds valuable knowledge to the field of stem cell therapy.
- Justine served as the class representative for the Student National Medical Association and led a youth enrichment project at Cass Tech High School. Her leadership and initiative helped enhance educational opportunities for high school students
- Leonara, a talented artist, has created nearly a dozen abstract acrylic paintings and exhibited her work at prestigious venues like the Institute of Contemporary Art. Her artistic achievements reflect a unique blend of creativity and dedication.
- Yuna mentored students in the Prematriculation Summer Program and received the student teacher award two years in a row. Her consistent excellence in supporting and guiding students underscores her commitment to educational leadership.
How to Write a Compelling MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Section
The MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics section is your opportunity to explain your unique attributes succinctly and further highlight meaningful experiences. Typically, you’ll meet with your MSPE evaluators—often faculty and Deans—during the spring semester of your third year to discuss and refine this section. Before this meeting, draft a list of 3-4 noteworthy characteristics to bring with you. You’ll be doing the heavy lifting on this section, with editing and final say provided by your MSPE evaluators.
Check with the residency programs you are applying to and confirm their preferences for what to include in this section, as well as what residency program directors are looking for in applicants. Armed with that information, you can laser-focus on relevant characteristics and present them in a way that clearly demonstrates how you will contribute to the program.
Here are some common themes to help you get started:
- Research success
- Leadership experience
- Significant life events
- Hobbies and extracurricular activities
- Overcoming obstacles
- Communication skills
- Resilience
- Scientific innovation
- Community service
- Tutoring
- Artistic achievements
- Mentoring
- Activities addressing healthcare disparities
- Honors and awards
- Publications
- How you spent your gap year before residency
You can begin preparing for the Noteworthy Characteristics section at any time. Brainstorming ahead of time will give you an advantage, no matter which residency you're applying to. Whether it's neurosurgery, family medicine, or ophthalmology, every program director is looking for a concise version of what makes you stand out.
Want to dig into the details on ERAS and the Match?:
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Strategy #1: Show, Don’t Just Tell
Don’t list your achievements; bring them to life with specific examples. For example, instead of saying, "Mr. Kent is dedicated to improving his manual dexterity," try, "On weekends, Clark enhances his manual dexterity by crafting intricate wood carvings for his classmates to gift during the holidays." The second example shows, rather than tells, his dedication and skill.
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Strategy #2: Highlight the Good, but Keep It Real
It’s important to show your strengths, but don’t shy away from acknowledging and learning from challenges. If you’ve faced difficulties, like financial struggles or illness, explain how these experiences made you stronger.
Example: "Courtenay expertly balanced academic excellence with part-time work despite being the first in her family to attend university and facing significant financial hardships. Her ability to thrive under these pressures highlights her resilience and unwavering commitment to her medical career.”
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Strategy #3: Reflect on Your Journey
Dig deep into your experiences and how they’ve shaped you. Reflect on questions such as, “What’s one way you’ve grown over the past few years?” or “How has your research influenced your career goals?” This introspection helps you identify the most impactful characteristics to showcase.
Example: “Roger’s profound passion for oncology emerged from his family’s struggle with cancer, driving him to conduct pioneering research on targeted therapies. This personal connection fueled his excellence in the field and led him to seek mentorship from top experts, significantly advancing his expertise.”
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Strategy #4: Weave a Cohesive Narrative
With just three entries, make them count by creating a clear and compelling story. Organize your characteristics to show progression or development. For example, if you’re applying to internal medicine, you might emphasize your clinical acumen in managing complex chronic diseases, your commitment to patient education in promoting preventive care, and your leadership in multidisciplinary teams.
MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics Strategy #5: Illustrate Your Impact with Specific Examples
When detailing your characteristics, use specific examples to show how your actions made a difference. Instead of general statements, describe particular instances where your contributions led to measurable improvements or notable outcomes, making it far more memorable to the evaluators.
Example: “Meredith’s innovative CRISPR-Cas editing techniques led to significant advancements in validating therapeutic approaches in her department. Her work contributed to new treatment strategies and earned her recognition at a major conference.”
Check out some samples of MSPE noteworthy characteristics:
12 Quick Tips For Writing Your MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics
- Be Specific and Quantifiable: Use concrete examples with numbers. "Santiago led a team of five on a clinical research project, resulting in a publication in The New England Journal of Medicine. His leadership helped develop protocols that improved patient outcomes by 20%."
- Highlight Unique Experiences: Include what sets you apart and emphasize these distinctive experiences. "In a remote village in Tanzania, Lila volunteered at a mobile clinic, providing essential healthcare to over 200 patients in underserved communities. Her work helped bridge the gap between local and urban healthcare systems."
- Balance Personal and Professional Qualities: Mix clinical skills with traits like resilience and empathy, tying them to real experiences. "During his pediatrics rotation, Kai supported a terminally ill child and his family, providing not only medical care but also emotional support. His empathy in difficult situations earned him a commendation from his attending physician."
- Use Strong Action Verbs: Use dynamic verbs to grab attention and add energy. "Valentina spearheaded the implementation of a new telemedicine system in her rural rotation, reducing appointment wait times by 35%. The hospital administration celebrated her initiative for its effectiveness."
- Keep It Concise: Stick to key details and avoid unnecessary fluff. Aim for brevity without losing impact. "Xander designed a new workflow for patient rounds, improving efficiency and reducing time spent on each patient by 15%. The entire department adopted his streamlined approach."
- Seek Feedback: Have mentors or peers review your descriptions for insights and to catch any missed details.
- Focus on Impact: Show how your actions made a real difference. "Miriam’s work in developing an outreach program for homeless patients resulted in a 50% increase in the number of individuals receiving vaccinations. Her initiative helped lower infection rates in the local community."
- Connect to Future Goals: Link your past experiences to your career aspirations. "Loren’s research on senior patient care directly aligns with her goal to specialize in geriatrics. Her work has fueled her desire to improve long-term care for aging populations."
- Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize teamwork and how you’ve worked effectively with others. "Amir collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to manage complex diabetic patients, coordinating care between endocrinologists, nurses, and dietitians. His contributions helped improve glycemic control for over 40% of the patients."
- Reflect Growth: Show how you’ve developed over time, especially through overcoming challenges or taking on new responsibilities. "Sophia’s initial challenges in managing critical care patients led her to seek additional training, which resulted in her being appointed as the lead for the ICU rotation. Her growth has enhanced her ability to handle high-stress situations."
- Be Authentic: Let your genuine self shine through. Authenticity resonates more than trying to fit a specific mold.
- Show Problem-Solving Skills: Illustrate how you’ve tackled complex issues or developed innovative solutions. "Nina developed a new protocol to streamline post-op recovery for surgical patients, reducing hospital stays by an average of two days. Her problem-solving skills have optimized patient care and hospital resource allocation."
Keep this checklist handy as you start writing your MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics, and feel free to mix and match these tips based on what best suits your experiences and goals!
FAQs
1. How long can my MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics be?
This section of the MSPE is limited to 3 entries of no more than 2 sentences each. Some schools recommend a target word length of 40-50 words total per entry, but this is not a part of the AMA’s MSPE Task Force recommendations.
2. What kind of things should I include in my MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics?
The general rule is to include qualities, experiences, or achievements vital to understanding who you are that are not fully represented in other application materials like your residency CV or your residency personal statement.
3. How should I format my MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics?
Each entry should be written in the third person and include a strong action verb. Entries should flow as concise narratives.
4. How important is the Noteworthy Characteristics section?
Within the MSPE, the Noteworthy Characteristics section is typically viewed as the second most important section after your medical school rotation evaluations.
5. How long should the total MSPE be?
7 single-spaced pages in 12-point font.
6. Who writes the MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics section?
While schools differ somewhat on this, typically the student is asked to draft a list of 3 or more Noteworthy Characteristics to bring to their MSPE meeting. The student and their committee then edit this list for the final MSPE.
7. When should I begin drafting my Noteworthy Characteristics section?
You should start drafting your Noteworthy Characteristics in the late winter or early spring of your third year to bring a polished version to your MSPE committee meeting.
8. Is the MSPE necessary? My school only provides a Dean’s Letter
In some cases, a Dean’s Letter may be acceptable, but many if not most residency programs will be less positive about your application if it doesn’t have a document similar in content/breadth to the MSPE. If your school is somehow entirely resistant to providing you with either document you may want to attempt to draft one yourself, but your school’s administrative body will still need to sign or approve it.
Like our blog? Write for us! >>
Have a question? Ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions!
Comments