Dumb question

[Retinamark]

Can I ask a dumb question?? What exactly is a dean's letter? We don't have these in Australia. What should it contain? Is it a personal reference from the dean, or just a letter from the admin office to say you didn't get in any trouble & passed all subject? We had over 1000 students at our med school, so few people ever get to know the dean personally.
Thanks

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[Gfunk6]

A Dean's letter is a compiliation of all the positive things that were said about you by your interns, residents, and attendings during your core clinical clerkships and 4th year sub-I's and electives.

 

[margaritaboy]

And its usually written by the Dean of your medical school.

 

[kristing]

Ours also say what your rank was (if it was stellar), what activities you did in med school, if you were involved in research, etc.

 

[edinOH]

And its usually written by the Dean of your medical school.

Don't you mean signed by the Dean of your medical school? Written by one of a couple of secretaries where I went to school.

 

[Retinamark]

Thanks guys. There isn't a tradition of people asking for these in Australia, so no-one keeps a record of positive comments etc. This is going to be tough. One of my fellowship applications has been put aside by the program secretary until I get my deans letter. What a hassle. Thanks for the advice. I'll try & get some sort of letter from the medschool.

 

[margaritaboy]

Don't you mean signed by the Dean of your medical school? Written by one of a couple of secretaries where I went to school.

Ours were actually written by the Dean. Or, to be more accurate, dictated by the Dean, and then transcribed.

 

[Blade28]

A Dean's letter is a compiliation of all the positive things that were said about you by your interns, residents, and attendings during your core clinical clerkships and 4th year sub-I's and electives.

Hmmm...from what I've heard (including from our own dean), it's a compilation of ALL your formative comments from the clinical clerkships...the comments aren't edited to only include the "good" bits.

In other words, bad evals will show up too.