MSPE-Is this a negative comment?

[sunshine1160]

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Hey there,

I am applying for Psych and I went through my comments that will be in MSPE. One of them was from a Surgical Specialty rotation, I did good on the rotation and got a good score on the eval and shelf. But I am a shy and generally quiet person, more analytical if you will. I did a poster presentation which was my first in front of an audience of Physicians at a Tumor Board and he felt like I was not so confident. I don't think he meant to write me a bad comment but he wrote something along the lines of "Serious student who is too introverted and will do good with some guidance and coaching. Is always on time and well dressed, will be an asset to any residency."

I was wondering if this is a red flag and if I should consider asking my school to change it or leave it out? For what its worth, I don't think he meant to hurt me and it was such feedback for me to be a little more confident and not so shy. It's odd because all the other rotations seem to talk about how well I interact with patients and staff.

Any opinions? thanks!

 

[Trauma Surgeon]

Seriously?
Chill…

 

[sunshine1160]

I'm just worried about the "Will do good with some coaching and guidance" part as if I'm some type of flight risk or something.

 

[gutonc]

I'm just worried about the "Will do good with some coaching and guidance" part as if I'm some type of flight risk or something.

Go back and re-read that post from @Trauma Surgeon again. Q30s. Until you get it.

 

[22031 Alum]

I'm just worried about the "Will do good with some coaching and guidance" part as if I'm some type of flight risk or something.

You realize that "doing good with some coaching and guidance" is what is expected of every single intern who has ever interned? The POINT of residency is coaching and guidance. Go have a beer.

 

[typhoonegator]

I would be more worried that people reading your MSPE will think your medical school is poor because it employs people who don't know when to use "good" vs. "well".

Unless he meant that when you get some coaching and guidance you are going to go out and feed the homeless or something. That would be "doing good".

 

[gutonc]

Am I really the only person who read that and thought it was very negative?

Reminds me of the running military joke, "With consistent effort and close supervision may one day function at the level of his current rank."

Yes, you were. But that's because you're an ex-mil ortho-douche. We forgive you for that.

It's true that if the OP were gunning for ortho or ENT or something this might be a problem. But s/he's going for Psych in which case it's probably a positive if anything.

 

[22031 Alum]

Am I really the only person who read that and thought it was very negative?

Reminds me of the running military joke, "With consistent effort and close supervision may one day function at the level of his current rank."

Great, he's never going to go have that beer now.

 

[sunshine1160]

Thanks for the replies the comment was this:

"Serious student-almost too introverted. Will do well with some coaching and guidance--always on time. Will be an asset to any program."

I have other things to worry about like a failed board. By the way, this person is not school faculty, but rather a preceptor I had for my gen surg rotation at a small hospital.

It feels bad being the one who has the not usual comments, when it seems these things are usually flawless.

 

[colbgw02]

Institutional variation. Some schools feel like they're damning with faint praise if you don't come off as the best medical student ever. Others, like mine, took a legitimate cross-section of all comments.

I think what's more important is that everything is taken in context. Your comments will be interpretted in light of a failed board exam, so you have reason to be more worried than, say, someone whose board scores and grades paint a different picture than a lukewarm comment. The good news is that you're, apparently, going into psychiatry, so a single comment from a surgery rotation will be weighted relatively lightly.

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

I think the actual quote reads better than your paraphrased version, TBH. And if anything holds you back from matching, it won't be this eval.

 

[gutonc]

I think the actual quote reads better than your paraphrased version, TBH. And if anything holds you back from matching, it won't be this eval.

Agree with this. The actual quote is pretty benign. Even if your MSPE included only this one sentence, it wouldn't make much difference.

 

[WinslowPringle]

This is a comment coming from a surgeon for someone who wants to go into Psych, right? In that context, I'd call that particular comment absolutely beautiful.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Outside of any true psychopathology, paychiatry programs don't care what your surgery rotation wrote about you and vice versa. In fact it might be seen as a badge of honor to be hated by surgeons.

I don't see anything wrong in that evaluation and think you're being overly concerned. As others have said minus our military orthopod, go have a beer.

 

[sunshine1160]

Ok thanks, it's so weird that I got different remarks on other ones.

But what I don't like is that I need coaching and guidance? For what? Like I'm some disabled freak of some sort? Or I need extra help to be a normal person?

I know I'm OCD, but I don't have a strong application otherwise, my boards are so so...i think I should get back to studying for Boards or better yet this Ob/gyn shelf! haha

 

[Winged Scapula]

Ok thanks, it's so weird that I got different remarks on other ones.

But what I don't like is that I need coaching and guidance? For what? Like I'm some disabled freak of some sort? Or I need extra help to be a normal person?

I know I'm OCD, but I don't have a strong application otherwise, my boards are so so...i think I should get back to studying for Boards or better yet this Ob/gyn shelf! haha

Please stop it. You're starting to make me think that there really is something odd about your personality.

Surgeons highly value the ability to be confident, and erudite. M&M and Tumor Boards can comprise a large portion of our practice and you need to be comfortable presenting at those. Therefore you need to understand where he was coming from. The most frequent criticism I have of students and off service residence are exactly the same: they often seem to lack confidence and know when to assert themselves and how to do it appropriately.

Finally, the whole point of residency is to coach, guide, teach and mold you. It's a whole hell of a lot more insightful and thoughtful than the usual recommendation to, "read more".

 

[22031 Alum]

Finally, the whole point of residency is to coach, guide, teach and mold you. It's a whole hell of a lot more insightful and thoughtful than the usual recommendation to, "read more".

I was starting to think I was crazy for thinking this!! Pre-interns are freaking out about someone saying they need to be coached and taught?? What the heck do I even have a job for?

 

[Smurfette]

Honestly, saying someone will do well with "guidance and coaching" sounds like a comment that most psychiatry peeps I know would love and see as a positive. Worry more about your failed board; this comment is not going to prevent you from getting interviews, so no need to remove it from your MSPE.

 

[Doctor Bob]

On an evaluation as a med student, one of my attendings said I needed to "read more".

Now I'm wondering... did they mean I was illiterate? I mean.. I know how to read; should I have held more books open in front of them? I wonder if residency directors saw that on my MSPE and thought that I didn't know how to read. Will this impact my ability to get a job?

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

On an evaluation as a med student, one of my attendings said I needed to "read more".

Now I'm wondering... did they mean I was illiterate? I mean.. I know how to read; should I have held more books open in front of them? I wonder if residency directors saw that on my MSPE and thought that I didn't know how to read. Will this impact my ability to get a job?

This is actually a residency:

 

[colbgw02]

nm

 

[psych72]

It could be a negative if you look unconfident in the interview or if you have a difficult time interacting with the residents during the audition month, or the interview dinners etc.