A new approach to standardizing the dean's letter.

Eighty-one residency program directors were surveyed to determine whether a standardized "dean's evaluation" form submitted by deans of student affairs on behalf of senior medical students would suffice in conveying information desired for the residency selection process. Program directors were asked to rate each subpart of this suggested form and to state whether the overall document was sufficiently comprehensive to serve in lieu of the deans' letters now being provided by U.S. medical schools. An overwhelming majority (83%) felt that this alternative form would be sufficient when combined with an academic transcript.