My P.D. wants me to do an away rotation there. Is it a malignant program?

How much does it hurt my chances to have research in another surgical specialty? I did a research year in a different surgical field between M2 and M3, and now I'm having doubts about that field and am seriously considering NS after exposure to the field during third year. My Step 1 score is okay (250+), and my clinical grades are currently pending. Any input/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

BWhat are the general consensus for cutoff for 
1) Having to take Step 2 early to make up for step 1.  What score necessitates making up for with Step 2?
2) A score where it's not worth it to apply regardless of your other metrics
3) A score where no one will give any interviews
4) Can research, letters, and 3rd year mitigate scores in a certain range
5) Scores that get screened regardless

Hi all, 
Has it ever worked for anyone (specially an IMG) to do a surgery prelim in order to match into NS in the future?
Talking about a decent applicant who maybe didn't match for something like not enough USCE. Any input on this?

Stay away from this program extremely malignant. Fired 7 resident last 5-6 years. Two in the past year. Residents hate each other, very shitty program. Home of quadruple scrub. Harbaugh is there but he is older than the dinosaurs talking about retiring soon, never operates anymore. While was there heard talks that Shelly Timmons might become the next chair. Which is warning sign. She is strong politician but sucks badly as surgeon. Made her career on ICU stuff and sucks badly in the operating room. Again stay away from this program I rotated there and could not wait for the moment to finish, very bad environment.

After looking through the works hours thread and SubI forum, I'm curious in compiling information on each program's strengths.

Which programs lean academic vs heavily operative? What about cranial vs spinal? What about between the different subspecialties? 

For example, I've heard so far that MGH/BWH are academic and cranial focused, Pitt and Barrow are great for operating, USC/Washington are balanced, etc

The whole Sub-I system is one big clogged artery. De-centralized applications, different application/lottery methods, different notification timelines.

I got a Sub-I at a good place recently, but this was my backup. I'm going to hear back about a dream place soon. Is it a complete dick move to accept the Sub-I, then cancel if I hear good news from the other place? This place is not somewhere I'd imagine will be high on my list, just wanted to try something new. Of course, I'd do it if I didn't get into my other choice.

Hey everyone, I'm in kind of a predicament. I start Step 1 studying tomorrow. Obviously this is my first priority over the coming weeks (got 6). The lab Im working in is on the cusp of finishing (next three weeks) work on 3 manuscripts which I have been offered authorship on. The PI likes me, is a good dude, and knows what Step 1 means for my ambitions. All three going to be submitted to high impact journals (Nature/Stroke). I legitimately think that these papers will be big. However this requires that I spend at least 3-4 hours in lab for the first couple weeks of my Step 1 time. I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on what to do, should I try and make it work? Or should I say fuck it and focus only on Step 1. I feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a medical student which is what is causing my hesitation. Obviously if I get worked on Step 1, the papers don't matter at all.

The school that I am planning on attending is offering a significant scholarship to whoever defers matriculation for a year. For someone who is interested in neurosurgery, is this ever a good idea if it will take me from 50% cost of attendance to 100% cost of attendance covered by scholarships?

A lot of people on other forums are saying that I should go for it while others are saying that losing a year's worth of attending's salary is worse than being in debt. How does being in debt during a neurosurgery residency feel anyways? Is it very stressful?

Is there a general list of programs by how busy you'll be as a resident? Spare me the, if you don't want to do 168 hours/week of neurosurgery you're not cut out for it- I get it. I'm asking because not all hours are the same, and hours matter at a certain level. I'd rather not be spending 10 extra hours a week doing the work of an NP/PA, and convince myself that's what neurosurgery is all about. There is something to be said about efficiency.

I keep hearing talk about Emory, that it's program hours are one of the highest. I also hear about Yale, it's a quieter program. Is there a list for this kind of thing?

I'm very interested in doing research, my home program has basically zero research. I don't think I could train at program like that.