What are the bottom 5-10 programs?

Is it easier to get into your home program?  I figure if they didn't like you then they wouldn't even write you a positive LOR.  The fact they write one must be somewhat positive, or do they just write one to everyone who asks but put neutral or negative remarks if they though bad?

Are there new neurosurgery residency programs opening soon?  Can anyone list relatively newer programs?  I think it would be awesome to match at a brand new program, you can help build it, have an awesome case load to choose from, and attendigns are your main mentors (vs residents).  My goal this year is going to be to aim hard for these types of programs.  I see them as a hidden gem.

What is the average salary for a neurosurgeon (academic vs private practice).  I am not sure of the "gold standard" source to cite, because I have seen large flucuations from median as 300k to a median on a different site as 600k.  Not that is matters, it is all six figures and enough to live a happy life.  I was just wanting to know what I am getting into. 

I am a MS4 trying to decide between neurosurgery or neuroIR.

Anticipating the residency interview trail this year.  Unfortunately I am not from a trust fund and am financing my way through med school.  How does one afford 15-20 interviews?  Should I take out an additional loan?

1. Do people share hotels, ubers?
2. Are there good travel programs to join to build points?

Thank you in advance for the advice, can't wait to meet everyone on the trail!

238 on both step 1 and step 2, should I not pursue this.

How many LOR should we get this cycle?

Any thoughts about the Washington University St. Louis program? How clinically strong is the program? Per doxmity it's in the top 10 and seems pretty solid in research infrastructure although residents do not have many publications. Is it because residents are overworked? Why did their resident leave after 4 years? Shouldn't she know the program inside out given she went to the same medical school? Any reason why the program director and associate director changed over the last 2 years?

Is there any benefit to submitting eras September 1, vs like September 15th this year? As programs won’t have access to apps until like Oct1?? Thanks for your help, comrades.

Anyone else applying with 0 pubs or am I a clown?