I’m going into college next year and would like to waste no time preparing for med school and possibly neurosurgery. I get it, I’m likely going to change my mind along the way, but as it stands I’m passionate in neurosurgery. I’ve read that in order to get into a top 20 med school, you must have a shitload of extracurricular activities. Is it all too difficult to balance school and these activities and eventual MCAT preparation. Id like to get involved in research, shadowing, pubs, work etc. I hear that on the med school application there are 15 slots. This seems like a ton of room for activities, especially considering i had a rough time filling in 10 spots on my common app for college. Stay safe everyone.

Senior residents and PDs out there- what are your ERAS Cutoffs? step 1? Step 2s? Research?

What were some commonly held interview trail beliefs that are not 100% correct?

Please post all programs that you are aware of that had residents resign, fired, or contract non-renewals for next year, or any programs with vacancies in their complement

Hey guys, anyone aware of open fellowship spot in skull base, vascular, oncology or spine? 

I'm foreign-trained neurosurgeon with one clinical US fellowship

What defines a great neurosurgeon in academia?
Is it defined by excellent surgical skills? # of successful cases?
Or, is it research (PI-ship, publication)?

When a peer says, "Oh, he is a renowned neurosurgeon", what does that mean?

Hi all. Currently an M3 student applying this cycle. 

I noticed on a previous thread that a poster discussed picking a program based on the type of applicant you are, so wanted to get resident input to help out the medical students applying by creating this thread to discuss the different types of neurosurgical residency programs.



Highest Surgical Volume:
Highest Surgical Autonomy:
Highest Case Diversity:
Best Wet Lab Opportunities:
Best Clinical Research Opportunities:
Best Innovative Opportunities:
Healthiest Resident-Attending Dynamic:

Lowest Surgical Volume:
Lowest Surgical Autonomy:
Lowest Case Diversity:
Poor Wet Lab Opportunities:
Poor Clinical Research Opportunities:
Poor Innovative Opportunities:
Unhealthy Resident-Attending Dynamic:


Thank you to anyone who contributes!

What's the status of BNI Spine? Good for resident or fellow training like the Sonntag/Theodore days?

Junior resident here. I wonder if this happens only in my program or pretty common in other programs but I don’t recall seeing it in my sub-is. Chief has no autonomy in running the service, he has to staff every minor detail with attendings. They micro manage everything from surgical decision to drain output. Poor autonomy in the OR, most of staff stay even during closing. What makes me more frustrated is the inconsistency where staff changes his mind and plan of care at least 3-4 times on consults and make us feel as a joke service at the hospital especially when we have a patient under other services.

Assuming you didn't match first try, how many cycles would you try before giving up?