10-05-2022, 07:31 PM
I'm a new M1 starting at a T5 school. I'm interested in neurosurgery (bunch of shadowing and some neuro research from undergrad). I'm trying to decide how to best allocate my limited time in the next few years. In general, it seems the most important factors for matching to academic programs (UCSF, MGH, Stanford, etc.) seem to be big-name faculty sponsor, then research (not just quantity), and finally sub-I and away performance.
A few questions:
1. The faculty I started research with (due to interest in functional) is not like the biggest wig in my home department, but his students (albeit few) have published well (in basic research) and gone to top academic programs. Meanwhile, when I contacted my program director, it seemed there weren't any open projects for me and he also said that it is better that I keep doing what I like within neurosurgery (my PD does brain tumor not functional) since that makes for a better "story" for applications. Is it true that I'm better off building my profile on what "niche" within nsgy that I enjoy or is just wiser to be as promiscuous as possible with project and mentor selection (depth vs. breadth)?
2. If it is indeed the case that I'm better off doing what I like over just some random junk project with a big-wig, how can I build bonds with the big-name people? Do I ask to regularly shadow them as an M1? Perform well on sub-I (are the big-names even there on sub-I?)? I'm on the board of my school's nsgy interest group so maybe use that to connect somehow?
3. for the Cali programs, what is the best way to go about getting on their good side as an out-of-state applicant? Is an away rotation the only way? Or a research year at the Cali program? Or do I pray my program director will just call on my behalf to the Cali director?
Thanks!
A few questions:
1. The faculty I started research with (due to interest in functional) is not like the biggest wig in my home department, but his students (albeit few) have published well (in basic research) and gone to top academic programs. Meanwhile, when I contacted my program director, it seemed there weren't any open projects for me and he also said that it is better that I keep doing what I like within neurosurgery (my PD does brain tumor not functional) since that makes for a better "story" for applications. Is it true that I'm better off building my profile on what "niche" within nsgy that I enjoy or is just wiser to be as promiscuous as possible with project and mentor selection (depth vs. breadth)?
2. If it is indeed the case that I'm better off doing what I like over just some random junk project with a big-wig, how can I build bonds with the big-name people? Do I ask to regularly shadow them as an M1? Perform well on sub-I (are the big-names even there on sub-I?)? I'm on the board of my school's nsgy interest group so maybe use that to connect somehow?
3. for the Cali programs, what is the best way to go about getting on their good side as an out-of-state applicant? Is an away rotation the only way? Or a research year at the Cali program? Or do I pray my program director will just call on my behalf to the Cali director?
Thanks!