So, I keep hearing about certain programs having lots of volume and certain programs not having lots of volume. I've actually heard that one particular nameless program is at the top in terms of volume and then I heard that the same program is actually at the bottom. Which one is it?

Volume is something that is important and should impact our rank lists, but  many of the reports I've seen seem to be based on hearsay, doximity bs, program self-report, and/or the prestige commanded by the name of the attached undergraduate institution.

Surely, scientists, we can do better. 

Thus, I propose the following - average number of cases per day divided by the total number of residents. Qualifying information, such as whether or not the vast majority of cases were nerve root decompressions or brainstem schwannomas, can be added. 

I'll give you a theoretical example, and then add several real-life ones once this list gets going.

Princeton Plainsboro - There were 4 rooms averaging 2 cases a day during my sub-I there. They have a children's hospital which averages 2 rooms a day with 2 cases each. So, about 12 total cases a day. There were also 12 residents on service when I was there. 2 were off for research. Thus, the volume index is 12/12 = 1.0

Hopefully whatever real-life examples get offered here will be more interesting and revealing.

Recently accepted an interview at Medical College of Wisconsin but did not closely read the offer letter (...was in between OR's on a Sub-I). Apparently they are on ACGME "Probationary" accreditation status, to be revisited in April 2018. 

Can anyone share helpful thoughts on this matter?

Has anyone had any luck confirming the hotel reservation at the Pine Barn Inn (as instructed in our last email) for the Geisinger interview on November 10? I called and they said there are no reservations for us and they are completely booked that night (Nov 9). I tried calling/emailing the PC last week, but no response. I normally wouldn't mind waiting to hear, but it's coming up pretty quickly and I'd hate to pay for a hotel I'm not supposed to pay for...

Hey guys, 

I'm making this thread in response to feedback that this topic should stay out of other threads. I know this information will be very helpful for MS3s like myself as we prepare to apply next cycle. I think the easiest thing to do is to list all the schools in the order they sent out interviews and have people bold the name of the school if they received an interview invite without having Step 2 CK on their application. 

Thanks in advance! Very much appreciated. 

Indiana
Maryland
Penn State 
Texas A&M
University of Wisconsin
University of Florida
Saint Louis University
Yale
Georgetown
Cleveland Clinic 
University of Illinois Peoria
Michigan
Medical College of Wisconsin
Geisinger
Houston Methodist
Utah
Iowa
University of Virginia
SUNY Upstate
Minnesota
University of Virginia - NIH
Baylor 
Henry Ford
Wayne State University
Tulane
Southern Illinois University
University of Alabama
Medical College of Georgia
UT Health San Antonio
University of Kansas
Duke 
The Ohio State University
NYMC - Westchester
University of Rochester
University of Louisville
University of Colorado
University of Arkansas
University of Washington
Virginia Tech
LSU New Orleans
University of Kentucky
Loyola University
LSU Shreveport
Hofstra
Oklahoma University
University of Buffalo
New York University
Rush University
Oregon Health and Science University
Wake Forest
George Washington
Rutgers University
Brown University
UNC
West Virginia University
University of Nebraska
UC Irvine
University of New Mexico
Albany Medical Center
NYP Columbia
University of Miami
Northwestern
University of Mississippi
VCU
University of Chicago
Allegheny Health Network
UPMC
Cincinnati
Carolinas Medical Center
University of Vermont
Washington St. Louis
Vanderbilt
Jefferson
UT Southwestern
University of South Florida
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Temple
Brigham and Women's Hospital 
Mount Sinai
Stanford
Cornell
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Tennessee
Medical University of South Carolina
Inova Fairfax
Barrow Neurologic Institute
Case Western Reserve University
Mayo Clinic Rochester
UCLA
University of Pennsylvania
UCSD
USC
Emory
Dartmouth
UT Houston
Albert Einstein Montefiore

No word yet from:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts General Hospital
Tufts Medical Center
UC Davis
UCSF
University of Arizona
University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Puerto Rico
University of Texas Galveston

Would anyone be able to confirm that Michigan is taking 2 next year and Cornell is taking 1.

Going by the accreditation website it would seem like it.  Thank you!

Could someone briefly summarize the types of drills and burrs that are commonly used in neurosurgery?

As I sit here pulling my hair out and banging my head, thinking about my slim chance of matching, I can't help but think how much better life would be now applying IM/Peds/FM/OB...basically anything else.  

#life of a non 250s, non elite medical school applicant

Anyone know what this entails or what they're looking for?  Anyone from prior matches care to weigh in?

Institution: Georgetown
Length: 4 weeks
Hours: 5:30 AM - Finish (if all the OR's are done early, around 6:30-7pm, latest I've left was close to midnight)
Days on/off: Dependent on how many students are on the rotation. Also, senior resident dependent.
Rotation: 3 weeks at Georgetown, 1 week at Washington Hospital center
Presentation: During neurosurgery grand rounds. Mostly faculty/residents only. Wear scrubs. Give your talk and you may get a question or two. Non-stressful experience


Good: It's like a "frat". Residents get a long very well. Cohesive group of guys. Attendings are fairly benign/happy and treat the residents well. If you like spine, you will get a huge MIS experience. More than one hospital but you only cover one during your call day. This is great since it diversifies the attendings that you work with. The chair and program director are awesome. No pre-rounding (the overnight resident will jot down important vitals/events)

Bad: Heavy MIS experience which leaves junior residents not much to do. Since it is D.C., most patients are on the upper scale which leaves most attendings scrubbing into most cases. No neurosurgery based labs, albeit Georgetown is regarded as an amazing neuroscience institution. The system is 50/50 EMR and paper-based.

Neutral: 3 OR's going at a time typically. Mostly MIS. Not much of a cranial experience at the main hospital but you get more out of it at Washington Hospital center.

Other: NIH experience (new), they want residents to take advantage of this research opportunity.

Overall, Georgetown is a pretty great program. The residents and attendings get along very well. It provides a great MIS experience if you want it. They have a great track record, no major debacles in recent years...no one being fired like at other institutions that you have to worry about. The PD and chairman are great. Despite the scut work that it puts you through the first 2 years, it is a great program. Their residents go on to obtain great fellowships and they are very well trained. Wouldn't sleep on this program.

Just wanted to ask what the etiquette was regarding emails after the interviews. You know to thank the people that interviewed you?