How competitive is neurosurgery? The field is difficult and so not many applicants overall. But chance/percentage wise how is it compared to plastics/ortho/derm?

Chances for matching? 

Top 40 MD school
Step 1: 260+
Step 2: 260+ 

Clinical grades: 5/8 honors, rest HP

Research: took a research year bc had no pubs
3 first author clinical pubs submitted, 5 other pubs in preperation (2 first authors, 3 second)
hoping some will get published before ERAS

doing 2 aways + home rotation
Research PI LOR will be very strong, will get 3 more PD LORs from home and away rotations

otherwise I have some pretty unique work experiences

Does anyone have any first hand experience with submitting an ACGME complaint? Several of the residents in my program are concerned about our education. We reviewed the Institutional Requirements and feel there are several infractions. After submitting, what’s the turn around time? Is it better to submit a complaint signed by multiple residents?

As a rising MS4 who is interested in Endovascular neurosurgery vs DR to neuro-IR path, I am interested in knowing what the future holds for these paths. Even if you go through the DR and neuro-IR route, are you still considered a neurosurgeon? what are the hours like? and What's the salary like for each?

Thanks!

See post title. Want to hear from the more senior guys why they picked spine over cranial and vice versa. I like both but not sure yet

Hi, I’m an M2 and am wondering how much more research productivity I should aim for during M3. My current Neurosurgery-specific research tally is 1 pub (3rd author, though), 3 abstracts, 2 posters, and a book chapter. I also have 2 abstracts and a poster from previous oncology research.

The data set from my only pub can/will realistically be able to squeeze out 1 or 2 more decent papers from it, but beyond that, how much more do you think I need to have a chance to match (assuming I have competitive clinical grades and Step 2)? I’m not shooting for a top-tier program by any means—I actually just want to match at any program in Texas.

Other possibly relevant details:
-Student at mid-tier school with a home program (but not in TX)
-Unscored Step 1 (taken after Pass/fail)
-Female applicant

Thanks!

Anyone have textbooks that they recommend purchasing with the annual book fund that some residencies give? Interested in hearing about any textbooks that residents found to be particularly helpful towards their learning, whether they be about neuroanatomy, neurorads, spine, skull base, vascular, or any other neurosurgical sub-discipline

Where can I access essential neurosurgery for medical students? I can't seem to find it anywhere

Hey - just wondering if anyone knows about how long we should expect to wait to hear back on away apps?

Does anyone feel like neurosurgery is the coolest thing about them? Was at a social event and found myself kind of disgusted by how much I felt I had to bring up neurosurgery. I guess it ties into our identity. But bringing it up to feel cool - Isn’t that the lamest thing ever? I worry that maybe I went into neurosurgery because I was a loser to begin with?