Hi all, 

looking for advice regarding a bad showing on step 2...

I'm an applying MS4 from a mid-upper tier med school with 242 step 1 (yes, i know, borderline) with 4 honors in 6 possible rotations (COVID affected the ability for more), Gold Humanism Honors Society election, and good research (15 pubs (11 first/second author), couple oral presentation at national mtgs, posters to boot). My school has no AOA, though I am top quartile (how my school "ranks" us) among my peers. Feedback on sub-I was really positive and I think I have good letters coming down the pike. 

However, Step 2 has been a nightmare for me. Ultimately, I didn't do well (237) -- not trying to make excuses here, though I worry the circumstances affected my ability to be at my peak. I was supposed to take in may (covid pushed this date after 4 weeks of studying and then cancelled altogether), which I moved to Late september after my rotations. 1 week before exam, my roommate gets COVID so I had to push my date again to quarantine.  Knowing this is low, I'm concerned programs will negatively look upon me for the borderline Step 1 further being weakened by a lower step 2. I don't think this reflects my clinical abilities. 

My question --  is this worth hitting head-on in something like a personal statement? or should I just wait until it gets brought up at an interview (I expect it would) and discuss the surrounding factors/own a bad test day?

Yes, I know this is a post dripping with anxiety and self doubt and I have total confidence in my ability to become a great resident and surgeon, I just want to know everyone's thoughts on how much this may/may not hurt me in the upcoming cycle and how to best combat this. 

tl;dr: pretty good applicant

(10-14-2020, 11:46 AM)Guest Wrote: Hi all, 

looking for advice regarding a bad showing on step 2...

I'm an applying MS4 from a mid-upper tier med school with 242 step 1 (yes, i know, borderline) with 4 honors in 6 possible rotations (COVID affected the ability for more), Gold Humanism Honors Society election, and good research (15 pubs (11 first/second author), couple oral presentation at national mtgs, posters to boot). My school has no AOA, though I am top quartile (how my school "ranks" us) among my peers. Feedback on sub-I was really positive and I think I have good letters coming down the pike. 

However, Step 2 has been a nightmare for me. Ultimately, I didn't do well (237) -- not trying to make excuses here, though I worry the circumstances affected my ability to be at my peak. I was supposed to take in may (covid pushed this date after 4 weeks of studying and then cancelled altogether), which I moved to Late september after my rotations. 1 week before exam, my roommate gets COVID so I had to push my date again to quarantine.  Knowing this is low, I'm concerned programs will negatively look upon me for the borderline Step 1 further being weakened by a lower step 2. I don't think this reflects my clinical abilities. 

My question --  is this worth hitting head-on in something like a personal statement? or should I just wait until it gets brought up at an interview (I expect it would) and discuss the surrounding factors/own a bad test day?

Yes, I know this is a post dripping with anxiety and self doubt and I have total confidence in my ability to become a great resident and surgeon, I just want to know everyone's thoughts on how much this may/may not hurt me in the upcoming cycle and how to best combat this. 

tl;dr: pretty good applicant

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://utsouthwestern-edu.zoom.us/meeti...qevG21UMFU

I would assume that looking for faculty positions as a functional is a bit different because the number of candidates is far less than, say, internal medicine. There's also a big incentive for private practice over academia. Is tenure still outrageously competitive?

I would assume that looking for faculty positions as a functional is a bit different because the number of candidates is far less than, say, internal medicine. There's also a big incentive for private practice over academia. Is tenure still outrageously competitive?

Hello all,

Please check out our Rush University Neurosurgery Residency Program introduction video (link below). Feel free to reach out to our program coordinator with any questions - she can direct you to one of the residents if you'd like to speak with them. Good luck on the interview "trail" this season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7hPlGzX...e=youtu.be

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about what type of procedures certain level residents can perform so I want a consensus for some.

So from things as simple as an evd to to clipping an aneurysm, at one point should residents be adept at doing these cases?

Yep Does anyone have input on fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic? Do you compete with residents, how’s the training?

Hello applicants,


The University of Colorado Neurosurgery Residency Program will be hosting a virtual meet and greet and program overview on October 17th at 12pm EST. The chairman, Dr. Kevin Lillehei, program director, Dr. Kerry Brega, the upcoming chief residents as well as several of the junior residents will be there to give a program overview as well as answer any questions! We hope to see you there.


October 17th, 12pm EST
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/91504394633?pwd=OGtvQ1dJcFZOQ2lTOEV4UVdLNzNtZz09

Can anyone share their impressions of Penn and where it stands among other top academically oriented programs?

Any information about the neuroOncology fellowship at Toronto Western Hospital?  
thanks