neurosurgery for mstp?

That's what I really want to do as a career goal (phd in bme or neurosciences, probably), and my research field matches pretty closely too. But would adcoms think its unrealistic or too ambitious or anything negative?

No, I don't think it would be necessarily viewed as a negative, especially if you have research related to the field. I remember reading somewhere that quite a few MD/PhDs match into neurosurgery, it's such a competitive specialty.

not respect said:

That's what I really want to do as a career goal (phd in bme or neurosciences, probably), and my research field matches pretty closely too. But would adcoms think its unrealistic or too ambitious or anything negative?

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No, it would not be a negative. Just make sure you come across as knowing what it takes to be a neurosurgeon and a researcher. Neurosurgeon is one of those prestige pinnacles of the medical profession, just like attorney general or federal court judge is for law; the admissions committee should know that you're understanding about the field is not superficial and that you have real personal reasons why you are attracted to it.

Also, know that you will have an excruciatingly long and arduous training process, with 7-9 years MD/PhD and 7 years neurosurgery residency. Do you really need the PhD to do what you want? Throw in a clinical fellowship after residency and you'll start practicing perhaps 16-18 years after you started med school...

I disagree. I wouldn't bring up neurosurg due to the stereotypes against surgeons/surgery. You don't have to have a specialty in mind at this point and you really don't know what you want until you match. I wouldn't bring it up, and if pressed say Neurology or something more typical.

could you tell me more about these stereotypes? I'm really hesitant to switch it to something else because it's asked specifically on the Hopkins secondary, and I really think it matches well with the graduate projects I want to work in where non-surgical specialties would be a little bit different.

not respect said:

could you tell me more about these stereotypes? I'm really hesitant to switch it to something else because it's asked specifically on the Hopkins secondary, and I really think it matches well with the graduate projects I want to work in where non-surgical specialties would be a little bit different.

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I think Neuronix has it right. It's OK to do whatever specialty you want, but if you're interviewing, it's better to go with medical vs. surgical and better go with the specialties that have historically had an abundance of physician scientists - internal medicine and subspecialties, pediatrics, pathology, neurology, etc. - perhaps even psychiatry (if you have a good rationale). Most surgeons are dismissed as too busy to run an effective research program. To be honest, general surgery has had great research historically but they fall under this stereotpye too. Neurosurgery or transplant surgery may be easier to sell because these specialties value research highly, but I would stay away from mentioning anything like ortho or urology at an interview.

Adcoms rarely take applicants' claims of specific specialties seriously. People change, they get introduced into other specialties and suddenly realize that they love them. They get married and have children, which force them to choose more family-friendly fields... The adcoms have seen it all. True, neurosurg is filled with MD/PhDs, I know a few personally. However, applying to neurosurg residency as an MD/PhD after your 3rd year rotations and 4th year neurosurg electives is one thing, insisting you want to do neurosurg on your medschool secondaries and interviews is another.