Advice for Incoming M1 Interested in Neurology

[gollummd]

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[TUGM]

Years 1 - 2 focus on your school work, find someone to shadow, and try and get involved w/ research. Study your ass off for Step 1 (should be your major priority). Years 3-4, do well in all your clinical rotations, and keep an open mind. If you find you still like Neurology, then you can gear some elective time towards exploring it. Consider doing a SubI/Away Rotation at an institution you are interested in.

That's pretty much it. Neurology seems like it's getting a bit more competitive every year, at least for the "big name" programs, but it's still relatively easy to match as a US grad. Good luck.

Also, I hope you know that neurology is not the same specialty as neurosurgery.

 

[TUGM]

As high as possible. You'll match well w/ scores above 240. But having a lower score doesn't necessarily exclude you. But you will feel much less stress if you study as much as possible for Step 1 and shoot for a score >230 at least.

Step 1 is a ridiculous test, and I'm not a huge believer in standardized testing having a huge role in your career, but unfortunately, programs need some form of objective measurement when it comes to your basic science knowledge.

 

[Event_Horizon]

Years 1 - 2 focus on your school work, find someone to shadow, and try and get involved w/ research. Study your ass off for Step 1 (should be your major priority). Years 3-4, do well in all your clinical rotations, and keep an open mind. If you find you still like Neurology, then you can gear some elective time towards exploring it. Consider doing a SubI/Away Rotation at an institution you are interested in.

That's pretty much it. Neurology seems like it's getting a bit more competitive every year, at least for the "big name" programs, but it's still relatively easy to match as a US grad. Good luck.

Also, I hope you know that neurology is not the same specialty as neurosurgery.

Hopefully the OP doesn't mind me hijacking their thread to ask a similar question. Could I apply this same information as an OMS1?

I'm currently about to end my first year at an osteopathic school, soon to be OMS2. I'll be involved in some neuro-pharm research this summer that may result in a publication, and at the very least a poster presentation or two (pretty productive PI). I plan to do some neurology shadowing this summer as well at the local MD school with faculty that give us lectures (probably movement disorder/MS specialists). I am just wondering how receptive the field is for DOs. I know that with local ACGME neurology residencies (midwest) that DOs don't have any trouble. But I am thinking about trying to go back out west for residency due to family/wife reasons and because I am from the west coast.

 

[Spinothalamic]

All of the information reported in this thread can apply for DO students as well. The DO "stigma" has greatly reduced in degree and prevalence both, and you will see DO students match even in the most competitive fields.

There are a couple important and interesting documents for you to read (attached below) relevant to this topic. In general, though, as others have mentioned, get as high of score on Step 1 as possible. In 2014, no reporting neurology program declined interviews to those who earned at least a 240 on Step 1 as a cutoff score (see below). That being said, a low Step 1 score doesn't always close doors if one excels in other areas of the application, e.g. Step 2 score, letters of recommendation, research, etc.

In the first couple years of medical school, I had trouble at times enjoying learning about certain aspects of basic science due to lack of interest. However, I am glad that I really put the time in because so much of it relates to neurology. Learning the anatomy of muscles of the wrist? You'll be happy you put the time in earlier in medical school when you are in neurology. Really trying to understand basic pulmonary physiology and gas exchange? You'll be thankful when you manage vents in the Neuro ICU. So, invest your time in really learning the basics, because at that stage in the game knowing what will truly be important for a career in neurology is difficult.

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PD-Survey-Report-2014.pdf

 

[Event_Horizon]

All of the information reported in this thread can apply for DO students as well. The DO "stigma" has greatly reduced in degree and prevalence both, and you will see DO students match even in the most competitive fields.

There are a couple important and interesting documents for you to read (attached below) relevant to this topic. In general, though, as others have mentioned, get as high of score on Step 1 as possible. In 2014, no reporting neurology program declined interviews to those who earned at least a 240 on Step 1 as a cutoff score (see below). That being said, a low Step 1 score doesn't always close doors if one excels in other areas of the application, e.g. Step 2 score, letters of recommendation, research, etc.

In the first couple years of medical school, I had trouble at times enjoying learning about certain aspects of basic science due to lack of interest. However, I am glad that I really put the time in because so much of it relates to neurology. Learning the anatomy of muscles of the wrist? You'll be happy you put the time in earlier in medical school when you are in neurology. Really trying to understand basic pulmonary physiology and gas exchange? You'll be thankful when you manage vents in the Neuro ICU. So, invest your time in really learning the basics, because at that stage in the game knowing what will truly be important for a career in neurology is difficult.

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PD-Survey-Report-2014.pdf

Thank you for the informative reply, friend.


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