Medical Do I realistically have a shot at neurosurgery?

[Mr.Smile12]

Current MS3, I have been pretty set on med/peds up until this point but lately I have found myself falling in love with neurosurgery. One thing I worry about is my lack of research. Step 1:244, clerkship grades (H/P/F): Honors in psych and IM, Pass in peds and OBGYN, no grades yet for surgery or family. Yet to take step 2 CK/CS. Currently I have 3 poster presentations, 1 in psych at a national conference, 1 in GI at a regional conference, and another at a local school conference along with 1 non first author paper in structural neuropsychiatry. Do I realistically have a shot at this point? I know its a research intense field. Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

Do you have a list of residency programs that you'd like to apply for? What feedback have you gotten from your student dean?

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[MusicDOc124]

Your competitiveness at this point is highly dependent on your upcoming surgery rotation and electives/aways in neurosurgery and their grades as well as Step 2 score. Neurosurg likes it's research and it pretty highly competitive, especially depending on desired location/programs of interest.

The numerous students I've known to have been successful with neurosurgery matching usually had research to begin with, did a research year, and/or had absolutely stellar aways with networking throughout their time in school.

Aside from the dean, do you have any sort of mentor or potential mentor you can reach out to in neurosurgery? Be is anyone in your home program if you have one, or any residents you may know who've gone that route?