Future neurosurgery question

[surge]

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OK, so I know I'm asking for it.... I think I know the answer, but still...Flame after you answer, please 😀

I will be shooting for a top neurosurgery residency.

Right now, I need to pick between two top 10 MD/PhD programs (one top 5, one top 10). Is there any reason that my chances would be affected by my choice of the school?
Am I right when I think that it will be up to my performance at either of these schools? All other things being equal, do you think it's possible I wouldn't match if I went to one of the schools over the other (I'm not revealing the schools on purpose).

Is there any way to figure this out? Neurosurg is, as you know, not a common match (max a few a year), so the sample size (especially given the limited match information I have access to at either school) is very small. It's not obvious that one school has had more people match in top programs than the other. Any thoughts?

Serge

 

[womansurg]

Originally posted by surge
Am I right when I think that it will be up to my performance at either of these schools?

This would be my guess. Choose the program where you feel you will be happiest and most productive. A great performance and recommendations from a solid school is what you need.

Excelling in medical school is a whole different animal than excelling during undergrad. Every person in your class is going to be a superstar, just like you. All of us were honors students, Phi Beta Kappa, double majors, published authors, yada yada. So while your performance might be your usual strong work, you may not find yourself in the top of the class, as you are accustomed to. Then, during clinical years, an entirely different aspect of your performance is evaluated - one typically not measured in undergraduate work. So some real brainiacs can find themselves struggling for the first time in their lives.

Also, the majority of people end up going into a field entirely different than what their stated interest was when starting this journey - usually because of some clinical experiences which swayed them toward something else.

So, go where your heart tells you you'll be happiest, keep an open mind and do your best!

-ws

 

[Behcet]

how sure are you that you want to do neurosurgery? 🙂

to answer your question, though, it matters but it doesn't. What matters more than the actual school you go to is networking. I know there was one local guy, I think last year, who was in the newspaper - graduated from Meharry med school, but worked with a famous pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins (can't think of his name right now for some reason...) and matched at Mass General. If you're really sure you want to go into neurosurgery, it's a very small field, everybody knows each other...so find a program with prominent people in the field who can network you into the residency spot you want.

 

[DarkChild]

Originally posted by Behcet
...but worked with a famous pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins (can't think of his name right now for some reason...) ...

that wouldnt be ben carson would it? 😉

 

[Behcet]

yeah, Ben Carson, that's him. Thanks!

 

[ApacheIndian]

Originally posted by Behcet
yeah, Ben Carson, that's him. Thanks!

Good man (not that I know him personally). Super surgeon. Great book. In depth learning is a concept I adopted from this former "knife-wielding street fighter."

 

[surge]

Ah, yes.... Ben Carson.... that's who I want to be when I grow up 😀

Anyway, thanks guys for the advice. Everything you say makes sense. Now....

How do I try to gauge the quality of the neurosurgery department at a particular school, short of U.S. News? Also, does anybody have any good practical advice about 'making connections'? And do keep it real, I know it's all politics 😉
What would you recommend in terms of the approach to (sequence of) clinical rotations (when do neurosurg)?

Thanks, Serge

 

[Behcet]

don't go by the US News...a good friend of mine matched Neurosurgery this year, and he told me those lists are pretty much all wrong for neurosurgery. i'd suggest starting networking early, get to know some neurosurgeons in your area, just start talking to some (private practice or academic, whatever's more convenient). you've gotta start somewhere, might as well be aggressive about it and start getting to know people. good luck

 

[scutking]

THE most important factor in getting a neurosurgery residency is your letters of recommendation. Unlike IM, Pediatics, etc, Neurosurg is a small community where everybody knows each other. I have 2 friends who were average medical students but got very good NSG residencies because of their letters. Grades, USMLE, etc were all secondary to their letters.

 

[surge]

Hey, womansurg, sorry I'm doing this, but your mailbox is full 😀

So, I'd like to contact some neurosurgeons in DSM to talk to them about their experiences in medschool realated to matching in neurosurg, maybe some thoughts on neurosurgery at schools I'm considering, any other general type of advice, maybe even shaddow them a little bit.... I'll take what I can get 😀
Thanks,

Serge

womansurg wrote on 02-19-2003 05:39 PM:
Whom you might contact for what purpose? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean exactly...

 

[womansurg]

Ah, sorry about that. I PM'd you.