What's more competitive, IM or Neuro?

[medstudent7860]

I go to a small town med school and am really looking to move to Chicago. Since location is the most important thing to me, what do you think I have a better chance of matching into? Just keeping a standard applicant in mind, what's easier to match into, IM or Neuro?

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[MDtoUSMLE]

In general, neuro is more competitive but again it all depends on your scores and other things as not all programs have the same selection criteria. Some IM programs are more competitive than Neuro programs.

 

[Winged Scapula]

What happened to Derm?

 

[235009]

if you look at charting outcomes you'll see that overall the stats for neuro and IM are very similar however the best or even a "good" IM program is way harder to match into than an equivalently regarded neuro program. Keep in mind also that IM has gotten significantly more competitive since charting outcomes was last published. if your goal is to match SOMEWHERE in/near chicago if you are a US MD you'll be able to find at least one community program that'll gladly take you.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Yeah, IM is definitely more competitive than neuro overall...especially at the well-regarded programs.

 

[cerebral edema]

I go to a small town med school and am really looking to move to Chicago. Since location is the most important thing to me, what do you think I have a better chance of matching into? Just keeping a standard applicant in mind, what's easier to match into, IM or Neuro?

Neuro is super uncompetitive unless ur trying to go to one of the top places (upenn, washu, et cetra)

 

[gutonc]

I go to a small town med school and am really looking to move to Chicago. Since location is the most important thing to me, what do you think I have a better chance of matching into? Just keeping a standard applicant in mind, what's easier to match into, IM or Neuro?

That is pretty much the dumbest reason I've ever heard for choosing a specialty. "I need to be in City X for 3-7 years out of the next 50 so I'm going to choose my specialty based on my ability to get a residency in that specialty."

Once you finish your residency, you'll be able to get a job wherever you want (recognizing that you'll have to give up some things for that like money, practice environment, etc). So pursue the specialty you want to do and, once you're done, go get a job in Chicago.

 

[Instatewaiter]

I go to a small town med school and am really looking to move to Chicago. Since location is the most important thing to me, what do you think I have a better chance of matching into? Just keeping a standard applicant in mind, what's easier to match into, IM or Neuro?

They are similarly competitive. Choose the one you like better.

 

[newtosdn]

It depends on your application. From my personal experience, neurology programs care more about your motivation to do neurology, research etc, while IM programs have higher score cut-offs. If you are geographically restricted, and have decent scores/letters, I would think you would have a better chance with IM.

 

[TUGM]

Neurology and IM are relatively similar in comparison. Top programs all have similar cutoff scores (usually 220-240), but in general, Neurology programs look for sincere interest in Neurology (subIs, research, participation in SIGN). Neurology has a lot less spots than IM, as well. As gutonc mentioned before, you should choose a specialty based on your interest, not based on how easy it is to match a particular location. If you're not gung-ho about neurology, I would do IM. Chicago has a lot of programs - the academic ones are super hard to match, but you should be able to get into a community program if you play your cards right.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Why not apply to both?