Why is Neurosurgery so competitive?

[OMSWeebHours]

I like stuff involving the brain but I am puzzled why this is so competitive. As a comparison, Derm is widely known to be competitive because it basically gives a max return to applicants (not really a secret the money and lack of call are big). In Neurosurgery sure the salaries are high but without the time to actually use the money and the risk of lawsuits (since even a "small" mistake is clearly very dangerous to the CNS) and the 7 year residency makes it so finances are strapped for a longer time than others.

I realize this is insanely reductive and there is probably much more to Neuro than that, but usually competitive specialties are competitive for various reasons. I'd hazard a guess the work is very fulfilling and engaging? For me money alone is most definitely not the primary concern with a specialty but I would be lying if I said it wasn't a consideration. I think the schedule, daily work, and patient interactions are key for me.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Just D.O. it]

salaries are high

Like really, really high. You can break 1 million as an employed neurosurgeon. In almost every other specialty (including derm usually) you need to open your own practice and deal with the headache of running a business.

It’s also a relatively small field with only 300ish slots per year so that’s also part of it.

If you “like the brain”, neurology and psychiatry are both much less competitive and have a much better schedule.

 

[SurgeDO]

I think neurosurgery attracts a special type of personality. The type of people who enjoy being competitive for the sake of being competitive. A lot of personality disorders in this neck of the woods.

With that said, neurosurgery residency is absolutely brutal. Extremely stressful surgeries. Our “good” patient outcomes are probably considered terrible amongst other specialties. Long hours. Long hours. You bring work home.

You have to have the perfect blend of masochism and perseverance to enter this field.

 

[OMSWeebHours]

I think neurosurgery attracts a special type of personality. The type of people who enjoy being competitive for the sake of being competitive. A lot of personality disorders in this neck of the woods.

With that said, neurosurgery residency is absolutely brutal. Extremely stressful surgeries. Our “good” patient outcomes are probably considered terrible amongst other specialties. Long hours. Long hours. You bring work home.

You have to have the perfect blend of masochism and perseverance to enter this field.

I heard it's brutal. I have difficulty even imaging how it is physically possible to do that for 7 years without high attrition. Then again, I'm not one to stay after for things much so I'm probably just not on that level

 

[Cornfed101]

Salary plays a part, but you have to also consider the limited number of training spots. Neurosurgery has ~250 pgy1 spots. Family medicine could pay $500k a year and it still wouldn’t be that competitive because there are over 5000 spots

 

[OMSWeebHours]

Like really, really high. You can break 1 million as an employed neurosurgeon. In almost every other specialty (including derm usually) you need to open your own practice and deal with the headache of running a business.

It’s also a relatively small field with only 300ish slots per year so that’s also part of it.

If you “like the brain”, neurology and psychiatry are both much less competitive and have a much better schedule.

Yes, I would definitely aim for another specialty. Neurosurgeons are very important and I would be wasting a valuable spot if I by some fluke got in and couldn't manage and switched out