Factors neurosurgery candidates use when choosing a residency program.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Residency Selection

Background:

• Applicant decisions for residency programs are influenced by various factors, some specialty-specific.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for effective resident recruitment in neurosurgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify program characteristics most important to neurosurgery residency applicants.
• To inform neurosurgery programs about applicant priorities for recruitment.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to neurosurgery residency coordinators nationwide.
• A paper survey was also administered at the Society of Neurological Surgeons intern boot camp.

Main Results:

• Forty responses (20.4% response rate) were received from 196 matched applicants.
• Top factors included current residents, team camaraderie, and operative case numbers.
• Interview day experiences and the likelihood of being ranked by the program were also significant.

Conclusions:

• Neurosurgery applicant priorities largely align with other specialties, with a slight emphasis on academics/research.
• Location appears less critical compared to other factors.
• The interview process and post-interview contact are vital for recruitment.