Factors neurosurgery candidates use when choosing a residency program

Many factors affect an applicant's decision when selecting a residency program. While some issues are likely important to all applicants, others may be specific to, or weighed differently by, those applying to certain specialties. In an effort to better understand how applicants to neurosurgery programs make decisions about relative rank, the authors created a survey to identify the program characteristics thought most important by applicants.

An electronic survey was created and posted to the neurosurgery residency coordinator's forum. Coordinators throughout the country were asked to send the survey link to students who were scheduled to begin as first-year residents in July of 2012. A paper copy of the survey was also distributed at the Society of Neurological Surgeons intern boot camp in Atlanta, Georgia, in July of 2012.

One hundred ninety-six students obtained a neurosurgical postgraduate year 1 position in the 2011-2012 match; 40 survey responses were received (response rate 20.4%). The factors cited as being most important in selecting a residency were the residents currently in the program, team camaraderie, and the number of operative cases performed. The interview day, specifically the opportunity to talk to the residents, was also thought to be important, as was the knowledge that the applicant would likely be ranked by the program.

Applicants for neurosurgical training choose a program for reasons similar to those given by applicants to other specialties. Neurosurgery applicants seem marginally more interested in an emphasis on academics and research and slightly less concerned with a program's location, but overall, the differences appear minimal. The interview process is very important, and contact by a representative after the interview also seems significant in applicants' decision making. By recognizing what applicants think is important in choosing a residency, programs can more effectively recruit residents and more efficiently use faculty time and department resources.