IMG profile
Average Stats for a Matched US IMG in 2024:
- Pct. that passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt 100%
- USMLE Step 2 CK score: 246
- Research: 5
- Abstracts/Presentations/Publications: 26
- Work: 3
- Volunteer: 7
Average Stats for a Matched Non-US IMG in 2024:
Speciality Factors
In March 2024, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted its survey of directors of programs participating in the Main Residency Match® to characterize the factors that Program Directors use to select applicants for interviews and rank applicants for the Main Residency Match. See results of the Program Director Survey for Neurosurgery below:
Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Interview
- Letters of recommendation in the specialty: 93% (4.9)
- Audition elective/rotation within your department: 93% (4.5)
- Grades in required clerkships: 86% (3.8)
- Personal prior knowledge of the applicant: 79% (4.6)
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean`s Letter): 79% (3.8)
- Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 79% (4.0)
- Class ranking/quartile: 71% (4.3)
- Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 71% (3.4)
- Away rotation in your specialty at another institution: 64% (4.3)
- Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 64% (3.6)
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 64% (4.0)
- Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 50% (3.9)
- Consistency of grades: 50% (4.1)
- Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 50% (3.6)
- Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 29% (3.3)
- Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 29% (4.0)
- Visa status: 21% (4.0)
- Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 14% (4.0)
- Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 7% (3.0)
- Ability to work legally in the U.S. without a visa: 7% (5.0)
- How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 7% (3.0)
- Applicant was flagged with Match Violation by the NRMP: 7% (5.0)
Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Rank
- Interactions with house staff during interview and visit: 100% (4.7)
- Interactions with faculty during interview and visit: 100% (4.7)
- Feedback from current residents: 100% (4.8)
- Interpersonal skills: 93% (4.6)
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean`s Letter): 64% (4.1)
- Grades in required clerkships: 64% (4.0)
- Class ranking/quartile: 57% (3.9)
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 57% (3.8)
- Consistency of grades: 50% (4.3)
- Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 43% (4.3)
- Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 43% (4.3)
- Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 36% (4.0)
- Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 36% (4.0)
- Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 29% (3.0)
- Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 21% (4.0)
- Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 21% (4.3)
- Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 21% (4.7)
- Other post-interview contact: 14% (3.0)
- How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 14% (4.5)
- Applicant facility with meeting platform technology: 7% (3.0)
- Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 0% (—)
- Second interview/visit: 0% (—)
¹Ratings on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important).
% of Programs Interviewing IMGs:
-
US IMG: Often 0%, Seldom 69%, Never 31%
-
Non-US IMG: Often 14%, Seldom 71%, Never 14%
% of Programs Ranking IMGs:
-
US IMG: Often 0%, Seldom 57%, Never 43%
-
Non-US IMG: Often 14%, Seldom 71%, Never 14%
% of Programs Using USMLE to Select IMG Applicants for Interview:
-
Step 1: Does not consider 0%, Requires pass only 100%, Prefers but does not require target score 0%, Requires target score 0%
-
Step 2 CK: Does not consider 0%, Requires pass only 25%, Prefers but does not require target score 42%, Requires target score 33%
-
Step 3: Does not consider 73%, Requires pass only 18%, Prefers but does not require target score 0%, Requires target score 9%
Fast Facts
Total Training |
7 years |
Average Residency Salary |
$61,000 |
Average Physician Salary |
$645,000 |
Average Physician Work Week |
59 Hours |
Peak Interview Months |
October-January |
Key Organizations and Societies |
American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Board of Neurological Surgery, American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgical Surgery, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Neurological Surgeons, Women in Neurosurgery, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, American Association of Neurological Surgeons: Trainees |
- Neurosurgery is a competitive specialty, especially for IMGs. It is one of the top-paid specialties in medicine.
|
Match Statistics 2025
Main Residency Match and Post-Match Stats
121
Total Number of Available Programs
3
Post-Match SOAP Unfilled Positions
Post-Match SOAP
Program Track |
Participating Programs |
Positions Available |
Filled Programs |
Filled Positions |
PGY-1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Subspecialties
- Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
- Neurocritical Care
Additional Info
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Select Neurological surgery programs may participate in program signaling (25 signals). Please visit the ERAS application webpage for information, guidance, timelines, and resources on completing the ERAS application.
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Members of the GSA, Careers in Medicine, and Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA) are collaborating in an effort to increase transparency in the residency application process through use of a Residency Guide template for each specialty. See guidance template here: Neurological-Surgery_Program-Directors-Association-Guide-for-Residency-Applicants-06.2024.pdf (cmss.org).