Group attending a conference

Preparing to be a competitive residency candidate

The VCU Department of Neurosurgery seeks to promote interest in the neurosciences and we encourage students at any level to explore their interest in this field. The department maintains an open-door policy for students to meet with us to discuss their interests and explore opportunities to expand on their knowledge and experience. We also offer acting internship rotations that afford students the opportunity to attend our clinics and conferences, work in the lab, and observe in the operating room.

Students with serious interest in neurosurgery as a career choice should get involved as early as possible. The most successful applicants have completed some research in the neurosciences and taken part in one or more AI rotation with neurosurgery departments. Listed below are potential opportunities to get involved with neurosurgery at every level of medical school.

M1 involvement

  • Contact a neurosurgery faculty member to discuss the specialty.
  • Attend neurosurgery clinic after classes.
  • Observe cases in the OR after classes.
  • Attend didactic conferences.
  • Plan a project to be completed during the summer break and, if at VCU, apply for an A.D. Williams Summer Fellowship.

M2 involvement

  • Attend neurosurgery clinic after classes.
  • Observe cases in the OR after classes.
  • Attend didactic conferences.
  • Discuss plans for clinical rotations with neurosurgery faculty.
  • Develop a clinical or basic science research project.

M3 involvement

  • Attend didactic conferences.
  • Complete a rotation on the VCU neurosurgery service.
  • Plan elective acting internships. You should discuss possible choices with residents and faculty members. Applicants typically complete two to three AIs, which are often arranged in the spring of the M3 year and usually take place between August and November of the M4 year. Students interested in an AI at VCU should contact Scott Graham and the School of Medicine.
  • Begin to prepare your application for the San Francisco Match Program.
  • Begin to approach faculty for letters of recommendation. These are critically important. You will need at least three letters of recommendation and at least one of them should come from either the chairman of neurosurgery or the residency program director at VCU.
  • Neurosurgery is an early match date.

M4 involvement

  • Attend neurosurgery clinic in free time.
  • Observe cases in the OR.
  • Attend didactic conferences.
  • Send in application materials to SF Match. Many program directors review applications and offer interviews on a first come, first served basis, so you should have your application complete by early September of the M4 year.
  • Plan to interview at 10 to 15 programs. This will typically occupy most of your time from October through December.