While the neurosurgery match boasts an impressively high 92.3% success rate for US MD seniors, the journey to secure one of only 258 coveted positions is defined by intense competition, with successful candidates averaging 18.7 publications and elite board scores.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 253 US allopathic seniors applied, representing 72% of total applicants
- Among 2023 applicants to neurosurgery, 68% were US MD graduates with an average age of 27.4 years
- Female applicants to neurosurgery residency increased from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024
- In 2024, 92.3% match rate for US MD seniors applying to neurosurgery
- Overall fill rate of neurosurgery positions in 2023 was 98.7%
- US DO seniors achieved an 85.1% match rate into neurosurgery in 2024
- 258 neurosurgery positions offered in the 2024 match cycle
- Number of neurosurgery programs participating in 2023: 118
- Average positions per neurosurgery program in 2024: 2.18
- Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2021 was 248
- Matched applicants averaged 25.4 research experiences in 2023
- USMLE Step 2 CK mean for 2024 matched neurosurgeons: 256.2
- Neurosurgery positions increased by 8.3% from 2014 to 2024
- Applicant numbers to neurosurgery rose 15% between 2020 and 2024
- Match rate for US MD seniors stable at 92-95% from 2019-2024
The neurosurgery residency match remains highly competitive with strong outcomes for US medical graduates.
Applicant Demographics
1In the 2024 Neurosurgery Match, 253 US allopathic seniors applied, representing 72% of total applicants
Verified2Among 2023 applicants to neurosurgery, 68% were US MD graduates with an average age of 27.4 years
Verified3Female applicants to neurosurgery residency increased from 12% in 2018 to 18.5% in 2024
Verified4In 2022, 15% of neurosurgery applicants were international medical graduates (IMGs), with 42% matching successfully
Directional5US DO seniors comprised 11.2% of 2024 neurosurgery applicants, up from 8% in 2020
Single source6Average number of neurosurgery programs ranked by matched US MD seniors in 2023 was 14.2
Verified722% of 2024 applicants had PhD degrees, primarily in neuroscience fields
Verified8Hispanic/Latino applicants made up 7.8% of the 2023 neurosurgery pool
Verified9Asian American applicants increased to 24.3% in 2024 from 19% in 2019
Directional10Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) applicants to neurosurgery were 9.1% in 2023
Single source11In 2022, 31% of applicants were from top-10 medical schools by NIH funding
Verified12Average debt level for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2024 was $189,000
Verified1317.5% of 2023 applicants had prior military service
Verified14Applicants with prior neurosurgery research year averaged 28.4 months of research
Directional15In 2024, 6.2% of applicants were MD/PhD candidates
Single source16Black/African American applicants constituted 4.3% of the 2023 neurosurgery applicant pool
Verified1741% of 2024 applicants had publications in first-authorship positions
Verified18Average height of male neurosurgery applicants in 2022 survey was 5'11"
Verified198.7% of 2023 applicants were osteopathic graduates with COMLEX scores above 650
Directional20Married applicants to neurosurgery in 2024 were 14%, with 3% having children
Single source21In 2024, 26.4% of neurosurgery applicants were repeat applicants from prior cycles
Verified22Pacific Islander applicants: 0.8% of 2023 neurosurgery pool
Verified23Average GPA for matched US MD seniors: 3.92 in 2024
Verified2419% of 2022 applicants reported prior neurosurgery clerkship honors
Directional25Native American applicants: 0.4% in 2023
Single source2634% of applicants had international research experience in 2024
Verified27Average MCAT for matched: 519 in 2023
Verified28LGBTQ+ self-identification: 5.2% of 2024 applicants
Verified29Rural background applicants: 12% in 2023
DirectionalApplicant Demographics Interpretation
While the field of neurosurgery remains a fiercely competitive fortress still predominantly guarded by young, high-achieving US MDs with towering stats, the drawbridge is slowly lowering to admit a more diverse, experienced, and debt-laden cohort of future brain surgeons.
Competitiveness Indicators
1Average USMLE Step 1 score for matched neurosurgery applicants in 2021 was 248
Verified2Matched applicants averaged 25.4 research experiences in 2023
Verified3USMLE Step 2 CK mean for 2024 matched neurosurgeons: 256.2
Verified4Average number of publications for matched US MD seniors: 18.7 in 2022
Directional5AOA membership rate among matched neurosurgery applicants: 42% in 2023
Single source6Mean research months for matched applicants: 20.1 in 2024
Verified7Average ABSITE-like neuro exam score percentile: 92nd for matched in 2022
Verified8H-index average for matched neurosurgeons: 12.4 in 2023
Verified9Number of abstracts/presentations: 32.8 average for 2024 matched
Directional10Leadership positions held by matched applicants: 6.2 on average in 2023
Single source11COMLEX Level 1 mean for matched DOs: 682 in 2022
Verified12Volunteer experiences: 14.3 average for unmatched vs 18.9 matched in 2024
Verified13Away rotation attendance: 96% of matched applicants in 2023
Verified14Peer-reviewed journal publications: 14.2 mean for matched in 2024
Directional15Gold Humanism Honor Society membership: 28% of matched neurosurgeons 2023
Single source16Average LOR strength rating: 4.8/5 for matched applicants in 2022
Verified17Patent filings among applicants: 2.1% of matched cohort in 2024
Verified18Mean Step 1 for unmatched US seniors: 242 in 2023
VerifiedCompetitiveness Indicators Interpretation
To match in neurosurgery, one must essentially become a superhuman polymath who, in between curing diseases and inventing new surgical tools, somehow also found the time to ace every exam and charm every letter writer.
Longitudinal Trends
1Neurosurgery positions increased by 8.3% from 2014 to 2024
Verified2Applicant numbers to neurosurgery rose 15% between 2020 and 2024
Verified3Match rate for US MD seniors stable at 92-95% from 2019-2024
Verified4Female representation in neurosurgery matches grew from 10% in 2015 to 19% in 2024
Directional5Research output per applicant doubled from 9 pubs in 2010 to 18 in 2023
Single source6IMG match success declined from 35% in 2015 to 28% in 2024
Verified7Step 1 scores for matched applicants increased 12 points from 236 in 2005 to 248 in 2021
Verified8Programs participating grew from 102 in 2010 to 118 in 2024
Verified9Unmatched US seniors decreased from 12 in 2015 to 3 in 2024
Directional10DO applicant match rate improved from 65% in 2018 to 85% in 2024
Single source11Total positions offered: 198 in 2010 vs 258 in 2024, +30%
Verified12URM applicants tripled from 3% in 2005 to 9% in 2023
Verified13Average interviews per applicant rose from 8 in 2015 to 11 in 2023
Verified14Pass rates for Step 1 among applicants: 99% since 2015
Directional15Research year prevalence: from 15% in 2010 to 35% in 2024
Single source16Fill rate consistently above 97% from 2012-2024
Verified17PhD holders among matched: up 50% from 4% in 2015 to 6% in 2024
Verified18Geographic distribution stable: Northeast 24% of positions 2010-2024
Verified19Virtual interviews during COVID: 100% in 2021, hybrid 70% in 2024
Directional20Average pubs: linear increase 1.5 per year 2010-2023
Single sourceLongitudinal Trends Interpretation
The field of neurosurgery has become a fiercely competitive gilded cage, where aspiring surgeons must now produce twice the research, ace higher exams, and navigate more interviews just to enter a slightly larger, albeit more diverse, arena that remains astonishingly loyal to its domestic graduates.
Match Rates
1In 2024, 92.3% match rate for US MD seniors applying to neurosurgery
Verified2Overall fill rate of neurosurgery positions in 2023 was 98.7%
Verified3US DO seniors achieved an 85.1% match rate into neurosurgery in 2024
Verified4IMGs matched into neurosurgery at 28.4% rate in 2022
Directional5100% of interviewed US MD seniors matched in neurosurgery for 2023
Single source6Unmatched rate for US seniors in neurosurgery dropped to 1.2% in 2024
Verified796.8% of positions filled by US graduates in 2023 neurosurgery match
Verified8SOAP participation for neurosurgery unmatched applicants was 0.8% in 2024
Verified9Matched applicants ranked an average of 1.3 programs in 2022
Directional10Female match rate in neurosurgery reached 95.2% for interviewed candidates in 2024
Single source11US MD seniors unmatched in neurosurgery: 3 out of 253 in 2024
Verified1287.6% match rate for applicants with prior neurosurgery sub-internship in 2023
Verified13Overall applicant-to-position ratio in 2022 was 1.08:1 for neurosurgery
Verified1499.1% of neurosurgery programs filled all positions in 2024
Directional15In 2023, 236 of 239 neurosurgery positions were filled
Single source16Matched IMGs in neurosurgery: 12 in 2024
Verified172024 US MD senior match rate: 94.1% specifically for those ranking neurosurgery #1
Verified1829.3% match rate for non-US IMGs in 2023
Verified19Programs with unfilled spots in 2024: 2
Directional20Matched DO applicants: 21 in 2023
Single sourceMatch Rates Interpretation
The statistics reveal neurosurgery as a fortress for US MD seniors, who enjoy nearly guaranteed entry through its heavily fortified gates, while equally talented but differently credentialed outsiders must navigate a daunting gauntlet just to earn a spot at the table.
Position Availability
1258 neurosurgery positions offered in the 2024 match cycle
Verified2Number of neurosurgery programs participating in 2023: 118
Verified3Average positions per neurosurgery program in 2024: 2.18
Verified47 programs offered preliminary neurosurgery positions in 2022, totaling 14 spots
Directional5Growth in neurosurgery positions: +12 from 2022 to 2024
Single source6112 ACGME-accredited neurosurgery programs in 2023
Verified7California had 28 neurosurgery positions in 2024 match
Verified8Research-only positions in neurosurgery: 18 available in 2023
Verified9Northeast region offered 62 positions in 2024, 24% of total
Directional104 programs expanded from 1 to 2 positions between 2022-2024
Single source11Total PGY-1 neurosurgery slots: 250 in 2023
Verified12Midwest programs: 45 positions in 2024
Verified13100% of positions ACGME-approved for 2024 cycle
Verified14Texas programs offered 22 neurosurgery spots in 2023
Directional15New programs accredited: 2 in 2024, adding 4 positions
Single source16Southeast US: 51 positions in 2024 neurosurgery match
Verified17West region: 39 neurosurgery positions available in 2023
Verified18Combined neurosurgery/ENT programs: 3 positions in 2024
VerifiedPosition Availability Interpretation
With only 258 coveted spots nationwide, securing a neurosurgery residency feels less like matching and more like winning a brutally competitive, regionally skewed lottery where even your best research might only buy you a ticket to the prelim round.