Neurosurgery at New York elective

[cat_221089]

Soo..I would REALLY like to do 4 weeks of my elective at New York in Neurosurgery.
So far I have emailed a number of consultants, received one reply which was that their institute does not accept students during the summer months (our electives are next year from june - august).

I know that the most medical schools there have elective programs to apply for, but most applications are required to be submitted next april only, which is when our exams will be (plus confirmation of a place essentially does not take place until May before we depart, and would need to sort out flights; insurance; accommodation etc.).

Has anybody directly applied to a specific consultant's office for an elective, and had a successful outcome at all?

The only schools that even provide neurosurgery elective programs are NYU and Weill Cornell uni, the latter of which I think even charges $2000 in which case I will be running far away. Even then you're required to make top 3 choices and may not do neurosurgery as I wanted, and I also prefer specific specialties within neurosurgery...

Please does anybody have advice in how to circumvent the bureaucracy of applying through the program, whether there is a particular doctor who may be friendly enough to accept a student??

I know this is a specific question, so many thanks for anyone who can help

[Bambi]

You have to apply through their proper system. At best you can email the head of a department and try and get pally with them so they can put in a good word for you but you will still have to go through the main system. Also in the US you aren't with just 1 attending when you do an elective so asking to just follow one around isn't going to get you far, you are on the service and expected to interact with everyone. Doing an NS elective in NY as a foreigner at any time of the year is almost impossible, in the summer it essentially is impossible as 4th years are preparing for residency applications and doing their subIs at this time. I know it isn't the answer you want but pick another city.

[cat_221089]

Hi, thanks for your reply (just saw it!).
I wouldn't say it's impossible, as someone I know last year did the elective at NYU in neurosurgery through their official programme..(I know, one person is hardly record-breaking!).
A consultant who I contacted a while ago at NYU Neurosurgery had agreed to "supervise" me, and I've tried to push this acceptance with their admin. The main elective coordinator told me to get back to them around January or so...when they're more likely to know how many more students they can accommodate after their own. I'm slightly skeptical about how feasible this is, as I know that they are flooded with applications from their own students. Do you think that it's likely to be a big fat rejection when I do ask them once again?
Alternatively, the neurological dept. at Columbia Uni possibly agreed to let me be an observer for a few wks. Do you know whether there is a significant difference between enrolling on a proper elective programme and being just an observer? I can't imagine that there is all that much we will be allowed to do there anyway..

Cheers .

PS. I know you don't just follow a person around for 7 weeks, but having a consultant agreeing to host you puts you in a better standing, and it's easier to have a focus point if you're arranging something yourself. Plus there's someone to assess your work if required