6. Neurology
Score: 24
Neurology seems like a path worth taking, but things aren’t that good-looking when numbers get crunched. Median annual salary of $243,105 is low compared to other specialties, and so are the test scores. Residents that find their match in neurology are averaging 235.5 on their USMLE Step tests (230 and 241), and they apply for 1.76 open positions not counting independent applicants. Neurosurgery, on the other hand, is one of the most competitive specialties, but it’s a different thing altogether.
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