All of those lists are incredibly subjective and of no real meaning. As a recent applicant, I think it comes down to what you value most from an experience standpoint.
If you want to do a lot of adult deformity, you aren’t going to get a much better experience than Columbia, though places like Wash U remain strong.
If you want a heavily MIS experience, your options depend on whether you prefer academic/research heavy like Rush, or private practice style like Spine institute of AZ or San Diego Spine.
You will get a very well rounded experience at any of Rothman, Emory, Utah, OrthoCarolina, Leatherman, Maryland, and all come with a good to great academic reputation.
Other options will prepare you very well a largely private practice degen practice like Twin Cities or TBI. Both well rounded with a little bit of everything, but not going to move the needle as much if you want to go into academics.
if you want to do adult and peds more than other places, there are programs like Penn that offer 6months of each.
Other programs that I personally liked and had various pros and cons:
Swedish (has the SSF attachments and appears quite well rounded, with the exception of trauma)
HSS (strong MIS, degen and deformity but no trauma)
USC (well rounded)
harborview (fellows appear to be very well trained, downside is little to no MIS)
Cleveland Clinic (offer more opportunity to work alongside neurosurgery)
Pitt (have had some people leave in recent years, but the fellows seemed as happy as anywhere with their experience)
There are no clear cut rankings on things like this, as everyone has different plans on what they want. Find what you value most based on your future practice plans and what you’ve experienced in residency. For me, well rounded with plenty of MIS experience was a priority more so than academics or adult deformity so I didn’t even apply to some places that others may rank extremely high.
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