r/GeneralSurgery

- DO student

- Preclinical GPA 3.75; no red flags, fails or remediations

- 1st quintile

- SSP Honors; Tri-A First Gen

Boards:

• Passed COMLEX Level 1 first attempt

• Passed USMLE Step 1 first attempt

• Step 2: 242

- Level 2 473

Research:

• 15 poster presentations

• 3 national conference presentations (one at a surgery conference)

• 0 publication...for now

• 2 manuscripts currently pending acceptance

Leadership:

• Leadership in ACOS local chapter, US TA, student gov, founding member of club on campus.

Letters:

• 3 confirmed LORs from third-year community surgeons, potential 4th from SubI

- 6 auditions planned including community and academic program.

Interested in community and hospital affiliated programs. Not too keen on academic centers.

Main concern is low Step/COMLEX 2 score and getting screened.

Wondering if I should dual apply with IM despite only being interested in surg.

Thanks!

Hey all,

I'm sorry if this is not the right place, but I needed some guidance.
I am a bit devastated but I need a reality check. I am currently on a surgery Sub I and my motivation to continue has almost vanished. I wanted to apply to general surgery, but I also got my step 2 score back today. It was in the low 23x. With a Step 1 fail, passed on the second attempt, is this even possible? I legitimately have no idea what to do this late with ERAS due in a few weeks. Even if I were to pivot to IM, I have not done any IM rotation, SUB I for it or have the LORs for it. I feel like everything is ruined and I am to blame. I've already reached out to my advisors but I really don't know how else they could help other than change specialties all together...

I once asked if doing general surgery out of the USA and then doing transplant or critical care fellowship is possible and got a lot of positive responses thanks to you all….

But my question is how much doable is to stay as an academic staff if I was in a h1b not a j1 visa

Thank you all in advance

Chances at matching General Surgery

Can I match General surgery

I'm a DO student at a P/F school. Preclinical grades are P/F but I'm somewhere around the 3rd quintile of my class. I passed all preclinical courses on the first attempt and passed all clerkships on the first attempt as well.

Boards:

• Passed COMLEX Level 1 first attempt

• Passed USMLE Step 1 first attempt

• Step 2 - 236

• Level 2 - 590

Research:

• 10+ poster presentations

• 2 national conference presentations (one at a surgery conference)

• 1 completed and indexed publication

• 4 manuscripts currently pending acceptance

Leadership:

• A few leadership positions in clubs and student government

Letters:

• 3 confirmed LORs from third-year surgery rotations

• One letter is from a hospital Chief of Staff who is a surgeon

\- 5 auditions planned

No red flags, no failed exams, no remediation.

Worried my low Step score will make me DOA at most places, but am open to go to any program as I want to do dual gen surg.

I was asked this question from a surgeon in a rotation and he asked if you’re operating, which would you jeopardize more, is it time and be late or accuracy of your work ..I had an opinion but would love to hear from people with some experience what is their answer to that question.

Thanks!