Hey everyone,
I’m a non-US IMG (YOG 2025) planning to apply for General Surgery this cycle, but after getting my Step 2 score, I’m honestly questioning whether I should even apply at all.
My profile:

Step 1: Pass
Step 2 CK: 225
YOG: 2025
Non-US IMG
4 publications
25 conference presentations
3 LORs
2 US clinical rotations
Applying for General Surgery

I know a 225 isn’t a competitive Step 2 score for Gen Surg, and I’m honestly pretty crushed. I’ve put a lot of time, effort, and money into this, so I’m trying to be realistic before spending even more on applications.
Do you guys think I have a realistic chance of matching General Surgery with this profile?
If you were in my position, would you still apply, or would you not even apply and save the money?
I’d really appreciate honest opinions, especially from IMGs who matched into Gen Surg or people who know the process well. I’m honestly pretty lost right now and don’t know whether I should keep going with this or reconsider

See above

Hi everyone. I'm an M4 that will apply to residency in September but I am unsure what to apply to.. I was hoping for some help, advice or suggestions. Most of my life I thought of doing surgery and just stuck with that through undergrad I always thought that was what I would do. I love kids so I always dreamt of Pediatric Surgery. But before entering medical school, I don't think I considered what that entailed. I dint know it was 5 years of general surgery and that it is one of the most competitive felowships to get into, which entails 8-9 years of training. This weighs heavy on me because I want to be a mother in the next couple of years and I am thinking much more about lifestyle these past years. Also I have struggled with some health issues and fear that going into surgery could jeopardize that. I've thought of just doing pediatrics, but I fear i'll regret not doing surgery.. I've began to entertain OBGYN and am currently on that rotation so I am exploring it, but I have similar worries about the supposed malignancy of these programs. I'm not sure what to do and I'm trying to figure out if maybe I have been too close minded and that I should look into other fields that I might not have considered. For context i believe I am a very detail oriented, crafty, hands-on person, good under pressure and I love to be actively working and seeing patients or doing procedures rather than studying and researching.

Any specialty advice?

Any life advice?

Any specialty suggestions? I might be too late for some?

Non-US IMG

Applying to: Gen surg (Prelim/Cat)

YOG: 2024 STEP 1: Pass STEP 2: 27* STEP 3: 24*

USCE: Rotations at 3 major US hospitals, with strong LORs

Research: Enough compared to previous year stats for gen surg applicants.

I understand applying is a gamble as an IMG and without a postdoc, but I would really appreciate it if anyone had any suggestions on which programs I should target and where I have good chances. I don't mind doing the prelim route and then converting, but at the same time, I don't have a problem with matching CAT at a community program in the first cycle. But I also wouldn't want to be at a place where there isn't specialist management and patients keep being referred.

YOG: 2024

Experience: All clinical rotations in the US.

12 months in Head and Neck Oncology and Trauma in clinical role working alongside residents and attendings for preop and postoperative assessments. (2 strong LORs for Surgery).

13+ months: Licensed, Orthopedic Surgery First Assistant at high volume academic institution (top 5 in the country). Assisted in over 800 procedures across adult recon, hip preservation, oncology, trauma, spine foot and ankle, ENT, plastics. In this role I am actively part of patient care providing independent closure of capsule, adipose layer and skin. Position and prep patients and mentor students, help fellows start cases with attending’s preferences and approaches, support residents and teach interns basic arthroplasty principles and closure etc.

Weak scores (Step 1: 215, Step 2: 237, Step 3: 205)

Research: 1 first author (JAAOS publication), 2 submitted (2nd author), all with big academic institutions (don’t know if that matters).

Question: With this profile, can I do it? Obviously, I tried to match in my current institution but it didn’t work despite 2 strong letters from faculty. Connections got me the interview but My scores just shut that door together with no publication at the time and they have never taken a non-US applicant. I am not applying there this time nor to any academic institutions for Ortho.

Are there programs that I can apply to for ortho that can consider my app? Should I just focus gen surg, prelim? Or do something like Emergency Med?

Applying this cycle, anybody know of any good community programs that have a track record of matching residents into competitive fellowships (cardiac, vascular, thoracic, surg onc)

Thanks in advance

Hi guys. I am just wondering if anyone has applied without their step 2 score released yet, and how did that go? Did you notify the programs why you didn’t submit? Did you end up submitting and getting interviews after?

I’m a current MS3 trying to narrow down specialties. I was an ICU RN before medical school and have been trying to decide on my path to critical care. So far I’ve been most drawn toward the ACS/SCC pathway.

I know training will be hard. I’m more-so wondering if there are any attendings out there that can shed light to what life looks after training (lifestyle, schedule, compensation, pros/cons of the specialty you didn’t consider, would you choose it again, longevity of the specialty, etc). Any insight is appreciated!

I’m a MIGS surgeon and have been teaching my residents about RVUs, compensation models, contracts, and some of the financial aspects of transitioning from residency to practice.

I’m putting together some educational material for them and would love the perspective of other residents. I am trying to create the next chapter of talks I will give my residents.

What do you think residents should better understand before finishing training. More about RVUs? contracts? productivity bonuses? academic vs private practice? something else?

Give me a hand with this. I'd really appreciate the input.

US-img
3 hands-on,university based surgical rotations
1 research elective
Current postdoc
Yog 2026
Step 1-pass
Step 2-255

Only want to match categorical. What are my chances?

(No connections yet)

I’m a US MD who loves Gen surg, I can’t see myself doing anything else, but got wrecked by my step 2 score. I got a 231, but otherwise first pass STEP 1, 1 published paper, and 3 others submitted. Two honors in my sub Is so far and strong letters so far. Is Gen surg out of the question for me?

Will having a master’s degree in anatomy increase my chances of matching into a surgical specialty in the US??

hello i'm a graduated img i don't have usce and i plan to do observerships soon very little publications and i want to match into ophthalmology but i heard it was competitive and especially for imgs . so my question is if i matched in surgical prelim the first year do i have higher chances to match into ophthalmology the second year ?

HI all! I am a PGY-2 at a program with a great culture and a previous post I made has prompted many people to reach out to me in search of the gen surg programs with the best culture. Which do you think?

Here is the list I have found across this site and SDN.

UCSF, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, St. Luke's in PA, St Vincent's in Indiana, Kansas University in Wichita, St Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor, UT Knoxville, Carolinas Medical Center, Unity Point Medical Center in Des Moines, Hennepin County, UVA, OHSU, UTSW, BSWH in Temple Texas, Nebraska, LSU-Shreveport, Penn State, ECU, UTMB

Open to corrections and additions, just want a good resource for future applicants!

Edit: please comment on the post here! ill add the DMs but the point is for people to share!

Step 1 pass
Step 2 269
Might take step 3 before interviews
No research
1 USCE hands on, 1 LOR from a pediatric surgeon
No visa required
2022 graduate

I could have the possibility to apply 100-150 programs

Other option is to start doing rotations and/or research, which in and of itself take time to even get, let alone complete, for next cycle.

Appreciate in advance your actionable experience/evidence based advice.

"I just received a Step 2 CK score of 250. What are my chances of matching into General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery, or Integrated Thoracic Surgery as a visa-requiring non-US IMG?"

YOG: 5 Years

General surgery chief, finishing July 2027. Trying to figure out how open fellowship spots surface once the formal cycles have closed. Didn't match in the specialties I was going for.

From what I can tell, the 2027 cycles all resolved months ago. FC matched in June, SSO in July, CGSO in June. I've found a few programs that apply directly outside any match, but they only turned up by clicking through consortium pages one at a time. There doesn't seem to be a central place to look.

Three questions if anyone has insight:

1. Where do post-match or off-cycle vacancies actually get posted? I've seen MedResidency, Signout, and the SAGES board. The FC job board looks like it carries fellowship openings but sits behind a current-fellows login, which seems backwards.
2. Does anyone know of specific programs currently open for a 2027 start that I could reach out to directly?
3. Which programs routinely fill outside the match, in any year? Mainly interested in Breast, MIS, and hernia/AWR.

Appreciate any leads or advice!

There have been a few posts lately from residents who started in a non-surgical specialty and either had a change of heart or had an existing feeling confirmed that the OR is a better fit.

From the threads I’ve read, the consensus seems to be that switching into surgery is difficult, but not impossible, there are people who have done it. Whether the risk is worth taking is obviously an individual decision.

What I haven’t found much information about is the actual logistics of preparing to make an attempt, especially while you're still a resident in another specialty.

For people who have switched, helped someone switch, or have insight from the surgery side:

1. Who do you talk to first? I’ve heard a good first step is talking to the PD of the surgical program at your own institution. But then what? Do you tell your current PD before having that conversation
2. How do you get meaningful surgical letters? If your current residency doesn’t include surgical rotations, how do you develop relationships with surgeons strong enough to get credible LORs?
3. What can you concretely do to improve your chances while still a resident? 
4. For people who actually made the switch, what did the timeline look like?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

I'm a medical student trying to get a realistic understanding of what it's like for women who choose general surgery as a career.

I'd love to hear from anyone with experience—female surgeons, male surgeons, residents, attendings/consultants, or anyone who has worked closely with female colleagues in surgery.

Some questions I have:

\- Have you noticed any gender-related challenges or biases in general surgery? If so, how common are they today?

\- Do female surgeons generally receive the same opportunities for training, operating, leadership, and career progression?

\- How manageable is the lifestyle in the long term, especially for those who want to balance family and career?

\- What are the long-term career options after general surgery (private practice, academics, fellowships, subspecialties, etc.)?

\- Are there any misconceptions about women in surgery that you've found to be untrue?

\- If you've worked with female surgeons, what has your experience been like? Have things changed over the years?

\- Looking back, would you encourage a woman who is genuinely interested in surgery to pursue it? Why or why not?

Thanks in advance!

Note: I can't edit the title, but I wasn't referring specifically to General Surgery as a specialty. I meant surgery as a career overall, including different surgical specialties, and was asking about the lifestyle and career from that broader perspective.