General surgery match chances (allopathic MD)

[MDToBe22]

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M3 at a mid-tier MD program here.

Well everyone, it's about that time: as seniors match tomorrow for this cycle, all the current M3s will begin thinking about their own applications. I'd appreciate your opinions about where I should be looking to apply for general surgery, now that my away rotations on both the East and West coasts will likely be canceled due to COVID-19.

Preclinical class rank: top quartile
Clinical grades: 2 Hs (psych, ob/gyn), 1 HP (peds), 2 Ps (neuro, IM), and currently in surgery rotation that has been cut short
USMLE Step 1: mid 240s
USMLE Step 2: have not yet taken

Abstracts/Posters/Publications: 5
Red flags on application: none

Basically would just like input on how many programs to apply to, geographic location, etc. now that i can't do aways to show interest in other regions' programs.

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Your numbers fit the bill of a medium to high ranking applicant to most programs. Apply broadly, and go to at least 12-15 interviews. On paper, based on your numbers, your application will not be the limiting factor. You'll match, the odds are already in your favor.

There are positive and negative ways the cancellation of away rotation affect surgery applicants:

Complete cancellation of aways limits your opportunity to get letters of rec from other programs. You need 3 letters total, so make sure you can secure three from your home program, or another surgeon you have worked with. Furthermore, this means a tougher time getting a foothold in competitive geographic areas where you lack a connection (California, East Coast, Texas). If you want a residency in these areas, highlight this interest in your application: you grew up in New York, you frequented California growing up, etc.

The positives to away rotations being cancelled is that this is true for everyone. It's a level disadvantage across the board. This increases the importance of getting your surgical faculty to make phone calls and go to bat for you. Surgery is a small world and everyone knows somebody. If your mentor trained at a program you're interested in, get them to call or email the program.

Where people with good applications (like you OP) can often fall short is neglecting the gamemanship of applying surgery, which is heavily dependent on establishing connections with the PDs/Chairs of the programs you want. Surgery is a small world and your surgical faculty are apart of it. Lack of away rotations exemplifies the importance of having them advocate for you.

 

[MDToBe22]

Yeah, my hope was that I could get letters from people at places i really wanted to end up, but now i'm not sure what that prospect looks like.

My goal is to match at an academic program. As long as my step 2 is strong, could you give me a suggested list of programs? So far I've used Freida to start my search

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Yeah, my hope was that I could get letters from people at places i really wanted to end up, but now i'm not sure what that prospect looks like.

My goal is to match at an academic program. As long as my step 2 is strong, could you give me a suggested list of programs? So far I've used Freida to start my search

PM me some places you are considering and we can go from there.

 

[yeet]

@OnePunchBiopsy with stats similar to OP, how many programs would you suggest applying to?

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

@OnePunchBiopsy with stats similar to OP, how many programs would you suggest applying to?

It's hard to say, there isn't a bonafide number out there for number of programs to apply to, only number of places to rank (based off NRMP charting outcomes data). I applied to 40 places, but that was when away rotations were more of a possibility. I think each applicant needs to self reflect to make this decision. Too many is often not a bad thing, because you can always say no. It is those who apply to too few programs that often fall through the cracks.

The possibility of no away rotations in Fall 2020 would make me lean towards applying to a lot more programs.

 

[bobvance]

I would also agree - Matched surgical subspecialty this year and I applied to 100 programs ended up with 25 interviews, and went on 20. I'd much rather have too many interviews and decline them then only get 12 interviews and not match.