stupid question...

[asclepiad]

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Congrats to all that have matched. I have been a silent observer of the surgery forum and am breaking the silence: Is it better to match in a low tier university/university affiliated categorical general surgery spot or not to match and have a chance the next year at a better program (assuming you got a prelim and reapply!)?

 

[doc05]

it depends on your career goals. If you are interested in an academic, research-heavy career, matching at a community program (even one with a solid reputation and good training) might not be the best for you. then again, doing a prelim without a guaranteed pgy-2 spot isn't a great situation either.

I'll assume your an ms3, so think about your career goals, talk to an advisor, your surgery chair, PD, and decide on your strategy for next year. Remember that, even though there were many more applicants than categorical spots this year, only about 80% of those spots were filled with American grads. So if you're a US-MD student, you'll probably match assuming you apply to the right places. Good luck.

 

[phoenixsupra]

Remember that, even though there were many more applicants than categorical spots this year, only about 80% of those spots were filled with American grads. .

That's an awesome statistic. Thanks 🙂

 

[debvz]

...only about 80% of those spots were filled with American grads. So if you're a US-MD student, you'll probably match assuming you apply to the right places. Good luck.

I'd be more interested to know how many US-MD students applied for general surgery categorical positions but did not match...

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'd be more interested to know how many US-MD students applied for general surgery categorical positions but did not match...

This data and others are found on the NRMP data tables.

 

[Vincristine]

doc05 is right. Depending on what you're hoping to do, community programs might even be better suited for you. There is NOTHING wrong with many community programs. Washington Hospital Center would have been first on my list had they been in Boston. They operate like fools there starting like day 1.

 

[blue2000]

If you're interested in fellowship, I think you can answer this question on an individual basis by looking at what fellowships any particular program is sending their residents to. If you are dead-set on transplant, and no resident has ever gone into a transplant fellowship from a particular program, you may have more trouble than at an equally (or lower) rated program that has a solid record of sending people to transplant fellowship.

This assumes, of course, that you know what you want to do now, and won't change your mind (pretty big assumptions, IMO)

 

[TigerLily46]

I'm a third year, and I've been checking out GS programs online. Programs often list where their residents have gone after graduation. If they're going where you want to go, that's a good sign.