2025 NRMP data · highly competitive

General Surgery ERAS Application Editing

Specialty-specific review for General Surgery (GenSurg) applicants. Matched applicants averaged Step 2 CK 253. We help you meet that bar.

81.8%
US MD match rate
377
Programs
1,778
PGY-1 positions
99.8%
Fill rate
What programs see

Top concerns in General Surgery applications

The patterns reviewers flag most often when screening General Surgery candidates.

Concern 1

Low Step 2 CK relative to matched mean of 253

Concern 2

Insufficient operative case exposure or sub-I performance

Concern 3

Vague personal statement without a specific surgical case narrative

Concern 4

Weak or non-surgeon letters of recommendation

Concern 5

Applying to too few programs or skipping community programs

What reviewers weight

What General Surgery PDs prioritise

  • Sub-I operative performance and technical aptitude

  • Step 2 CK above 245

  • Strong letter from a surgeon who supervised you in the OR

  • Research output (publications or presentations)

  • Demonstrated resilience and commitment to long training hours

Scores & metrics
Step 2 CK · matched253
Step 2 CK · unmatched243
Research experiences4.2
Publications / abstracts10.9
Avg programs ranked14
Program signals15
Application tips

How we help General Surgery applicants compete

Three concrete moves we'll work through with you, drawn from current NRMP / Charting Outcomes data.

1

Apply to 60–80 general surgery programs including community hospitals — with 1,778 categorical positions, geographic flexibility significantly expands your match probability.

2

Include a specific surgical case you participated in (with measurable role — 'first assist on laparoscopic cholecystectomy') in your personal statement.

3

Use all 15 signals strategically, weighting toward programs aligned with your training goals (academic vs. community vs. research track).

Cycle trends

What's changed in General Surgery recently

  • General Surgery filled 1,774/1,778 categorical positions (99.8%) in the 2025 NRMP Match, maintaining near-complete fill consistent with prior years.
  • ERAS program signaling for General Surgery (15 flat-tier signals) was added in 2023-2024, reducing application volume inflation.
  • USMLE Step 1 went pass/fail in January 2022; general surgery Step 2 CK matched MD mean is ~253 per 2024 Charting Outcomes, now used as primary screen.

Ready to compete in General Surgery?

We'll pair you with a reviewer who's served on General Surgery selection committees. Your personal statement, CV, and signal strategy — line-edited against the bar above.

Competitive Specialty · $1299Compare All Tiers

Data sourced from NRMP / AAMC, NRMP / AAMC. Match year 2025.