Specialty-specific review for Orthopaedic Surgery (Ortho) applicants. Matched applicants averaged Step 2 CK 257. We help you meet that bar.
The patterns reviewers flag most often when screening Orthopaedic Surgery candidates.
Insufficient orthopaedic surgery-specific research or publications
No sub-internship rotation at an orthopaedic program
Low Step 2 CK (matched mean 257 for MDs)
Weak letters from orthopaedic surgery attendings
Applying without demonstrable manual dexterity or surgical exposure
Orthopaedic research with orthopaedic surgeon authorship
Sub-I performance and operative exposure
Step 2 CK above 250
Strong letter from an orthopaedic surgery program director
AOA membership or top academic rank
Three concrete moves we'll work through with you, drawn from current NRMP / Charting Outcomes data.
Complete 2–3 away rotations at programs you plan to signal and rank highly — orthopaedic surgery PDs heavily weight direct evaluation of surgical potential.
Accumulate orthopaedic-specific research; the average matched MD has ~8.1 research experiences and ~24 abstracts/publications.
Use all 30 signals and apply to 80+ programs; orthopaedic surgery has perfect 100% fill with 929/929 positions, leaving no unfilled slots.
Specialty-specific PS strategy, signal counts, and Step 2 CK context.
Read more →GuideStructure, openings, and AAMC rules for the ERAS PS.
Read more →GuideSignals, geography, and reach/target/safety tiers.
Read more →All specialtiesCompare competitiveness and match data across fields.
View all →We'll pair you with a reviewer who's served on Orthopaedic Surgery selection committees. Your personal statement, CV, and signal strategy — line-edited against the bar above.
Data sourced from NRMP / AAMC, NRMP / AAMC. Match year 2025.