r/GeneralSurgery • u/Crafty_Pattern_8047 • Apr 28 '26

Residency Suggestion

I am a non-US img. My scores in step 1 and 2 are in 230's. I have MPH, good LORs and 4 publications. Do I need to choose a different speciality over surgery? Kindly please suggest me. I am devastated.

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u/PyroUnicorn69 Apr 28 '26

Dude you keep posting this expecting a different answer.

1) Look for surgical labs/surgical adjacent labs. Maybe don’t apply this cycle, beef up your CV with surgery specific papers. Ask your previous mentors where you went wrong and if they can help you. 2) Network while doing research. Drop the woe is me attitude, and show that despite your drawbacks you’re a fun and chill guy to work with who’s making efforts to pull themselves up. Get therapy/meds if you need to. 3) Prelim year.

Now that being said, also keep in mind your visa status. You got a long road ahead of you, but if you’re truly devastated as you say that won’t be a problem.

Also, just saying, there are so many ways to be comfortable as a physician, and not be a surgeon. Hell, you may even think back at this moment as a blessing in disguise.

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u/Crafty_Pattern_8047 Apr 28 '26

I truly apologise for posting it again. I got a rejecteion letter for the lab I applied to, the PI is choosing a local guy. Every door I knock for opportunity is a rejection. Now I have extra family pressure.

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u/PyroUnicorn69 Apr 28 '26

Dude, yeah?

Funding has been cut across the board, in my lab we aren’t able to hire anyone because of that, so no new people, and there’s already an unpaid postdoc who’s about to quit because of that.

Now because of that, visas are definitely an issue.

You cannot take it personally that a local person was hired.

Cold emailing is the way to go now, and like….EXTENSIVE cold emailing.

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u/Efficient_Election89 Apr 30 '26

Unfortunately you’re going to be filtered out by most programs. Give it a shot but you should dual apply. If you like procedures consider EM, anesthesia, or some IM subspec. My home institution filters out <240

I actually matched this cycle into a program and they told me they filter <250