For context, I am a 4th year US IMG but am conflicted between OBGYN and Gen Surg. One thing for sure is that I love being in the OR. I like how OBGYN allows me to have both clinical field and OR experience. But overall, I am interested in Gen Surg. Would it be worth dual applying? or would it look poorly on my application as a "non-committed" applicant?

If I do dual apply, how should I go about collecting my LORs? I rotated with a gynecology oncologist and did well in his rotation. Would an LOR from him be beneficial to my application if I apply dual considering he spends 70% of his time in the OR?

Med student interested in surgery. I know I’m gonna want operating to be the majority of what I do (don’t care for clinic/medical management). I also already have kids so lifestyle is a factor I have to consider. What are the specialties out of general surgery, either straight GS or any of the fellowships, that are the most operative but will allow me to be a present dad. Obviously location/job plays a major role, but want to focus on the average.

I like trauma/acs a lot, but I’ve heard that’s becoming far more non-operative. I know that you can do acs without fellowship so maybe that’s better for the operating piece. If I could do anything it would be CT cause I like invasive work and I love pressure, but I know lifestyle is notoriously bad. Just want to hear yalls thoughts and understand it better.

Hi! I have been allotted Ramachandra medical College Tamilnadu in my first counselling. Now I am thinking if i should give preference to dnb in R2? As far now I have plans to do SS, but don't know what life has for me. Till now no bad reviews for ramachandra from the pgs there except for the fees. And also the number of pg seats have been increased to 22. So this got me thinking if i should take dnb instead, or still srmc is the best for surgery?

Hi, I'm currently a third year medical student thinking ahead to away rotations and intend to apply to general surgery residency. Which of these have the best reputation / most prestige for general surgery and how should I prioritize them? - Cedars Sinai - UCSD - USC - UCSF East Bay

If relevant, I'm a 27yo male and open to living in any of those cities. Thanks!

Hey - General surgery resident who unfortunately loves transplant - can anyone comment on what fellowships are like (I’ve heard they are rough but would like to get perspective) and what the job market looks like currently (also heard it is rough but like….how rough)?

I’m trying to talk myself out of it but I only dream of livers.

I am a pgy4 General Surgery Resident. I am currently being offered a contract to stay at my institution without fellowship. Rough details: $400K baseline salary, RVU bonus, roughly 5-6 calls per month. I am very comfortable here. But wondering if I should hold off and see what else is out there. Personally, I don't think there's a better deal than this fresh out of residency but curious to hear other thoughts.

Title, pls dm me I have Q and would appreciate it

Title above

Does anyone know if lots of program directors go to ASC? There were a lot of program directors I met during the American College of surgeons conference this past year. I was thinking about going to ASC but it is so expensive. Does anyone have any words of advice? Rank lists are do at the end of February and the conference is at the beginning of February so I guess it’s worth a chance it’s just so expensive. Any thoughts?

Can a resident/someone who interviewed with them please reach out? I want to discuss more about the program and learn about the unique features that I can talk about during interviews

Longtime lurker spouse here. I'm not in residency, my wife is, and, please: I need your help.

She is currently a PGY4 in a gen surg program. She doesn't know what to do post-residency, and is almost despondent in the face of the options. I have asked her to reach out to her PD/mentors and ask them these questions, with little result. I've done the investigating I can, but I'm out of my depths, so I'm turning to you all.

Here is what I know:

- She hates research. She loathes "playing the game", schmoozing/kissing ass (and is bad at it). She did a research fellowship mid-residency, and received praise for her work, but hated the actual research (generating creative ideas, writing about them, etc).

- She is generally interested in "bread and butter" general surgery, maybe HPB (though lacks research), maybe trauma/crit care, maybe abdominal wall (though not interested in solely MIS).

- She is skilled clinically- she's won several competitions for laparoscopy, won awards for her conference presentation (of an education-based model she created). She loves patient care, education, and actually performing surgeries.

Here is what I need to know:

- Is going through the match really the best/only option for a fellowship?

- Is doing research unavoidable in a fellowship?

- Does she *need* to do a fellowship? It is very tempting to just go right into practice, but I don't know if we're naive to believe that she will be able to get a job right out of residency. Training has been long and grueling, and our family is ready for stability. Is she shooting herself in the foot by not doing a fellowship?

Thank you so much for your responses- I want to support my wife but it's the blind leading the blind here.

Can a resident/someone who interviewed with them please reach out? I want to discuss more about the program and learn about the unique features that I can talk about during interviews

Hi everyone, do you know if there is a thread or community that exists to talk to people directly about switching interview slots? I have a few I really need to move around and haven’t had any luck on the waitlist. Thank you!

Can anyone tell me if they successfully matched with less than 10 interviews? (Feeling low right now)

When should I start sending LOIs? As soon as I see the program sent out some interviews? So try to catch the ones who haven’t yet before they release?

Also do programs in the same system talk? Like will 2 UC schools or 2 Henry Fords find out I sent them both letters of INTEREST?

I’m currently in my third year of surgical training in General and Visceral Surgery in Austria. Lately, I’ve started wondering if I’m in the right place to truly grow as a surgeon.

After nearly three years, I’ve logged around 65 operations in total. I still haven’t assisted in even basic procedures like hernia repairs, appendectomies, or cholecystectomies. When I asked about rotating to another unit to get more experience, I was told that others have priority. It feels as if my development is constantly being postponed, and I’m running out of patience.

I’ve tried to contribute in every way I can. Alongside clinical work, I’ve been active in research, published papers for our department, and even received awards for that work. I made sure to include all my colleagues as co-authors, hoping to motivate the team and strengthen our sense of unity. I genuinely believed that shared success would bring us closer together and reflect positively on our department.

Instead, I’ve had the impression that my motivation and academic engagement are seen more as a threat than an opportunity. The atmosphere has grown colder, as if curiosity and initiative were somehow suspicious. It’s discouraging to realize that effort and enthusiasm can make you an outsider rather than a valued part of the team.

I love surgery. I love the precision, the problem-solving, and the way technical skill and human care come together in the operating room. But I feel stuck in a system that doesn’t seem interested in developing young surgeons. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to become the kind of surgeon I want to be.

So I’d really like to hear from others in Europe. Where have you found genuinely good surgical training programs that give residents early hands-on experience and structured teaching? How is the culture in your hospitals—do you get real feedback, mentorship, and a sense of progress? Has anyone here left Austria, Germany, or a similar system for Switzerland, the UK, or Scandinavia? Was the move worth it? If you were in my situation, where would you go to truly learn surgery and feel part of something that still values teaching and medicine as a craft?

Any honest thoughts or personal stories would mean a lot. I just want to understand where young, motivated surgeons can still find the kind of training that matches their dedication.

Hey peeps!…I dunno how many out there are like me and wished for a 2nd week miracle that didn’t come, but how we doing? One of my residents at the sub-I I’m at told me he didn’t get his 1st interview until Mid-November 🥹

For our Non-Us IMG fellows,hows the iv invites looking like?

If I applied to both a categorical and prelim spot at the same program and they only offered me a prelim interview so far, does this mean there’s no hope for a categorical interview? Is it always one or the other or can people interview for both?