IMG Profile
Average Stats for a Matched US IMG in 2024:
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Pct. that passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt 100%
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USMLE Step 2 CK score: 252
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Research: 4
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Abstracts/Presentations/Publications: 8
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Work: 4
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Volunteer: 8
Average Stats for a Matched Non-US IMG in 2024:
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Pct. that passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt 100%
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USMLE Step 2 CK score: 245
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Research: 3
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Abstracts/Presentations/Publications: 4
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Work: 4
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Volunteer: 5
Speciality Factors
In March 2024, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted its survey of directors of programs participating in the Main Residency Match® to characterize the factors that Program Directors use to select applicants for interviews and rank applicants for the Main Residency Match. See results of the Program Director Survey for General Surgery below:
Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Interview
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Letters of recommendation in the specialty: 88% (4.3)
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Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean`s Letter): 81% (4.2)
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Grades in required clerkships: 78% (4.2)
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Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 78% (4.2)
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Class ranking/quartile: 73% (4.2)
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Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 68% (3.7)
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Personal prior knowledge of the applicant: 61% (4.2)
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Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 58% (3.9)
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Audition elective/rotation within your department: 58% (4.0)
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Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 49% (3.9)
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Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 47% (4.2)
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Consistency of grades: 46% (4.1)
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Ability to work legally in the U.S. without a visa: 42% (4.3)
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Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 39% (3.4)
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Visa status: 36% (3.9)
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Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 36% (3.8)
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Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 27% (4.0)
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Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 27% (3.7)
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Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 20% (3.1)
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Away rotation in your specialty at another institution: 17% (3.2)
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Applicant was flagged with Match Violation by the NRMP: 17% (4.3)
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How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 2% (3.0)
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Increase resident diversity: 75%
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Identify promising applicants: 80%
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Improve applicant program alignment: 72%
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Support institution mission better: 57%
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Other factors: 6%
Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Rank
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Interpersonal skills: 93% (4.7)
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Interactions with faculty during interview and visit: 88% (4.8)
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Feedback from current residents: 88% (4.8)
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Interactions with house staff during interview and visit: 78% (4.8)
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Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean`s Letter): 61% (4.1)
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Class ranking/quartile: 53% (4.1)
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Grades in required clerkships: 49% (4.1)
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Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 47% (4.0)
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Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 36% (4.0)
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Other post-interview contact: 29% (4.2)
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Consistency of grades: 29% (4.1)
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Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 29% (3.8)
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Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 27% (4.2)
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Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 27% (3.9)
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Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 22% (3.5)
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Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 15% (3.9)
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Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 15% (3.2)
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Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 15% (4.0)
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Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 14% (4.0)
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Second interview/visit: 12% (3.7)
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Applicant facility with meeting platform technology: 10% (3.2)
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How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 3% (2.0)
¹Ratings on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important).
% of Programs Interviewing IMGs:
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US IMG: Often 8%, Seldom 67%, Never 25%
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Non-US IMG: Often 10%, Seldom 49%, Never 41%
% of Programs Ranking IMGs:
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US IMG: Often 212%, Seldom 62%, Never 27%
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Non-US IMG: Often 8%, Seldom 46%, Never 46%
% of Programs Using USMLE to Select IMG Applicants for Interview:
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Step 1: Does not consider 2%, Requires pass only 98%, Prefers but does not require target score 0%, Requires target score 0%
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Step 2 CK: Does not consider 2%, Requires pass only 26%, Prefers but does not require target score 24%, Requires target score 48%
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Step 3: Does not consider 70%, Requires pass only 13%, Prefers but does not require target score 17%, Requires target score 0%
Fast Facts
| Total Training |
5 years |
| Average Residency Salary |
$60,000 |
| Average Physician Salary |
$405,000 |
| Average Physician Work Week |
60 Hours |
| Peak Interview Months |
November-January |
| Key Organizations and Societies |
American College of Surgeons
Association of Women Surgeons
American Board of Surgery
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society of General Surgeons
Association for Surgical Education
Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons |
- General Surgery is one of the only age-biased specialties (not older candidate friendly). Preliminary General Surgery positions are typically the most unfilled during Post-Match SOAP. It is important to join and network within surgical societies and organizations. Many have student sections that can be very helpful.
|
Match Statistics 2025
Main Residency Match and Post-Match Stats
638
Total Number of Available Programs
553
Post-Match SOAP Unfilled Positions
SOAP Stats
| Program Track |
Participating Programs |
Positions Available |
Filled Programs |
Filled Positions |
| PGY-1 |
167 |
549 |
154 |
534 |
| Categorical |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Subspecialties
- Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Hand Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Surgical Critical Care
- Vascular Surgery
