How hard is it to get into general surgery residency?

Getting into a General Surgery residency is highly competitive, requiring excellent USMLE/COMLEX scores, strong clinical performance (honors in surgery), extensive research/publications, and stellar letters of recommendation, with many applicants vying for limited spots, especially for DOs and IMGs, though U.S. MDs have better odds. The process involves a significant number of applicants per position (around 1.5:1), making a stellar application crucial for success.

How hard is it to match into a general surgery residency?

For general surgery (categorical), there were 397 DO applicants (13% of the total applicants) for 1622 spots -- and only 53% matched. This year, matching became more challenging, due in part to limitations on audition rotations because of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased emphasis on research experiences.

Is it hard to get a surgery residency?

General surgery residencies are highly competitive in both the US and Canada. All of the 80 general surgery residency positions in Canada were filled last year, even though there were 193 applicants.

What is the hardest residency to get?

The hardest medical residencies to get into consistently include Dermatology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology (ENT), Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology, and Cardiothoracic Surgery, due to high demand, limited spots, intense competition, high USMLE scores required, and prestigious work-life balance/income potential, with Neurosurgery often cited as the most demanding due to complex, high-stakes training.
 

What is the dropout rate for surgery residency?

Attrition within surgical training is a challenge, in the USA, attrition rates are as high as 20–26% [1, 2].

How Hard Was Surgery Residency?

Do surgeons make 1 million a year?

Yes, many surgeons, especially in high-demand specialties like neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cardiovascular surgery, can earn over $1 million annually, though it often requires long hours, high patient volume, or private practice ownership. While general surgeon averages are lower, top earners in specialties or those in lucrative private/elective practices frequently exceed the seven-figure mark, sometimes through business models focused on high-value packages rather than just volume, as noted in discussions by AMN Healthcare, The White Coat Investor, and Protouch Staffing. 

What's the easiest residency to get into?

The easiest residencies to get into generally fall under primary care and other less competitive fields like Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Pathology, due to higher demand, more available spots, and sometimes lower score requirements compared to surgical specialties. Family Medicine is often cited as the most accessible due to high demand and shorter training. However, it's crucial to balance "ease" with your genuine interest and long-term career goals.
 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

What are the chillest residencies?

Some of the least competitive residencies are:

• Family Medicine.
• Internal Medicine.
• Psychiatry.
• Emergency Medicine.
• Pathology.

Is residency harder than med school?

Yes, residency is generally considered harder than medical school, but in a different way; medical school is academically intense with exams, while residency trades academic pressure for real-world responsibility, longer hours, physical exhaustion, critical patient-care decisions, and emotional stress, though it's where you truly become a doctor. Residency shifts focus from book learning to hands-on, high-stakes clinical practice, often involving 80+ hour weeks, overnight calls, and constant responsibility for patients' lives, making it more draining on stamina and time. 

How old are most general surgeons?

According to the responses, the training of surgical residents starts between the ages of 24 and 30 (average age 26.5). The training period varies between 5 and 10 years (average 6 years). The average age of a surgeon, at the time of appointment to a definite position in a hospital, is 36.8 (age range 30–45).

What are the top 3 riskiest surgeries?

The three riskiest surgeries often involve the most delicate organs and complex procedures, commonly including brain surgery, open-heart (cardiac) surgery, and major organ transplants, due to high precision requirements and severe potential complications like hemorrhage, permanent neurological damage, or organ rejection. Other highly risky procedures frequently cited are aortic aneurysm repair, spinal surgery, and complex cancer surgeries, depending on the specific case. 

How many general surgery residents quit?

General surgery residency attrition rates are relatively high, often cited between 12% to 20% over five years, with some studies showing even higher figures, and are generally higher than other surgical specialties, with common reasons being lifestyle challenges, a move to other specialties, or burnout, disproportionately affecting women and minority residents.
 

Is general surgery in high demand?

Despite the rising demand for surgeons, the number of general surgeons entering the workforce is not keeping up with the pace. AAMC, known as the Association of American Medical Colleges, has projected a shortage of between 15,800 and 30,200 surgeons in the United States by 2034.

Who is the youngest surgeon?

The title of "youngest surgeon" often refers to Akrit Pran Jaswal, an Indian child prodigy who performed his first surgery at age 7 in 2000, separating the fingers of a burn victim, though he wasn't a formally licensed doctor but a gifted youth recognized for his potential and ability. For formally licensed surgeons, records vary, but individuals like Dr. Alexander Khalessi, who became a neurosurgeon and department chair in the US in his late 20s, or Akshita Sharma, who set a robotic surgery record in India at 29, also hold records for being remarkably young in specialized fields.
 

How many signals do general surgery applicants get?

The AAMC has increased the number of signals to 15 in the general surgery 2025 ERAS application cycle.

What is the least desirable medical specialty?

With that in mind, the five least competitive medical specialties are:

• Family medicine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
• Anesthesiology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.

At what age do most doctors finish residency?

The average age for doctors finishing residency in the U.S. is around 29 to 30, typically after 3-7 years of training post-medical school (which starts around age 26). However, this varies significantly by specialty, with shorter programs (like Family Medicine or Pediatrics) finishing younger (around 29) and longer ones (like Neurosurgery or Plastic Surgery) finishing closer to 32-33; those pursuing additional fellowships can be in their mid-30s.
 

What specialty has the most burnout?

The study found burnout varies across the medical field, with some specialties facing more severe challenges than others. Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%).

What is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k+ in the U.S. are concentrated in healthcare (physicians, surgeons, specialists), tech (software architects, senior roles), finance (investment banking, private equity), and executive leadership (CEOs, Directors), with significant earnings also found in high-stakes sales, specialized entertainment/VFX, and some skilled trades/entrepreneurship, often requiring advanced degrees or exceptional performance, though some non-degree roles (like top sales or skilled trades) can reach this level through experience and commission. 

Is the average doctor a millionaire?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

Which state is easiest to get residency?

South Dakota is one of the easiest states to establish residency in, with several websites promoting the practice for full-time RVers, Americans living abroad, military personnel or those seeking tax savings.

What is the easiest type of surgeon to become?

Orthopedic surgery and certain areas of plastic surgery are frequently cited as relatively easier due to their straightforward nature, compared to more intricate specialties like neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery or trauma surgery.

What is the easiest med school in the US?

Table of Contents

• #1 — William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• #2 — Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• #3 — University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• #4 — Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.