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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Surgery
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Applying to General Surgery Residency — Categorical Track

The General Surgery Residency program at IU School of Medicine will offer four interview dates for the 2026 NRMP® Match:

  • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Dec. 4, 2025
  • Dec. 18, 2025
  • Jan. 8, 2026

We believe in providing a holistic review of applications prior to releasing interview offers. To achieve this goal, the deadline for applying for the categorical residency program track is Oct. 13.

  • Applications received between Sept. 24-Oct. 13 will receive an email to complete the SurgWise® situational judgment test (SJT). This scenario-based assessment helps us learn more about you.
  • If another program asks you to complete the SJT, you will not have to complete it again. You will log into your SJT account and ensure the program requesting the SJT is marked as “confirmed.”

Aligned with the guidance provided by the Association for Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), our program will extend interview offers to select candidates starting on the date specified by the APDS Task Force for General Surgery Application Review.

  • This designated period for interview notifications spans from Wednesday, Oct. 22 to Friday, Oct. 31.
  • Applicants who receive interview offers will have 48 hours to accept or decline the request.
  • All interviews will be scheduled through ThalamusGME.

Categorical Track Application Requirements for U.S. Graduates (Allopathic and Osteopathic)

  • Completed ERAS® application with photo
  • Three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from either a surgery program chair or surgery program director
  • USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK or COMLEX 1 and 2 scores submitted
  • Medical school transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Sponsor H1B visas for categorical match applicants

Categorical Track Application Requirements for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG)

  • Completed ERAS® application with photo
  • Three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from either a surgery program chair or surgery program director
  • USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores submitted
  • Medical school transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Must not be more than two years removed from medical school training.
  • Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate acquired at least 60 days prior to start of anticipated residency start date.
  • Sponsor H1B visas for categorical match applicants

Preliminary Surgery Positions

Preliminary surgery candidates must follow the comprehensive residency application process detailed above. The recruitment timeline for preliminary surgery positions is announced in early January, with offers distributed by mid-January.

Our program conducts 15-30 preliminary surgery interviews to fill a range of two to five initial preliminary surgery openings. The annual variability in the number of preliminary surgery applicants we can match with adds a dynamic layer to this process.

All preliminary surgery interviews will be remote.

Preliminary Track Application Requirements for U.S. Graduates (Allopathic and Osteopathic)

  • Completed ERAS® application with photo
  • Three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from either a surgery program chair or surgery program director
  • USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK or COMLEX 1 and 2 scores submitted
  • Medical school transcript
  • Personal statement

Preliminary Track Application Requirements for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG)

  • Completed ERAS® application with photo
  • Three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from either a surgery program chair or surgery program director
  • USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores submitted
  • Medical school transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Must not be more than two years removed from medical school training
  • Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate acquired at least 60 days prior to the start of the anticipated residency start date

Questions

Please direct questions regarding recruitment to our clinical education coordinators, Mimi Arrington or Stacy Faletic.