What to Expect
The University of Michigan Health-Sparrow General Surgery Residency Program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and Secondary Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Moreover, we accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) only. Further, we participate in the "signals" process and highly encourage applicants to "signal" us if they have a particular interest in our program. We offer 5 categorical positions. Our program code is 1315440C0. We will not be filling our one preliminary position this Match Cycle (Match 2027). Every individual and application is unique. Therefore, a holistic review of an individual's application takes place. Special attention is paid to the applicant's strong desire to pursue general surgery or one of its sub-specialties, high performance in surgical clerkships and sub-internships, research activity, and humanitarian volunteerism. USMLE and/or COMLEX scores are both accepted. Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt and a USMLE Step 2 score above 235 are strongly encouraged. For those osteopathic applicant not taking the USMLEs, COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2 scores above 550 are strongly encouraged. Three letters of recommendation are required from surgical faculty. At least one of the letters should be from your surgery department chair, general surgery residency program director, or other senior surgical faculty member. Our program follows the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) recommendations for the interview process. Initial invitations are typically sent the third week of October. Our interviews will be in person. Please feel free to contact us for further information.
Application Submission Start Date
Program review of Applications
Interviews Start
Requirements
- Complete ERAS application
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation from general surgeons or one of its subspecialties
- One of these letters should be from a senior surgical leader such as a department chair
- USMLE Step I and II and/or COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2
- Medical school transcript
- ECFMG certificate (foreign medical graduates only)
Criteria for selection of Residents
Interviews are offered to the top candidates based on evaluation of all the application materials. Medical school transcript, research experience, humanitarian volunteerism, extracurricular activities, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and educational accomplishments are all taken into account. Important intangibles that are fundamental to selection include evidence of strong desire to be a surgeon, leadership, exceptional work ethic, professionalism, and enthusiasm.
Interviews
Interviews are an important, required component of the application process and are by invitation only. Hundreds of applications are received annually, and, therefore, screened and thoroughly reviewed based on selection criteria. Signaling is encouraged if you have a strong interest in our program. Additionally, if you did not receive an invitation and have a sincere interest in our program, please communicate with us specifying your reasons. Initial invitations for interviews will be sent out October 21-30, 2026. The candidate will have 48 hours to respond to the invitation. Invitations, along with the available dates, are sent to the selected applicants through the ERAS system. If a conflict arises, please notify us as soon as possible so that an alternate date can potentially be arranged for you, and your opening can be offered to another candidate. After evaluation of our program's interview process-including surveys from past interviewees, interviews are in person. This will give the applicant an opportunity to interact with the residents in a more informal and natural atmosphere at the dinner the night prior to the interview. Further, the applicant will gain a better idea of Mid Michigan including Lansing, East Lansing, and Flint. Interviews are held this year on November 16, 23, & 30 and December 14. During the interview process, you will meet and converse with the residents, several faculty members, and program leadership. Communication skills, interpersonal skills, preparedness for the interview, interest in our residency program, and commitment to general surgery or one of its subspecialties are specifically evaluated during this time. Our rank order meeting with the participating residents and faculty is held in early February.
Foreign Medical Graduates
For graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada, the necessary qualifications are the following:
- J1 Visas only are sponsored
- Current valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
- No more than 2 years since graduation from medical school
- At least 1 year of US clinical experience.