Application Information

The following are the minimum criteria for application to the University of North Dakota General Surgery Residency Program. Due to the large volume of questions and emails that are received during the application period it is difficult for our staff to answer these individually. Please make every attempt to answer any questions you may have from the following information. After reviewing this material, if there are questions please direct them to the Residency Program Staff at gsresidency@UND.edu. Direct questions about application criteria to the Program Director will not be answered.

The University of North Dakota is an equal opportunity employer. Applications to the surgical residency program will be accepted without regard to race, gender, country of origin, religion, age or prior medical experience. Applications will be considered from international medical graduates, applicants currently in residency training and all other qualified applicants provided they meet the minimum application criteria as described below.

Applications will only be accepted electronically through ERAS from September 25 through October 31. All applicants should have completed both steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE with a minimum score of 220 for step 2 on the first attempt prior to the application deadline (October 31). In addition, the following are required to be present by the application deadline for each application to be considered complete:

• Medical school transcript
• MSPE letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of medical school diploma (if graduated)
• Date of graduation: no requirement but prefer within the past 3 years, must be accompanied by documentation of all activities since date of medical school graduation or Residency training in the past 3 years. Applicants currently in residency training should include a letter from their current program director and an explanation of why they are seeking an alternative residency training program.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Copies of USMLE scores
• Personal statement

International medical graduates (IMGs) should forward a copy of their ECFMG certificate, copy of their visa or green card, and verification of a minimum of 3 months clinical experience in a U.S. medical facility in addition to the above criteria. All IMG applicants are expected to be proficient and conversant in English. Our program accepts only ECFMG sponsored J1 visas.

All applications are received and processed as per the timeline below. Appropriate applicants are then invited for interviews (see timeline and interview sections below).

September 25, 2024: ERAS applications accepted and reviewed.

October 18, 2024: Interview invitations will start to be sent to applicants.

Interview Dates: November 4, November 25, December 2, December 16, 2024.

February 3, 2025: Interviewed applicants ranked and match list prepared and submitted to NRMP--can begin entering ROL on February 3, 2025

February 2025: Optional site visits will be offered to applicants after our rank list is submitted and finalized. Details will be provided during the interview sessions.

March 5, 2025: Deadline for registration and ROL certification at 9 p.m., EST.

March 17, 2025: Match week begins- A detailed Match Week and SOAP schedule will be released as soon as it is finalized.

March 21, 2025: MATCH DAY! Medical school Match Day ceremonies at 12:00 p.m., EST. Match results are posted in the R3 system at 1:00 p.m., EST.

Invitations for interviews are based on thorough review of all applications by the Residency Selection Committee. Appropriate applicants are identified by a scoring system that incorporates all aspects of each applicant’s criteria including medical school performance (honors grades in courses, surgery rotation grade, and other honors), USMLE scores, recommendations, MSPE letter, personal statement and pertinent extracurricular activities. Appropriate candidates are then invited for an interview by email notification. All applications and communication will only be accepted through ERAS. Any emails sent outside of ERAS will not be responded to.

The interview process for the 2025–26 entering class will be held via Zoom. We will Interview 20 applicants for each interview date. Each applicant will have interviews with our Program Director, Associate Program Directors, a faculty member, and a Chief Resident.

After all interviews are conducted, appropriate candidates completing the interview process are ranked by the Residency Selection Committee. This rank list is then submitted to the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) per the NRMP timeline (see timeline section above). The UND Surgical Residency Program complies fully with all guidelines of the NRMP for both categorical and preliminary positions. No positions will be offered before or outside of the Match. A criminal history check will be conducted on the finalist prior to beginning employment.