Let’s be honest: matching into Ortho is brutal.
As a current chief resident in orthopedic surgery, I’ve seen it all—rockstar applicants who crush their Sub-Is and land top programs… and others who torpedo their chances because no one ever taught them how to actually prepare.
If you’re gearing up for Sub-I season in #Match2026 and want a real shot at Ortho, here’s the truth they don’t teach in med school.
What Actually Matters in the Ortho Match
Forget the fluff. Here’s what makes or breaks an orthopedic surgery applicant:
🔹 Sub-I Performance = Everything
Your Sub-I isn’t just another rotation—it’s your audition. Programs aren’t just picking the smartest person on paper—they’re choosing a future coworker. Show up:
Prepared
Teachable
Efficient
Humble
🔹 Strong Letters of Rec
You need personalized letters from ortho attendings. Generic fluff won’t cut it. These are earned by showing up big during your Sub-Is. Aim to get 1-2 letters per away rotation. It is OK to include one non-ortho letter from MS3 clerkships, but make sure it’s strong, personal, and ideally, from an attending in an Ortho-adjacent field .
🔹 Step 2, Class Rank, AOA
Your academic stats still matter, even if you’re a rockstar clinically. Aim for a 250+ at minimum to be considered seriously. Ideally, you want to demonstrate a track record of strong academic performance throughout medical school, too.
🔹 Research (as a Tiebreaker)
No, you don’t need 12 publications. But you do need quality work and strong faculty relationships. Research shows initiative and follow-through—but it won’t save you if your Sub-I flops.
🔹 Grit & Coachability
Orthopedics has a nose for ego and laziness. Residents and attendings can spot a bad attitude in one day. Be the hardest worker and the most coachable. That’s who people want on their team.
Why Most Students Show Up to Their Sub-I Unprepared
Here’s the painful truth: medical school doesn’t prepare you for an Ortho Sub-I.
No one teaches you how to manage the floor, scrub in the right way, or present in clinic without annoying your resident. And unless you have a sibling in Ortho or an insanely generous mentor, you’re probably walking in blind.
That’s why we created the Ortho Sub-I Bootcamp.
We were tired of watching smart, capable med students show up totally unprepared—not because they didn’t care, but because no one told them what was expected. Created by orthopedic chief residents, this course gives you exactly what we wish we had as fourth-years.
What You’ll Learn:
The unwritten rules of the OR, clinic, and consults
How to manage daily tasks without being annoying
Ortho-specific clinical knowledge: imaging, splinting, devices, and management
How to stand out to both residents and attendings
What we wish every Sub-I knew on Day 1
Get 6+ Hours of High-Yield Content and over 100 pimp style practice questions for just $99
Whether you’re doing a home rotation or hitting a circuit of aways, the Bootcamp was built for you to be the best student in the room.
