BACKGROUND The decline in popularity of general surgery as a career has been well described. A number of factors have been put forward to explain this, for example, trainee burnout and perceived difficulty with work/life balance. The aim of this study was to elucidate the reasons for this among medical students in Ireland. METHODS A questionnaire was distributed to clinical year medical students in Ireland using an online survey via SurveyMonkey™. Domains assessed included demographics, career plan and associated rationale. Anonymised responses were collated and evaluated. RESULTS There were 307 responses (response 23%). Females accounted for 66% (202). Mean age was 24 years (SD = 2.89). One hundred twelve responses (36%) were contemplating becoming surgeons. One hundred nine-five responses were not considering surgery: however 87 had previously considered. Of the 87, 41 (47%) attributed the decision to work/life balance, 30 (35%) to impact on personal relationships and 10 (11%) blamed unclear career projection. Students interested in surgery were asked to quantify their knowledge of the application process-17 (15%) good, 39 (35%) fair and 56 (50%) poor. CONCLUSIONS A small proportion of respondents plan to pursue a career in general surgery. This is concerning in view of attrition rates through junior years. Although lifestyle factors are significant, clarity regarding training pathways was also reported. Undergraduate education regarding career trajectory, quality of life and practicalities of a career in general surgery may increase applications.