Applying with no shadowing??

[hiker19]

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By the time I apply, I should have ~2000 hours of combined clinical volunteering and work experience (public hospital and private clinic/surgery center) where I'm interacting with patients and also following doctors around. It's just not technically shadowing because I'm not just observing. I saw AAMC's survey results which say 95% of admitted students said they shadowed - a separate category from clinical volunteering/work - and now I'm freaking out a bit.

Should I try to squeeze in actual shadowing before I apply this cycle?

 

[Drekan311]

I have 0 documented shadowing exp on my app but very similar numbers of clinical exp and I have been having a decent cycle so my take on it is that while it is highly recommended, if you have other clinical exp that can compensates (I volunteer with a pediatrician for years) , I think you will be okay!

 

[Catalystik]

Should I try to squeeze in actual shadowing before I apply this cycle?

Yes, you should. Why take a chance? Shadowing that's embedded elsewhere might be accidentally overlooked (even if you include it in the title of a clinical space and in the body of the description). It won't hurt if you get this expectation in at the last minute. Once you have a Shadowing entry that involves dedicated observation, you can make a note in the space that 5% of the 2000 clinical hours listed elsewhere include physician observation of X, Y, Z specialties (but don't double list those hours).

 

[pewpew95]

ask one of the physicians where you work or volunteer if you can shadow them for 20 hours over the course of a month. i'd do it just to be safe, and it should be easy since it's low commitment and you have the contacts you need.

 

[hiker19]

Thanks guys! This has been helpful. I will find some shadowing before I apply

 

[RNthenDoc]

No shadowing on my app

3 acceptances so far

I work as a Nurse, though, so my job involves a lot of shadowing.