doctor shadowing experience

[zoner]

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I have about 32 hrs of doctor shadowing. is that too little?

all my other stats are pretty decent

 

[NurWollen]

I have about 32 hrs of doctor shadowing. is that too little?

all my other stats are pretty decent

It's more than I have, though I am going to continue free I submit and keep updating schools. What will be important is whether you can effectively communicate what you learned from that shadowing experience.

 

[DrMeows]

I have about 32 hrs of doctor shadowing. is that too little?

all my other stats are pretty decent

I don't think it's too little. And I agree with the person above me - if you had a significant experience within those hours that's the most important. Is it just one doctor? And is it a DO? I think it being a DO is also an important factor. If you're worried about it just go shadow another doctor for a little bit. And I recommend a DO that also heavily practices manipulation - after I shadowed a doctor like that I had so much to talk about in essays and interviews. Just a suggestion! 👍

 

[EnergyDrink]

I think 32 hours is fine. They say the SDN average is 50, which sounds like a bit much. I also think people that have 200 hours of shadowing are crazy.

I didn't shadow a DO, so I think I'm at a disadvantage, but I shadowed about 32 hours as well, and I had some significant experiences during those hours.

In my amateur perspective, after about 20 hours you start to see diminishing returns on shadowing, unless you're doing different specialties.

 

[toxicwombat]

Quality not quantity.... I've got 30 hours of DO shadowing myself.

Saying that, if an ADCOM asks "You only have 30 hours of physician shadowing?" I'll just use my cheap "Well... that and the 800 hours of 'shadowing' as a scribe" line.

But even if I didn't work as a scribe, I think ~30 hours is fine. Like EnergyDrink says, those people with 200 hours are pretty crazy...

 

[MedPR]

Probably is enough. I have ~600 hours, but it's just fun for me so I keep doing it.

 

[WorldChanger36]

I have around 96 across multiple fields of doctors. As long as you get a good LOR out of it and learn enough to answer interview questions you are just fine.

 

[Quester]

Paranoid question here. I realized that I typed in the wrong number of hours for shadowing. The difference is addition of only 2 hours. Is this a big deal that I need to change in my app? I'm just kinda paranoid that adcom might actually call the doc confirming if I've shadowed that many hours 😕

 

[Cleared T Clear]

Paranoid question here. I realized that I typed in the wrong number of hours for shadowing. The difference is addition of only 2 hours. Is this a big deal that I need to change in my app? I'm just kinda paranoid that adcom might actually call the doc confirming if I've shadowed that many hours 😕

I don't think they verify the shadowing experiences for their each of their several thousand applicants... or any. But I'm as good of a reference as any pre-med

 

[Elevencents]

Paranoid question here. I realized that I typed in the wrong number of hours for shadowing. The difference is addition of only 2 hours. Is this a big deal that I need to change in my app? I'm just kinda paranoid that adcom might actually call the doc confirming if I've shadowed that many hours 😕

Don't worry about it.

 

[DrMeows]

I think 32 hours is fine. They say the SDN average is 50, which sounds like a bit much. I also think people that have 200 hours of shadowing are crazy.

I didn't shadow a DO, so I think I'm at a disadvantage, but I shadowed about 32 hours as well, and I had some significant experiences during those hours.

In my amateur perspective, after about 20 hours you start to see diminishing returns on shadowing, unless you're doing different specialties.

My MDapp literally says I have 200 hours of shadowing. Not offended, just thought it was funny I've shadowed a bunch of different types of doctors - I find it to be a fun experience and a good thing to discuss in interviews 🙂

 

[NightGod]

I don't think they verify the shadowing experiences for their each of their several thousand applicants... or any. But I'm as good of a reference as any pre-med

For that matter, I find it unlikely the doctor's reply to "it says here he shadowed you for 62 hours, is that correct?" would be "WHAT!?!?! THAT LYING BASTARD!! I ONLY SAW HIM FOR 60 HOURS!!!!!!"

Side note: SDN is making you neurotic-it's time to consider a break 😉

 

[Quester]

lol...thanks guys. Just a bit edgy these days😉

 

[scpod]

Remember, there is not a requirment for ANY shadowing to take place. Yes, it's a good thing to have on your application, but I know plenty of people who graduated in my medical school class who never had a single hour. Now, my school did require a DO letter, and we all got one. But shadowing is not even required to get that letter.

The numbers are not always the biggest thing to look at.

 

[JaBoomDay]

Remember, there is not a requirment for ANY shadowing to take place. Yes, it's a good thing to have on your application, but I know plenty of people who graduated in my medical school class who never had a single hour. Now, my school did require a DO letter, and we all got one. But shadowing is not even required to get that letter.

The numbers are not always the biggest thing to look at.

That's comforting to know. I've never officially shadowed a D.O. but I spent 8 years working with them in the ER which is how I got my letters.
I think on my year off I would love to shadow different doctors in different specialties to see what it's like.

 

[vcn3333]

Remember, there is not a requirement for ANY shadowing to take place. Yes, it's a good thing to have on your application, but I know plenty of people who graduated in my medical school class who never had a single hour. Now, my school did require a DO letter, and we all got one. But shadowing is not even required to get that letter.