ECs and hours

[morganbmac]

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I have just begun shadowing/volunteering in my local doctor's office. How many hours do med schools genuinely like to see? I know my advisor has stressed consistency and for a long period of time, but I was just wondering around a number of hours..thanks!!

 

[Aerus]

Shadowing doesn't have to be over a long period of time. The only point of shadowing is to get some idea about what the daily life of a physician is like. Usually about 50-100 hours over many specialties (at least one primary care specialty and one surgical specialty) will suffice.

For volunteering, that SHOULD be long term. Over 100 hours is standard, but try to maintain that until the date of application, if possible.

 

[deleted407021]

Shadowing doesn't have to be over a long period of time. The only point of shadowing is to get some idea about what the daily life of a physician is like. Usually about 50-100 hours over many specialties (at least one primary care specialty and one surgical specialty) will suffice.

For volunteering, that SHOULD be long term. Over 100 hours is standard, but try to maintain that until the date of application, if possible.

I concur. Definitely find something you can dedicate at least a year to in terms of volunteering. Free, need based clinics are the ticket.

 

[LizzyM]

Even 40 hours of shadowing is fine... it need not be over along period of time, just so long as you have an idea of how long a physician's day is and how varied the activities are, and then again, how repetitive the activities are. If you have the opportunity to shadow different physicians including someone who practices primary care and someone who practices a subspecialty, all the better.

 

[circulus vitios]

After a day or two you get an idea of what physicians do on a day to day basis.

I shadowed for about 50 hours, spread out over a few months. It was kind of boring after a while, but whatever. Just another box to check off.