How in-depth do Adcoms analyze shadowing?

[Round786]

Like for example, do they assess inpatient vs. outpatient, specialist vs. PCP, proceduralist vs generalist, subspecialities, etc.?

Or do they just check if it’s varied and long enough?

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[LizzyM]

For this applicant, "why medicine?"
How has the applicant tested their interest in medicine as a career?
Does the applicant have a realistic point of view regarding the profession of medicine?


How they got there is less of an issue. Some adcoms will use "shadowing" as a check box, others will like to see that the testing of one's interest included shadowing related to one's narrative (e.g. interested in pediatrics, have you shadowed pediatricians?)

 

[gyngyn]

Shadowing is one way to show that you know what you are getting into.
Most medicine is practiced in a office with awake patients. To that end, we hope to see at least a modest amount of time spent there.
Time spent in the OR, ER, sub-specialty setting or in a tertiary care facility is entertaining but is not where you are most likely to practice.