How will this experience go over with adcoms

[scottydsntkno]

---

Members do not see this ad.

In january, I was fortunate enough to connect with an oncologist at my local hospital and began to shadow her. The experience ended up being very meaningful, and I continued to shadow once every week. The physician has been incredible to me, and even offered to write a letter of reccomendation.

The problem is that I am applying this cycle, and was told that the experience will look like a last minute attempt to get clinical experience (even though I had hours of experience before hand).

Is this something I need to worry about?

 

[swimmergirl2010]

No...

 

[quechua]

no...

+1

 

[sector9]

Is this something I need to worry about?

Absolutely not.

 

[McNCheese]

Especially since you had clinical experience beforehand, it will just look like you were continuing to explore your interest in medicine. There's nothing to be worried about with this.

 

[music2doc]

In january, I was fortunate enough to connect with an oncologist at my local hospital and began to shadow her. The experience ended up being very meaningful, and I continued to shadow once every week. The physician has been incredible to me, and even offered to write a letter of reccomendation.

The problem is that I am applying this cycle, and was told that the experience will look like a last minute attempt to get clinical experience (even though I had hours of experience before hand).

Is this something I need to worry about?

No, but what is she really going to write in her LOR? That you dress well? Smell good? Gaze awkwardly on patients as she works them up?

I think the experience will be seen for what it is -- pre-clinical observation of a physician with little/no active learning. It's of some value but I don't generally suggest students get LORs from physicians they have [only] shadowed.

 

[Geebeejay]

No, but what is she really going to write in her LOR? That you dress well? Smell good? Gaze awkwardly on patients as she works them up?

I think the experience will be seen for what it is -- pre-clinical observation of a physician with little/no active learning. It's of some value but I don't generally suggest students get LORs from physicians they have [only] shadowed.

I agree with this. Make sure you get a letter from someone who can comment on things like your work ethic, professionalism, communication skills etc. A letter from a shadowing experience won't cut it.