is it an issue if all of my volunteering/shadowing is peds?

[Marika11]

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I have a unique situation that led me to find multiple good opportunities, but all within pediatrics. Would it be an issue if, at the time of my application, all my volunteering and shadowing exp is in peds (some different specialties within)?

I am interested in going into pediatrics of some sort, but I'm a premed so it's not like I know for sure if I want to only work with kids.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I have a unique situation that led me to find multiple good opportunities, but all within pediatrics. Would it be an issue if, at the time of my application, all my volunteering and shadowing exp is in peds (some different specialties within)?

I am interested in going into pediatrics of some sort, but I'm a premed so it's not like I know for sure if I want to only work with kids.

Not really, but it wouldn't kill you to throw in a couple of days of shadowing outside of peds. It isn't uncommon for all volunteering to be one specialty.

 

[Marika11]

Not really, but it wouldn't kill you to throw in a couple of days of shadowing outside of peds. It isn't uncommon for all volunteering to be one specialty.

Glad to hear that, thanks for the response!

 

[dsoz]

Nearly all my shadowing was in FM. I shadowed one FM doc for almost 100 hours. I shadowed a second FM doc (DO) for another two days. I also shadowed a DO specialist in OMM for another two days. By far the most time was with Family medicine. I don't think it hurt me on my applications.

I have two acceptances already (DO schools) and one more interview to go (OHSU). I am happy with this interview cycle. I am going to be a med-student next year no matter what!

dsoz

 

[BabyDoc86]

Most of mine is in peds too, and I want to do either peds or neo. I've shadowed three general peds, two neonatologists, one pediatric surgeon, one FM, one palliative care, and one urologist. I also had did a shadowing program at a hospital and rounded one day in each department, from respiratory therapy to gen surgery to cardiology. It's good to get a broader idea of medicine, but in my interviews no one has said anything negatively about my shadowing experiences. (Yet.)

 

[GrinchMD]

It's good to get a broader idea of medicine, but in my interviews no one has said anything negatively about my shadowing experiences. (Yet.)

And no one in the right mind will say anything negative about your shadowing experiences.

 

[BABSstudent]

I have a unique situation that led me to find multiple good opportunities, but all within pediatrics. Would it be an issue if, at the time of my application, all my volunteering and shadowing exp is in peds (some different specialties within)?

I am interested in going into pediatrics of some sort, but I'm a premed so it's not like I know for sure if I want to only work with kids.

Well hopefully you are doing other stuff too. Enjoy your free time and get a hobby.

But I suggest shadowing a few other specialties. That way you get a broader picture of what medicine is like and will not feel pressured to pick something at the start of medical school.

 

[HSUReddie]

I have a unique situation that led me to find multiple good opportunities, but all within pediatrics. Would it be an issue if, at the time of my application, all my volunteering and shadowing exp is in peds (some different specialties within)?

I am interested in going into pediatrics of some sort, but I'm a premed so it's not like I know for sure if I want to only work with kids.

All of my shadowing was within pediatrics except for about 10 hours in family medicine. I had an internship at a children's hospital, and they allowed us to spend some of our days shadowing if our research mentors allowed it. So I definitely know the boat you're in. Honestly, I wanted to get in some other specialities myself that were non-peds, but I just didn't have time with grad school as of late. I would maybe try if I were you, but if you can't swing it, than don't lose any sleep over it. I ended up with an insanely lucky interview situation - when I walked in, all three of my interviewers were from the same hospital I interned at. I made it extremely clear that given all my experiences I was completely open to finding another speciality equally if not more interesting when I got in school. They proceeded to make it very clear that they weren't going to attack me for liking peds... after all, they were all pediatricians (and one M4 applying for peds residencies). 🙂

 

[notbobtrustme]

this has to be one of the most neurotic posts I've read on SDN.....

 

[HSUReddie]

this has to be one of the most neurotic posts I've read on SDN.....

Personally I found it to be much less neurotic than all the "I have a B in [insert class here], what do I do? I'm failing at life and will have to apply to DO school," threads. 🙄

 

[fabriciusj89]

I work in peds and so all of my volunteering and shadowing has been in peds just because it was the most convenient. No one has said anything and I have one acceptance and one waitlist so far. I made sure to say in my interviews that I was interested in peds (because my application kind of screams it) but that I had limited exposure to other fields and realized that exposure could change my perspective.

 

[circulus vitios]

Yeah they're going to think you're a pedophile. Might as well get it over with and register yourself with a sex offender database.

 

[Anathema]

Yeah they're going to think you're a pedophile. Might as well get it over with and register yourself with a sex offender database.

Rofl, too funny. I think it's perfectly fine to be in just one area. There are plenty of people that have specialized volunteering or shadowing in a certain area and have done just fine in the application process.

 

[Marika11]

Thanks for all of the helpful responses everyone. In terms of this being a post out of nervousness, I just wanted to make sure that adcoms did not expect breadth in types of clinical experience. I don't know about "one of the most neurotic posts...on SDN" but yes, I suppose I did ask it because I had some nerves.

Thanks again all.

 

[Eiot]

Personally I found it to be much less neurotic than all the "I have a B in [insert class here], what do I do? I'm failing at life and will have to apply to DO school," threads. 🙄

Yep.