Is shadowing beneficial after submitting the primary?

[TheShaker]

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So I have already submitted my primary AMCAS but I've recently discovered a shadowing opportunity provided by my school so I am thinking about taking it. I have no previous shadowing experience.

If I do this shadowing, will it be to my benefit in this application cycle seeing as how it doesn't show up on my AMCAS? I know it might help in interviews but it does seem kind of shallow since it looks like I rushed to do it.

If it won't benefit me too much then I'd rather allow the opportunity to some other person who might need it more.

 

[BABSstudent]

Yes, you can send update letters to schools that you applied to and include your new experience. I would wait until you had a meaningful amount before updating the schools.

 

[mimelim]

You don't shadow to improve your application. You shadow to learn something. Since you have zero shadowing experience, maybe you should spend some time with a physician. It will likely be worthwhile since it is entirely new.

 

[Nymphicus]

I shadowed a radonc for fun (it was pretty cool) after receiving all of my acceptances.

 

[notbobtrustme]

doesn't help your application other than give you something else to talk about in interviews.

 

[Bangersandmash]

You don't shadow to improve your application. You shadow to learn something. Since you have zero shadowing experience, maybe you should spend some time with a physician. It will likely be worthwhile since it is entirely new.

This. Every doctor I shadowed wasn't because of an application, it was because I was interested in becoming a doctor and wanted to know what kind of doctor.

 

[Cinclus]

As far as application improvement goes, it can be of benefit to have additional experiences to talk about during interviews, to be able to talk about how you are still shadowing (can display interest), and it is also something that may be included in update letters. I actually did most of my shadowing after submission of my primary, and on the primary, I indicated that my shadowing would be ongoing. I included my significant amounts of additional shadowing in my update letters.