Is there a specific amount of shadowing I should do?

[s.arcas]

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Let me start by saying that I have already shadowed 2 ophthalmic surgeons during their surgery and clinical hours (because I want to become an ophthalmologist), approximately 6 hours for one doctor, and 12 for the other doctor. I know that on the applications for M.D. schools, each experience you include as extracurricular, you must also include the amount of time you spent doing that experience. If I were to ask either, or both, of the doctors to write me a letter of recommendation, would the medical admissions catch on to the fact that I have spent such a small amount of time with them, and ask: "How do these doctors know the applicant as well as they have claimed?" Therefore, what should I do? I am a little hesitant to ask to shadow these doctors again if I need to, because they are busy people and probably think that one shadowing session was enough for me to get an idea of ophthalmology. Also, I don't really know the etiquette to shadowing doctors and the amount of time I should spend with them. Thanks in advance for all input!

 

[tarsus]

The general consensus is about 50 hours. Anything above and beyond that is good, but begins to lose its potency. You should definitely get some experience with a primary care physician also, even if it's not a specialty you're interested in now.

 

[cactus8910]

I think the number I've seen thrown around is 50 hours(?) but to me 20 sounds like plenty. It's really up to you and whether you think you've gotten everything you can out of the shadowing experience. This could be a chance for you to explore some other specialties too.
From what I've seen from adcoms on this forum, letters from physicians have very very little weight. There's not much they can say about you, can clearly they won't know you very well after just a few hours anyway. I wouldn't even bother asking for a LOR from them.

 

[Catalystik]

Let me start by saying that I have already shadowed 2 ophthalmic surgeons during their surgery and clinical hours (because I want to become an ophthalmologist), approximately 6 hours for one doctor, and 12 for the other doctor. I know that on the applications for M.D. schools, each experience you include as extracurricular, you must also include the amount of time you spent doing that experience. If I were to ask either, or both, of the doctors to write me a letter of recommendation, would the medical admissions catch on to the fact that I have spent such a small amount of time with them, and ask: "How do these doctors know the applicant as well as they have claimed?" Therefore, what should I do? I am a little hesitant to ask to shadow these doctors again if I need to, because they are busy people and probably think that one shadowing session was enough for me to get an idea of ophthalmology. Also, I don't really know the etiquette to shadowing doctors and the amount of time I should spend with them. Thanks in advance for all input!

While an occasional premed committee asks for a physician letter, and a rare MD school might as well, LORs from a physician are more useful for DO school, and far better if the doc has a D.O. after their name. I'd consider 6-12 hours of shadowing, particularly if it includes OR time, to be far too few to be meaningful. As mentioned above, about 50 hours is the average listed. I'd suggest a 40 hour minimum as some schools have a stated requirement for that much. I agree with the suggestion to include a primary care doc (Pediatrics, family med, internist, OBGYN, psychiatrist) so you will have better answers at interview time.

 

[s.arcas]

Ok, I see. Let me ask this then: should I approach one of the ophthalmologists that I have already shadowed and ask him that I would like to shadow him more so that we can build a sort of student-doctor mentorship with the hopes that he can get to know me better to write a powerful letter? Or does that just sound like all I want is the letter? I don't want to come off as just wanting a LOR from the guy, I really would like to participate more with him and build a good relationship since I really do view one of the 2 ophthalmologists as a mentor. How should I go about that?

 

[cactus8910]

Ok, I see. Let me ask this then: should I approach one of the ophthalmologists that I have already shadowed and ask him that I would like to shadow him more so that we can build a sort of student-doctor mentorship with the hopes that he can get to know me better to write a powerful letter? Or does that just sound like all I want is the letter? I don't want to come off as just wanting a LOR from the guy, I really would like to participate more with him and build a good relationship since I really do view one of the 2 ophthalmologists as a mentor. How should I go about that?

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough. Even if you spend a bunch of hours shadowing one doc, their letter isn't going to matter. If you want to shadow him more, ask to do that, but don't do it with the goal of the letter impacting your application.

 

[s.arcas]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough. Even if you spend a bunch of hours shadowing one doc, their letter isn't going to matter. If you want to shadow him more, ask to do that, but don't do it with the goal of the letter impacting your application.

No, I understood you well. I should have mentioned, there are a number of M.D. schools that I plan on applying to that require at least one LOR from an M.D., therefore, that one letter (out of the other 2 or 3 required from professors/thesis mentor) is somewhat significant.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I think this has been rehashed a bunch of times, so a simple search would probably have gotten you the answer. But as has been said, at least 50 hours should be fine.

 

[Cidermonk]

.

 

[s.arcas]

If you don't mind, what M.D. schools are you referring to that require a physician's letter?

I can't remember off the top of my head, I'd have to refer to my list.

 

[Lucca]

Shadow more than one specialty