is this enough shadowing/volunteering

[wblack]

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Hi, I had applied in the past to several schools, some of which stated that i did not have enough shadowing although I had shadowed 2 physicians (40 hours total) and another 30 hours thorough a summer program. That was few years ago but this year, I have shadowed 2 physicians (total 40 hours) in different specialties and am volunteering at a hospital 4 hours a week (started in feb). Would this be enough to apply this year? I am concerned that this still may not be enough.Thanks.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi, I had applied in the past to several schools, some of which stated that i did not have enough shadowing although I had shadowed 2 physicians (40 hours total) and another 30 hours thorough a summer program. That was few years ago but this year, I have shadowed 2 physicians (total 40 hours) in different specialties and am volunteering at a hospital 4 hours a week (started in feb). Would this be enough to apply this year? I am concerned that this still may not be enough.Thanks.

So you applied with 70 hours of shadowing (which was all with physicians?) and now have 110? Were any of them primary care docs? How long ago was "a few years ago?"

How much clinical experience did you list on the original application, and how many hours more will you have by June 1?

 

[wblack]

So you applied with 70 hours of shadowing (which was all with physicians?) and now have 110? Were any of them primary care docs? How long ago was "a few years ago?"

How much clinical experience did you list on the original application, and how many hours more will you have by June 1?

Initial 70 hours were in 2009-2010 time frame with primary care MDs (Family med, internal med). I listed a total of 70 hrs the first time i applied. This time, I will have additional 40 hours with primary care physicians and volunteering hours at a hospital ( 4 hours per week that i started this February). I will apply this year. Thanks.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I have a hard time believing 70 hours is not enough shadowing...

 

[AllDaWEI]

On volunteering, just make sure you are volunteering when you fill out AMCAS. It is red flag if it is not listed as a "present" activity. A good way to look "good" without lying and doing minimal volunteering is to volunteer up until the AMCAS and then secondaries. Stop while waiting for interviews. Make sure to volubteer when doing the interviews so you can say you are if they ask. Then quit after acceptance.

Just rember it looks bad if you not volunteer when applying. Play it correctly!

 

[Catalystik]

Initial 70 hours were in 2009-2010 time frame with primary care MDs (Family med, internal med). I listed a total of 70 hrs the first time i applied. This time, I will have additional 40 hours with primary care physicians and volunteering hours at a hospital ( 4 hours per week that i started this February). I will apply this year. Thanks.

Having 70 hours is well above the average listed by applicants. I only know of one school that wants 125+ hours. For general purposes, you should have been fine there.

Unfortunately, your clinical experience will still be seriously low by June. The average I see listed for this is 1.5 years with a total of 150 hours.

It may be that the school you got the feedback from was willing to accept any clinical exposure, but that your total hours were below what they expected for the combination of (passive) shadowing and (active) clinical experience.

I suggest you continue gaining hospital clinical experience through the application cycle, letting schools know by periodic update letter where permitted, in Secondary essays, and during interview conversations. If you end up reapplying again, you'll be in a much stronger position a year from now to appeal to a broad range of schools.

 

[deleted261193]

muahahaha, plugging you to my blog post: http://xlvee.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/enough-clinical-exposure/

but specifically for this link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11257337&postcount=15