One-day shadowing?

[jensimp]

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Does it not look good if I only shadow a doctor for a day or two? My class schedule for next semester only permits me to shadow once or twice a week, and even then for only half a day. How could I maximize these times to get letter of rec?

(random question, but I've been looking around in other threads, and I haven't been able to figure out what SMP stood for around here)

 

[J ROD]

I was told I had a good amount of shadowing at around 110hrs. I usually spent 1 or 2 day (8hrs) with each person. I shadowed 8-10 docs....different fields - FM, EM, Psy, Optho, Plastics, Anes, etc.

I spent 30hrs with one doc to get to know them well.

SMP. Special Master Program. Some schools have these where you can take classes with med students usually to prove you can do the work. You beat med students you get in or a shot. These programs are for those with a low GPA and a high MCAT. Sort of a last resort for those that need GPA repair and want MD. Some have guaranteed acceptance; some not.....

 

[aggie08]

Does it not look good if I only shadow a doctor for a day or two? My class schedule for next semester only permits me to shadow once or twice a week, and even then for only half a day. How could I maximize these times to get letter of rec?

(random question, but I've been looking around in other threads, and I haven't been able to figure out what SMP stood for around here)

I think you would do just fine with that as long as you stretch it out over a semester or two. Most people shadow 1-2x per week and rack up hours by doing it over a long period of time. Longevity looks good. 🙂

 

[rockaction]

I did very little shadowing. I shadowed a pathologist as a one-time thing, and shadowed a pediatrician on a regular basis over a summer. That was it for me and I got in. Granted, I have a high MCAT and very high GPA. But it just goes to show that you've got some wiggle-room and there isn't a set number of hours you need to do. If they get the gist that you learned from it then it works.

I'd say branch out and see as many fields of medicine as you can, and try to shadow the same person on multiple occasions.

You do NOT need an LOR from someone you shadowed. What are they really going to say about you? That you have good posture? Pertinent LORs are ones from professors, lab PIs, bosses, etc., not people you've shadowed.

 

[RagingMoose]

I felt like being able to talk about meaningful experience was much more important than the total hours. (Of course more hours = more chances at meaningful experience...)

I didn't include hours for a lot of the docs I shadowed. I just summarized the most meaningful things I saw/did in my AMCAS. As long as you feel like you are getting significant exposure (that you can talk about in an interview) I think you will be fine.

 

[Contrarian]

depending on the doctor you shadow, once a week should still be good enough to yield a solid letter of rec. It varies though, since some doctors (usually in medicine) will be more receptive to conversation and will get to know you well. It could be a bit more difficult if you are shadowing a surgeon, where interaction might be a bit more limited, especially if you're in the O.R. most of the time.