Question regarding clinical experience for application

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BeginAgain

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In regard to the application for MD schools, is there a general consensus for when hospital volunteering and specialty shadowing is done? I was thinking about shadowing during my semester due to the flexible hours, while doing my hospital volunteering during the summer (no strain on classes and such).
Is this method generally looked down upon?
 
Nah, they don't care. Most people only shadow during stuff like winter break (if they're lucky to find a doctor still opening up their clinic). Only thing that matters for other experience is:

-Depth of experience over breadth.
Staying at one hospital, even if on and off during breaks/semesters/ for as long as possible > jumping every 2 months to a new hospital to fill up lines on your application and say you volunteered all across the land. I know people who did the latter and it looks trashy, lame, uncommitted, and pretty much is the equivalent of being a premed slut

-Hours.
I view shadowing in my opinion, as a separate category than "clinical experience" (I usually reserve that word for like stuff you do). But nevertheless, shadowing is VERY important, and pseudo-mandatory. For shadowing, I think like 30-50 hours is sufficient so you know what you're getting yourself into (they ask about that). It's also kinda interesting and motivating. For "clinical experience" (where you get to do stuff, like volunteering, being in a clinic) I have my own very unofficial heuristic. I call it the triple digit rule. 100 hours+, and you should be good. Don't jam 100 hours in like a summer and then go cold turkey until you apply, either. See depth above.
 
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100% agree with the poster above. Do not do it all at one time (I.e. Only summers and winter breaks.) try to balance it out and show that you do have interest, and aren't only volunteering when it's convenient. Your plan sounds good
 
In regard to the application for MD schools, is there a general consensus for when hospital volunteering and specialty shadowing is done? I was thinking about shadowing during my semester due to the flexible hours, while doing my hospital volunteering during the summer (no strain on classes and such).
Is this method generally looked down upon?
If you plan to gain active clinical experience only over summer breaks, keep in mind that longevity is more important than total hours for this experience. One summer is not enough, even if you were to volunteer for 40 hours a week during that time. Two summers is better. Three would be ideal. Potentially, you might consider including winter and spring breaks, to show more interest. I'd suggest aiming for a total of 150+ hours at 3-4 hours per session.
 
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