Medical Scribing vs. Shadowing during post-bacc year

[gyngyn]

I am doing a post-bacc this year (2019-2020) and plan on applying to medical school in 2020. I am currently studying for the MCAT, taking it before fall quarter starts.

I have been accepted to become a scribe for an outpatient clinic, but the hours/ days are conflicting with my classes. I thought I could work my schedule around the clinic days, but the scribe company wants me to become full time instead of part time now.
So i have decided to not scribe for an outpatient clinic as it is unwise to skip my classes; I obviously need to do well in these post-bacc classes.

But, should I apply to become an ER scribe or should I shadow? I know a neurosurgeon that I could shadow during his clinic days.

Do adcoms view scribing as a better EC than shadowing though?

Thank you!

Shadowing is for you, not us...it is one way of assuring that you realize what you are getting into.
That is why primary care is the most valuable type of shadowing. It requires that you see awake patients making decisions with their doctor in the office. It is what the largest proportion of doctors do. Shadowing is not a replacement for clinical experience, though. Thus, one is not "better" than the other. A modest amount of shadowing (as long as it is primary care) is fine. 40 hours would do it. A more significant amount of clinical experience is recommended.

 

[Goro]

Thank you for your response.

I worked as a certified nursing assistant for 2 years and a medical assistant for 1 year, in addition to volunteering for a local free clinic, which allowed me to see glimpses of a physician's day.

But, it has been difficult for me to find a physician to shadow one on one, especially a PCP.

My major was neurobiology and I have known this neurosurgeon for a couple of years, so would shadowing him during his outpatient clinic days suffice to show adcoms I know what I am getting myself into?

Thanks again!

Yes, that will be fine

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Do what you have to do to get great grades. Without that it won't matter what people think about scribing vs. shadowing.