Shadowing a doc I have a lot of respect for

[Mayssy]

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Hey guys,

I'll be honest and say I haven't searched this question, because I'm not sure what to search for.

I'm shadowing a resident who went my state school.. I met her at an internship I had at a top ED and she really is one of the best docs I've met (this made me really excited to apply to my state school btw =). My question is what do I do to make the best impression possible... I'd love some feedback from some people who shadowed docs and got a great LOR from them. I don't need a letter right now but I think it would be a plus to leave a good impression for the future (in case wait listed etc)

Any other feedback related to this is appreciated 🙂

 

[runrunrudolph1]

a

 

[amoiliz]

WELL..Since I read your question and just shadowed my fav neurosurgeon this summer, though I did share a few insights with thee.

First advice: Sincerity

I initiated the contact via an email..I never knew who she/he was.. Only that he/she is the youngest neurosurgeon in this country. It is important to make sure your initiative is sincere..and that you are genuinely interested in what he/she does and how this exp. would relate to your future etc etc.
Noones likes anyone phony.

Second advice: Persistency

She got back to me after 4 months and that too through her assistant.

Third: Consistency
So you have one of the world’s youngest neurosurgeon to shadow and he/she doesn’t mind you being in their OR *squeal*.. so how to make a lasting impression? I was stressing out because I knew she had never taken undergrads into her OR let alone allowing them to shadow her, so I had to be extra EXTRA prepared (I still don’t know how I managed to get my hands on the scrubs)
In the end I would say to just be your self and I would also recommend doing some research on her next case etc.

Also, I did recommend carrying a small notebook with you. I was lucky enough to get to know a couple of residents who were willing to guide me though what was happening during the surgery.

Lol..I confess that this does sounds more of a narrative on one of the best exp. in my life so far but Sincerity, Persistancy and Consistency are traits that could really help in your situation. *note the capitals*

Good luck to you.

 

[amoiliz]

Forgot to add...try doing a fund raiser if she is a researcher..That really impressed mine 😉

 

[avksx]

Forgot to add...try doing a fund raiser if she is a researcher..That really impressed mine 😉

Could you expand on this a bit more?

 

[ReptarBar]

you dont get letters from doctors you have only shadowed. that is confirmed fact.

 

[7starmantis]

you dont get letters from doctors you have only shadowed. that is confirmed fact.

This is probably a great point. I had one but I've known the guy for nearly 10 years. He used to knock me out while boxing.

 

[ReptarBar]

yea maybe if youve known him/her for an extraordinarily long time, but otherwise no.

 

[7starmantis]

yea maybe if youve known him/her for an extraordinarily long time, but otherwise no.

I agree, thats what my last post was trying to say. 🙂

 

[amoiliz]

I agree, thats what my last post was trying to say. 🙂

Dont discourage her.
Its not about how long you have known the person but how well they know you and how much they like you. Basically, dont act cocky and try to be likable

 

[7starmantis]

Dont discourage her.
Its not about how long you have known the person but how well they know you and how much they like you. Basically, dont act cocky and try to be likable

True to a point. Not trying to discourage at all, however how well do you think a doctor you shadow knows you exactly? Maybe your shadowing experiences were different than mine.

 

[amoiliz]

True to a point. Not trying to discourage at all, however how well do you think a doctor you shadow knows you exactly? Maybe your shadowing experiences were different than mine.

LOL. I hope, for your sake, that you are being sarcastic.

 

[ReptarBar]

no one is being sarcastic. LizzyM, an adcom member that posts here, has said exactly what we have been saying. she said that schools frequently throw out letters from shadowed docs because they offer zero insight into the student.

 

[7starmantis]

LOL. I hope, for your sake, that you are being sarcastic.

Not sure what you mean exactly.

 

[amoiliz]

no one is being sarcastic. LizzyM, an adcom member that posts here, has said exactly what we have been saying. she said that schools frequently throw out letters from shadowed docs because they offer zero insight into the student.

Have you ever pondered why? Usually students think that having shadowed a doctor would strike impressive so they thrown that in without much thought which, as expected, gets thrown away without much thought. That is why I would ask you to make sure that the person you are shadowing knows you. And since doctors are busy people, its a hell of a job to get their undivided attention. So, hard work and creativity is recommended- which most students would find rather tiring.

Also, for the person asking how to know if they know you (Sorry.. I thought you're trying to be funny) The safest bet is to ask if they feel comfortable enough to write you a decent letter. If they do and you think it didnt reflected you well, I wouldnt push my luck.

 

[7starmantis]

Have you ever pondered why? Usually students think that having shadowed a doctor would strike impressive so they thrown that in without much thought which, as expected, gets thrown away without much thought. That is why I would ask you to make sure that the person you are shadowing knows you. And since doctors are busy people, its a hell of a job to get their undivided attention. So, hard work and creativity is recommended- which most students would find rather tiring.

Also, for the person asking how to know if they know you (Sorry.. I thought you're trying to be funny) The safest bet is to ask if they feel comfortable enough to write you a decent letter. If they do and you think it didnt reflected you well, I wouldnt push my luck.

Gotcha, thought it might come across that way. The problem is the doctor doesn't know what is good for you when it comes to letters. They can't possible offer some deep look into your personality or even grades, or, well what then, your ability to keep up with them in the hall? You simply can't get your shadowing doc to know you well enough for a decent letter, just isn't going to happen. You end up trying to impress the doctor which then either makes you look like a tool or you get a letter that gets thrown out because it makes you look like a tool. I just don't think its the best use of a limited amount of LOR;s.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

Gotcha, thought it might come across that way. The problem is the doctor doesn't know what is good for you when it comes to letters. They can't possible offer some deep look into your personality or even grades, or, well what then, your ability to keep up with them in the hall? You simply can't get your shadowing doc to know you well enough for a decent letter, just isn't going to happen. You end up trying to impress the doctor which then either makes you look like a tool or you get a letter that gets thrown out because it makes you look like a tool. I just don't think its the best use of a limited amount of LOR;s.

this is true. Doctors you shadow simply can't write a very well letter of rec. for you because they don't know you well enough to help admission officers on why the should admit you. Should this discourage people? of course not...what I've done is if you really like the doctor see if you can get involved in some kind of research with them...this will really be substantial and helpful in the long run.

 

[amoiliz]

this is true. Doctors you shadow simply can't write a very well letter of rec. for you because they don't know you well enough to help admission officers on why the should admit you. Should this discourage people? of course not...what I've done is if you really like the doctor see if you can get involved in some kind of research with them...this will really be substantial and helpful in the long run.

Reminds me:

Fourth advice: Dont shadow for LOR's

Do it for the exp.

That settles all the arguments etc etc

 

[runrunrudolph1]

Reminds me:

Fourth advice: Dont shadow for LOR's

Do it for the exp.

That settles all the arguments etc etc

I like you haha. And keep at it, this neurosurgeon sounds incredibly cool, good luck!

 

[amoiliz]

I like you haha. And keep at it, this neurosurgeon sounds incredibly cool, good luck!

You're so sweet! Thanks

 

[Mayssy]

Thank you amoiliz! That really does help, I was following that advice before (she also didn't get back to me right away) but now I have it by category 😉

To be honest, I was just so impressed with the way she cared for patients and her super sweet attitude in that VERY BUSY ED that when I saw she went to my state school I made up my mind to get a little more experience shadowing her. As you said, it's truly for the experience, if I could have her attitude and attentiveness toward patients in 5 years, I'll consider my med school experience a success😀

For the record I shadowed tons of docs this semester in an internship through my school and none of them even compared (most attendings included) and this ED was not nearly as busy. So she's really inspiring, kind of like your neurosurgeon (how old is he/she btw?)