Shadowing after an acceptance: a good use of time?

[Daedra22]

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I was accepted to my top-choice osteopathic school, and I'm looking forward to attending this fall. Before applying I had some shadowing experience with family practice physicians, but I have found that I am very interested in medical genetics. There are a few geneticists in my area, and I am considering trying to shadow one of them this semester. Would shadowing a geneticist at this point be a productive use of my time, or is it kind of silly to do so since I'll be able to study genetics in classes/on rotations in the near future? Opinions?

 

[xtina0]

I mentioned to one of my interviewers that I wanted to volunteer in the ER with my time off because I am really interested and never have. He basically told me it was a waste of time because I'll get a lot of that in during rotations lol. If it will be fun for you however go for it.

 

[beckhunter116]

I think if you are interested in it you should go for it for 2 reasons. 1) You are going to be super busy once med school starts that it's hard to find the time to try to experience different aspects of medicine until 3rd yr and then you are going to be rushed to decided what residencies you are interested in.

Note: Some schools are big in getting clinical experience in early and may have you shadow/assist/something during your first 2 years. So then you may not want to spend the time now, when you will be doing it very soon.

2) A lot of any field is networking...if this is something you could be interested in it is good to find a mentor or even someone who maybe during the summer between M1 and M2 who you could do research with--if this is in your home area. Or maybe they know people where you are moving and could still help find research or other opportunities.

I'm not saying devote a lot of time to this, but I hardly think a day or two over the next 6 months before med school is a waste.

Either way, congrats on getting into your #1 DO school and good luck next year!

 

[scummie]

Ever since I've gotten into the med school, my life is filled with emptiness from not checking e-mail every second and stalking my mail man. I dunno, this sounds like a good way to stay motivated. Plus there's all that networking and other benefits you could get out of it.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Waste of time? Who's he to say what is and isn't a waste of time for you.

If you enjoy it, do it 👍

 

[Laryngophed]

Waste of time? Who's he to say what is and isn't a waste of time for you.

If you enjoy it, do it 👍

x2

 

[GraceEuphoria]

Anyone who says this would be a waste of time would strike me as the type that only does things to fill a resume/application. Just because you'll get to do a lot of this stuff in rotations doesn't mean you shouldn't do it- in that case, why have pre meds shadow at all right? Point being, every experience is a new and different experience and you can never have too much preparation before you get out into rotations and have to know stuff on the spot. I know I may not remember everything from my shadowing and volunteer work, but I remember a lot and they have provided excellent opportunities to increase my skills in interacting with patients. I say do it 👍

 

[engineeredout]

Go for it if you're really interested, no reason not to.

 

[xtina0]

Waste of time? Who's he to say what is and isn't a waste of time for you.

If you enjoy it, do it 👍

Yea it was a interesting interview, I left mortified actually cause he also gave me a whole speech about how hard med school is and how the school has a two strikes your out policy and questioned why I didn't apply to Allo schools but I did get accepted so that's a good thing. Some cocky surgeon trying to scare a premed.