Shadowing an interviewer?

[DaenerysTargaryen]

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I recently interviewed at a school that happens to be in my current location and was matched with a faculty interviewer in a specialty in which I'm particularly interested. I don't have any personal connections to this practice area and have been unable to find anyone willing to let me shadow yet through cold calls and emails. I understand that it is probably inappropriate for me to ask the doctor about shadowing at this time (in my thank you note, for example), but would it be at all appropriate to reach out after a decision has been made about my application? Have any applicants done this in the past? Would any adcoms advise against it? Thanks for any advice! (oh, and I wouldn't be asking this if I didn't feel we had a good rapport in the interview, if that matters at all)

 

[Lost in Translation]

I wouldn't mention anything about them being your interviewer; let them be the one to bring it up if the remember you.

 

[Slave to the Game]

I can't see how it would be inappropriate to ask after the decision has been made. Sounds like you guys hit it off and he could be a valuable mentor to you.

 

[DaenerysTargaryen]

Thanks for the responses, all!

 

[Lost in Translation]

Just don't use it as your "in" with the guy.

 

[235009]

I recently interviewed at a school that happens to be in my current location and was matched with a faculty interviewer in a specialty in which I'm particularly interested. I don't have any personal connections to this practice area and have been unable to find anyone willing to let me shadow yet through cold calls and emails. I understand that it is probably inappropriate for me to ask the doctor about shadowing at this time (in my thank you note, for example), but would it be at all appropriate to reach out after a decision has been made about my application? Have any applicants done this in the past? Would any adcoms advise against it? Thanks for any advice! (oh, and I wouldn't be asking this if I didn't feel we had a good rapport in the interview, if that matters at all)

Hold on... I'm really confused so let's start from the beginning. Your status says "Med Student (Accepted)"... why are you still shadowing?

 

[DaenerysTargaryen]

Hold on... I'm really confused so let's start from the beginning. Your status says "Med Student (Accepted)"... why are you still shadowing?

I understand your confusion. Yes, I have already shadowed sufficiently for application purposes. Yes, I have already been accepted. For me, however, the point of shadowing, is not merely to collect enough hours for admissions purposes - it is also to continue to gain exposure to different specialties and practice areas. This is why medical students continue to shadow, no? So I am still interested in shadowing opportunities to the extent that they will provide me with insight I haven't already been able to gain. Shadowing this particular individual would fall into that category.

 

[235009]

I understand your confusion. Yes, I have already shadowed sufficiently for application purposes. Yes, I have already been accepted. For me, however, the point of shadowing, is not merely to collect enough hours for admissions purposes - it is also to continue to gain exposure to different specialties and practice areas. This is why medical students continue to shadow, no? So I am still interested in shadowing opportunities to the extent that they will provide me with insight I haven't already been able to gain. Shadowing this particular individual would fall into that category.

In general shadowing as a med student is a waste of time unless you have a specific interest in a field... even then you don't get much useful information by shadowing. It's extremely low yield and you'll find that once you start med school and throughout the rest of your career that your time is the most precious commodity. You don't want to waste it following around some random physician when you can be spending that time studying or doing research. A much more meaningful version of that experience is built into your med school later (clinical years). The only time I would encourage a med student to shadow is if they have a specific interest in a specialty that you can't get exposure to during a core 3rd year rotation. More importantly at this stage you really aren't getting any meaningful "exposure" by standing in a corner observing with zero medical knowledge under your belt.

Relax. Stop shadowing. Enjoy the rest of your free time before you start med school. No one has ever looked back and hoped they had shadowed more after getting accepted. Don't waste your time.

 

[DaenerysTargaryen]

Thank you for the advice, @MeatTornado!