Shadowing Experience

[concerned_medstudent]

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Hello,
I have a question about shadowing. I am planning on applying this cycle. I have shadowing experience already (100+ hours). However, it has only been abroad. I have volunteered in a clinical setting, but not directly shadowed in the US. I have heard that it looks bad to not have domestic shadowing. Is this true? If so, should I wait to submit my application before I shadow or submit it and shadow someone domestically.

 

[LizzyM]

Will someone look at your application and wonder if you have any clue as to the demands of medical practice in the US? Did you list a parent or step-parent on the application who is a physician in the US? (that could allay that fear)

If you intend to be a physician in the US and you wish to attend medical school in the US, shadowing physicians in the US is pretty much an unwritten requirement.

You have a hard decision to make now... apply without shadowing and risk not being interviewed or hold off on applying until after you have some shadowing to list on the application and risk being so late that you miss out on interviews.

I'd say that if you can get everything including supplementals and LORs in by Sept 4, you should be ok. In all likelihood, that means getting your AMCAS application in by July 4 (as it takes time to be verified).Can you do that shadowing in the next 3 weeks?

It is terrible to say you should skip and apply next year but that might be the best bet. If you have a bad cycle, you'll be applying next year anyway.

 

[Catalystik]

I have a question about shadowing. I am planning on applying this cycle. I have shadowing experience already (100+ hours). However, it has only been abroad. I have volunteered in a clinical setting, but not directly shadowed in the US. I have heard that it looks bad to not have domestic shadowing. Is this true? If so, should I wait to submit my application before I shadow or submit it and shadow someone domestically.

Adcomms would like to see that you've got a fair idea of what it's like to practice medicine in the US (or Canada), so get some local shadowing in ASAP. International shadowing can be listed, but prepare yourself for "compare and contrast" questions between the two countries.

You won't be disadvantaged by having last minute shadowing experiences. You can get in a lot of hours in a week's time and not have your application unduly delayed.

 

[concerned_medstudent]

Thanks for both of your replies! None of my parents are physicians, but I do have them in my family (not immediate), as such I am aware that it will not appear in the application. I am currently working on getting an a shadowing position to have a local shadowing experience. If I were to do shadowing in the next few weeks would that be alright, as it is last minute? Furthermore, would waiting 2-3 weeks to submit my application affect my chances of admission? I am already taking a gap year in which I will try to work as a scribe, as such I dont want to push of my application another year (Although I do understand your sentiment). Lastly, my LORs (submitted to university pre-medical committee) and all other AMCAS material have been completed. According to advisors, the only hole was the lack of domestic shadowing.

 

[LizzyM]

Well, did the premed committee question you about that and how did you answer. It is possible that the committee will point out this deficit in the LOR. If you communicated to the committee a plan to do shadowing that might go into the letter and then you'll be asked at interview if you followed through. If you can get it fine in the next two weeks and put it in your application you should be fine.