Shadowing Hours and Volunteer Hours

[Almeida]

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Hi, I was wondering if 200 hours of shadowing hours in private practice and 250 hours of volunteers hours at a hospital is enough for med school? I enjoy shadowing very much and volunteering to. I will most likely keep doing both for about a year more.

 

[Almeida]

before any trolls start saying you only have 7 posts and your a noob or a gunner or w/e, please just answer sincerely. I'm just asking a sincere question

 

[sector9]

Hi, I was wondering if 200 hours of shadowing hours in private practice and 250 hours of volunteers hours at a hospital is enough for med school? I enjoy shadowing very much and volunteering to. I will most likely keep doing both for about a year more.

Yes, it sounds like enough based on the low amount of information you've given us.

For shadowing, hopefully you shadowed doctors in a variety of specialties, including at least one primary care physician. If you met both those requirements, then you really don't need to keep doing it unless you really want to.

For volunteering, I am assuming you are in a position where you are close enough to smell patients (i.e. not in the gift shop or info desk). Also, I am assuming that the hours are spread out over a year or more.

 

[nysw]

Looks good so far! Carry on, since you enjoy it. 🙂

 

[Almeida]

Well so far I have shadowed only 1 Doctor, but I'm trying to get an EM Doctor in my hometowns hospital.

 

[Catalystik]

What was the doc's specialty? Have you had conversations together about patient issues, insurance woes, malpractice concerns, etc, so you feel you could answer interview questions about such topics?

 

[Almeida]

He specialized in Family Medicine, and we have talked a bit about his job and what it takes and how its a little frustrating now because of insurance companies and etc. I want to shadow an ER physician so I can see some action.

 

[Catalystik]

Hopefully, with the ER doc, you'll have time to talk about topics like abusive/angry patients, drug seekers, dealing with death, malpractice, physician burnout, etc. Then, having seen two faces of medicine, your shadowing will be good to go.

 

[Almeida]

sweet, thank you so much. Oh before I forget, is research a must have? and if so, where would I be able to start that? professors I'm guessing?

 

[Catalystik]

About 60% list a research experience. It is not required, though generally one would have particular strength in some other area to compensate for its lack.

This would not be an EC to begin if your GPA is already challenged as it's a timesink. You get caught up in it, profs expect certain minimum hours, you don't accomplish much if you only invest 5 hours a week, etc. Also, if you want to do science research, it's best to wait until you have taken some science labs so you have "experience." Then the first place to ask would be your own professors.

 

[Almeida]

thank you so much, glad that you are part of sdn. I was afraid I would get trolled on.

 

[Morsetlis]

Hi, I was wondering if 200 hours of shadowing hours in private practice and 250 hours of volunteers hours at a hospital is enough for med school? I enjoy shadowing very much and volunteering to. I will most likely keep doing both for about a year more.

That's terrific. You may consider working on other EC's too, but not at the expense of grades/MCAT.