Shadowing Problem - Should I change it or no?

[sunny739]

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Hi evreryone,

This is my first post on SDN. I applied to a couple of DO schools and have already submitted the secondaries, but not interviews yet. A physician that I volunteered with as a research assistant, I shadowed him for a few hours (approx. 20). He worte me a letter before that where everything he discussed was about my research and said excellent stuff about me, no metioning of shadowing though. Today I mentioned to him that I also put down that I shadowed him as he previously agreed on it. He seemed a bit hesistant and said that it does not count as shadowing since no proper paperwork was done and if he is asked about it, he would outright say no. Since I have already discussed that in some of my secondaries and also put it in the primary, I am not too sure what to do about it. Should I contact the schools and tell them to disregard this experience since I don't want to risk my application for such a minor thing. Also, if I do bring it up now, they may think I have been lying for all the other activities too. I am not too sure what should I be doing. I have shadowed another physician too, so shadowing is not a problem.

 

[timmaycakes]

Should I contact the schools and tell them to disregard this experience since I don't want to risk my application for such a minor thing. Also, if I do bring it up now, they may think I have been lying for all the other activities too. I am not too sure what should I be doing. I have shadowed another physician too, so shadowing is not a problem.

If you display honesty, why would schools think that you may have lied on other parts of your app?

Personally, I would update each school via a concise email explaining the situation. You'll be fine, especially since you have a backup letter.

Realistically, if you don't tell schools nothing will probably happen. School rarely call the doctors who write shadowing letters. It does happen though.

 

[XCourtSmash]

I'd say just ignore it. I doubt any school would have time to literally check up on every physician a pre-med shadows.

 

[sunny739]

Thanks for your replies. I was wondering if I just delete the experience from AACOMAS, will that suffice? I just sent back the secondaries, so I don't know how wise will that be if I start telling them that the experience I wrote about does not even exist. Also, I have heard they contact refrees after interviews usually. Would it be okay if I mention it in an interview if I get one?

 

[411309]

This is just my opinion but I feel like they dont expect to contact DOs/MDs that write you a letter. I mean the DO I shadowed was working 60+ hours a week getting ahold of her is tough.

 

[sunny739]

This is just my opinion but I feel like they dont expect to contact DOs/MDs that write you a letter. I mean the DO I shadowed was working 60+ hours a week getting ahold of her is tough.

This is what I think too, but since the physician said he does not count it as shadowing and if they verify, he will say "NO". I am just afraid and will not want to risk anything.

 

[chiddler]

i would keep it on there.

if you wrote that you shadowed the doc, and the letter of rec says "s/he shadowed me", i don't think there is much reason for admissions to verify the experience.

 

[sunny739]

i would keep it on there.

if you wrote that you shadowed the doc, and the letter of rec says "s/he shadowed me", i don't think there is much reason for admissions to verify the experience.

No the letter only talks about the research that I did with him. I asked him for the letter before shadowing. Since the letter does not talk about it at all, thats why I am worried.

 

[chiddler]

No the letter only talks about the research that I did with him. I asked him for the letter before shadowing. Since the letter does not talk about it at all, thats why I am worried.

oh, sorry for misunderstanding. i would keep it off there, then.

too risky!

 

[sunny739]

oh, sorry for misunderstanding. i would keep it off there, then.

too risky!

No probs, Thanks for the input. Do you think I should go ahead and inform the schools then, so they disregard the experience (although I have briefly mentioned it in my secondaries) or would taking it off of my AACOMAS app will suffice? Not sure, if I resubmit aacomas with changes, schools download it again or not.
Or may be only mention to those schools that do call me for interview because usually I have heard they verify people they interview?

 

[chiddler]

No probs, Thanks for the input. Do you think I should go ahead and inform the schools then, so they disregard the experience (although I have briefly mentioned it in my secondaries) or would taking it off of my AACOMAS app will suffice? Not sure, if I resubmit aacomas with changes, schools download it again or not.
Or may be only mention to those schools that do call me for interview because usually I have heard they verify people they interview?

shadowing was such an experience for me i'd hate for you to give it up on your application. i would think that admissions look for it in applications. keep trying instead of giving up.

i know it's not the easiest to negotiate with a doc, but i never had "paperwork" for my shadowing experience. perhaps you can tell the doc that many of your friends did shadowing with no paperwork involved. "can you just mention that I followed you around for a bit? they will not ask for proof - just your word."

if not, then just take it off your application. after editing, the new version is automatically sent to schools for update. aacomas support told me this when I needed to edit something.

try to get some shadowing in anyway if this doesn't work out. you can send the update by contacting the schools directly.

 

[Unknown786]

I agree totally with what chiddler said as its important to have some shadowing experience.

 

[sunny739]

shadowing was such an experience for me i'd hate for you to give it up on your application. i would think that admissions look for it in applications. keep trying instead of giving up.

i know it's not the easiest to negotiate with a doc, but i never had "paperwork" for my shadowing experience. perhaps you can tell the doc that many of your friends did shadowing with no paperwork involved. "can you just mention that I followed you around for a bit? they will not ask for proof - just your word."

if not, then just take it off your application. after editing, the new version is automatically sent to schools for update. aacomas support told me this when I needed to edit something.

try to get some shadowing in anyway if this doesn't work out. you can send the update by contacting the schools directly.

So there are only 3 schools where I had specifically mentioned that I had shadowed him, I have contacted those schools. They asked me to send in an email explaining the situation that will be added to my file. I will be saying something along the lines of how the physician thinks that my main duties are best represented under research, so I request you to disregard this information in my secondaries. Does that sound good enough or do you think I should write a line or two about how I am extremely interested in the school (not a complete letter of interest)? Btw, I have just submitted my secondaries and still waiting on the complete mail from these schools. I just don't want the adcoms to get a wrong impression from that addendum and not offer me an interview, so thats why I was going to finish it off nicely with how I am interested in the school.

For the other schools, I have just requested them to download my updated AACOMAS without mentioning all of the above. I hope its fine.

 

[chiddler]

i think it'll be fine. just be concise with your wording. an update letter should update first and foremost.

just remember to get shadowing in and send another update once you get that done.

 

[488677]

I cannot believe this physician is giving you such a hard time about this. All the physicians that I talked to or shadowed gave me the option of writing my own LOR for them; I obviously declined.

Simple solution: ask to "formally" shadow him now. I doubt any medical school would contact this person about your "illegitimate" shadowing experience, but in the event that they do, it would be official.

 

[sunny739]

i think it'll be fine. just be concise with your wording. an update letter should update first and foremost.

just remember to get shadowing in and send another update once you get that done.

I do have another letter from another physician I shadowed, so shadowing is not a problem. I was just wondering what should I be including in that addendum/letter besides this wierd situation. I was thinking of finishing it off nicely since I don't want something like this keeping them from offering me an II.

 

[sunny739]

I cannot believe this physician is giving you such a hard time about this. All the physicians that I talked to or shadowed gave me the option of writing my own LOR for them; I obviously declined.

Simple solution: ask to "formally" shadow him now. I doubt any medical school would contact this person about your "illegitimate" shadowing experience, but in the event that they do, it would be official.

Unfortunately, he is not practicing at the moment. So thats not possible, not in 2012 at least.

 

[GunnerBGone]

Unfortunately, he is not practicing at the moment. So thats not possible, not in 2012 at least.

No doubt, you could word an email to convince the adcoms of what you like. I'm sure it happens.

But, I'm wondering why everyone is taking your word over that of a practicing physician. The guy specifically says that you did not shadow. And that you work best in research.
Kinda sounds like you want them to read your important, two-page LOR...but only the good parts, and only the things you agree with.
And then you state that the physician isn't practicing. For all we know...he never has. And hence why you never shadowed. For all we know, he worked with you as a sidebar to some type of genetics research or something, and you're trying to get credit for both. I say this, because half my A&P class did this last year.

If the guy says you didn't shadow...then you didn't shadow.
To say anything else would be dishonest. But, apparently, this doesn't bother anyone.