Shadowing

[R6787]

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Can someone help me understand the shadowing requirement for admission to osteopathic medical schools?

I have spoken with a few physicians who imply that one or two days of shadowing is sufficient. Med school admission requirements, on the other hand, appear to encourage an on-going relationship with an osteopath. Perhaps the shadowing is one part of a broader relationship? Perhaps others can share their experiences.

I am currently completing a post-baccalaureate pre-med program.

Thank you.

 

[andi_cvr]

Can someone help me understand the shadowing requirement for admission to osteopathic medical schools?

I have spoken with a few physicians who imply that one or two days of shadowing is sufficient. Med school admission requirements, on the other hand, appear to encourage an on-going relationship with an osteopath. Perhaps the shadowing is one part of a broader relationship? Perhaps others can share their experiences.

I am currently completing a post-baccalaureate pre-med program.

Thank you.

It doesn't have to be long term. I ended up shadowing two different DO's. The first one I shadowed for about 15 hours total, and he waited 4 months to send my LOR's. So I found another to shadow in the mean time. I was only able to shadow him for one day, and he sent my LOR within a weekend after that. Bottom line, whoever or however long you shadow, just make sure they know you will need an LOR, and that they should probably not wait until March to send it.....

 

[sayoc]

does not have to be long. for me only one day.

Can someone help me understand the shadowing requirement for admission to osteopathic medical schools?

I have spoken with a few physicians who imply that one or two days of shadowing is sufficient. Med school admission requirements, on the other hand, appear to encourage an on-going relationship with an osteopath. Perhaps the shadowing is one part of a broader relationship? Perhaps others can share their experiences.

I am currently completing a post-baccalaureate pre-med program.

Thank you.

 

[scpod]

Med school admission requirements, on the other hand, appear to encourage an on-going relationship with an osteopath. Perhaps the shadowing is one part of a broader relationship?

In my opinion, you are probably better off spending less time "shadowing" and more time letting your DO get to know you-- who you are and what your philosophies of medicine are, for example. If they feel like you are someone they could call a "friend", as well as a potential colleague, then you are likely to get a much better LOR. I never had anyone question my amount of "shadowing" time, but I did have other medical experience as well.

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

In my opinion, you are probably better off spending less time "shadowing" and more time letting your DO get to know you-- who you are and what your philosophies of medicine are, for example. If they feel like you are someone they could call a "friend", as well as a potential colleague, then you are likely to get a much better LOR. I never had anyone question my amount of "shadowing" time, but I did have other medical experience as well.

I totally agree. The two PCOM docs I shadowed were basically family to me after I was done shadowing. We hung out at restaurants and bars and just talked for a few months (as well as seeing patients). I never read the letters they sent to PCOM but I figure they were good.

Bottom line, if you shadow for a day or 2 months, make sure your LOR will be a strong one. The last thing you want is a LOR that says the doctor doesnt believe you will succeed in medical school.

 

[SoonToBeDoc]

Shadowing is preferred by osteopathic medical schools because they want you to understand the differentiation between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. True, that you're trying to get a letter of recommendation from them but the reason for that is because they want a doctor's perspective of how you work in the medical environment, whether you show interest in the field, and to gain more understanding of the field. Shadowing a D.O. can be fun and educational. Find a D.O. that you can feel comfortable with, in a professional environment, and yet they can know you as a person. Hope that helps...

 

[FutureDocDO]

Does a fifteen minute "interview" with your family doctor count as shadowing? 🙂 That's what I did. I gave him my CV and the questionaire I filled out for my pre-med committee.



Just to show you that it doesn't have to be a lengthly commitment.

 

[Amy B]

I did not shadow any DOs. I met with one for a 60 minute interview and he wrot me LOR from that time. I did give him my personal statement essay and some of my secondary essays. But no shadowing

I grew up with a DO as my family doc so I did know about DOs. I also had a letter form teh MD that I worked with at the free clinic for 3 years.

Shadowing is just a small part of the application. I think it is much better to volunteer at a free clinic, hospital, EMT, ect.... and then only shadow a few days to get to know that DO to write the LOR.

I shadowed a peds oncologist for 3 months, but never put it in my application. I just did it to see what that field was all about. My point is I got in with no shadowing. As long as you have something to show schools you know what the health care field is like, you will be fine.

Good luck

 

[OSUdoc08]

Can someone help me understand the shadowing requirement for admission to osteopathic medical schools?

I have spoken with a few physicians who imply that one or two days of shadowing is sufficient. Med school admission requirements, on the other hand, appear to encourage an on-going relationship with an osteopath. Perhaps the shadowing is one part of a broader relationship? Perhaps others can share their experiences.

I am currently completing a post-baccalaureate pre-med program.

Thank you.

There is NO shadowing required. The requirement is instead to get a letter of recommendation from a DO. I did not shadow the physician that wrote me the recommendation letter.