Shadowing

[MechEng2Doc]

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I just started shadowing a medical oncologist. I was wondering hoe many hours of shadowing is enough. I was thinking 50-60 hours total (along with volunteering in a hospital). Is this enough or should I plan on more hours?

Also, should I get a letter from the doctor I am shodowing as proof of the number of hours?

Thanks

 

[relentless11]

I just started shadowing a medical oncologist. I was wondering hoe many hours of shadowing is enough. I was thinking 50-6- hours. Is this enough or should I plan on more hours?

Also, should I get a letter from the doctor I am shodowing as proof of the number of hours?

Thanks

There is no set amount that is "enough". At the very least it should be 8-12 to see the entire work day. I did 5-6 hours once a week for over a year plus a few rounds, and various clinics with the same physician, so I don't even remember much that added up to. What I do know is med schools don't care too much aslong as I've seen what it is like to be a physician, my friend probably had like 30 hours total and she got into med school.

As for a letter of rec...you should get a letter of recommendation from a person that knows you well, and can write well. Not really as proof of doing something. You will find that these extracurriculars such as shadowing is a dime a dozen in the pre-med world. Heck, at some schools, they reject you post-primary application, so won't even get to show them your letters of rec.

Good luck!

 

[RxnMan]

I just started shadowing a medical oncologist. I was wondering hoe many hours of shadowing is enough. I was thinking 50-60 hours total (along with volunteering in a hospital). Is this enough or should I plan on more hours?

Also, should I get a letter from the doctor I am shodowing as proof of the number of hours?

Thanks

The deteminants I would use about shadowing are:

1) Did you get an idea of what it's like, the day in the life of that physican, and do you have an idea of what it's like practicing medicine in the US?

2, and this is not really medically-related) Do you have any ammunition for your essays/interview?

Part of shadowing is to see if medicine is a fit for you. The other part, I found out later, is that the experiences you get from being in the ER, for example, make great interview fodder.