Hi I just read somewhere on the forum that shadowing is actually very important... So far I was kind of under the impression shadowing was optional along with volunteering and all that. I thought all you really needed as far as EC goes is just some clinical exp to show you have some idea of what your going into. Could someone plz help me clear this up? thanks 🙂
Shadowing
- Thread starter rslancer
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Everything is optional. 😉
But really, you need clinical/non-clinical volunteer experience, shadowing, research experience along with a decent MCAT & GPA.
But really, you need clinical/non-clinical volunteer experience, shadowing, research experience along with a decent MCAT & GPA.
I think it's optional but you should it regardless. Especially for the specialty you are planning to get into (if you know it yet). Just helps you see the ins and outs of the position and some of the responsibilities, tasks, etc. you have to look forward to. But doing hands-on experience and actually helping is always good.
haha yeah everything is "optional" but there are certain "unwritten requirements" as well. I'm trying to separate the optional from the unwritten requires. The way I see it, not everyone has the time/chance to volunteer. I mean a lotta families need $ to put their kids through college, how can the student be expected to volunteer when he can work instead.
in any case back on the topic of shadowing, i have no idea what specialty i want to get into but I guess i can see the helpfulness to shadow but is it like a break or make sorta thing for ppl whose gpa/mcat are kinda on the fence? (i have a 3.6 with a 35q). I have clinical exp and i figured that would be enough.
I thought i should jsut add that my school pre-med advisor doesn't seem to distinguish between different forms of clinical exposure. as far as "required" EC goes, its just clinical exposure.
in any case back on the topic of shadowing, i have no idea what specialty i want to get into but I guess i can see the helpfulness to shadow but is it like a break or make sorta thing for ppl whose gpa/mcat are kinda on the fence? (i have a 3.6 with a 35q). I have clinical exp and i figured that would be enough.
I thought i should jsut add that my school pre-med advisor doesn't seem to distinguish between different forms of clinical exposure. as far as "required" EC goes, its just clinical exposure.
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Shadowing is a great experience in my opinion.
read the posts titled ( () minute drill)
http://www.studentdoctor.net/pandabearmd/category/specialty-selection/
-the author was a poster on here and he describes his experiences and or opinions on medical specialties during his clinical rotations.
read the posts titled ( () minute drill)
http://www.studentdoctor.net/pandabearmd/category/specialty-selection/
-the author was a poster on here and he describes his experiences and or opinions on medical specialties during his clinical rotations.
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Funny.
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Very good point. I definitely agree. I'm from a very rural area and I grew up on a farm. Every free chance I had through high school and college has been put toward working! Obviously I am just now applying so I don't know first-hand, but I would honestly think that an adcom would consider this. The way I see it, my time has been spent on the things that I know are REQUIRED: grades, MCAT, paying for college, etc. 🙂
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After all, you are competing against thousands of students who are fully qualified who have done those "extra" activities.
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Shadowing is essential for an applicant but it ranks below clinical volunteering in importance. The idea is that you should shadow physicians before considering medicine as a profession, so you know what's waiting for you in the future.
hmm i thought clinical volunteering/exposure was to help u get an idea of what's being a doctor like which was why i kinda thought shadowing would be somewhat redundant. in addition i'm plannin to hand in apps soon. I guess there's still time to go out and get some shadowing exp before say like interviews but then would adcoms kinda look at it as a rushed sorta thing u did for the sake of doing it? which in all honesty is what it is... Aaaah sorry if i seem to be very stubborn or shortsighted about this.
so what are your opinions on whether or not I should go and get this shadowing exp? Could I scrape by without it on the basis that I have been working and I already have clinical exp?
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I would try to fit in some shadowing before you submit your applications. I was in the same boat as you--a lot of clinical experience and volunteering but almost no shadowing when I applied. I found that even my few half days of shadowing paid off in interviews.
By the way, hadowing is also important in med school, which was a surprise to me this year.
By the way, hadowing is also important in med school, which was a surprise to me this year.
hmm ok I guess it doesn't take very long to shadow anyways. btw does anyone know if volunteering in an acupuncture clinic counts as clinical exposure? I see it as being pretty much the same but would schools nitpick about it?
