So how do you prove that you actually did all of the clinical stuff on your app?

[Fakhter]

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For instance how do you prove that you actually shadowed a doctor? The reason i'm asking this is because i'm about to get some clinical work done and I don't know if the doctor should be keeping track of my hours.

 

[Ruhroh]

It's largely based on the honor system. On your app you will need to put a contact for the doctor you shadowed and probably the number of hours you shadowed him. But let's be real, we all know schools won't bother to verify it 99.9% of the time.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

For instance how do you prove that you actually shadowed a doctor? The reason i'm asking this is because i'm about to get some clinical work done and I don't know if the doctor should be keeping track of my hours.

You put their contact info on the application and they may or may not call and check. You will need to keep track of it until you apply. I hope this helps.

 

[notbobtrustme]

If you can provide a LOR, it proves the EC, but you won't be asked to verify any ECs. The phone number there is to weed out the *******; adcoms don't have the time nor the inclination to actually call each applicant's ECs contact number.

 

[Twinnering]

They will often ask you on your interviews about the shadowing/clinical experiences you have had as another means of "verification."

 

[dsoz]

LORs are one way. You also provide a phone number or contact info on AMCAS.

I actually had one school call at least one of my references (maybe more) to ask follow up questions after my interview. It sounds like that interviewer took his job seriously and called references for everyone.

I mentioned my volunteer position at the hospital in the interview. When I said that even though I had acceptances already at other schools, I told my volunteer coordinator that I was going to continue to volunteer until at least June, and make sure that someone else can take my spot (I am the new volunteer trainer). The interviewer perked up when I said this and made a note on his paper. I think he may have also contacted my volunteer coordinator to ask about this.

I doubt that calling references is a common occurrence for med school interviews.

dsoz

 

[Geebeejay]

For instance how do you prove that you actually shadowed a doctor? The reason i'm asking this is because i'm about to get some clinical work done and I don't know if the doctor should be keeping track of my hours.

I'm sure adcoms have seen most everything, and can probably detect liars. Also, you'll have to speak about most of your ECs in your interview, and I bet they can detect BS. That being said, it's mostly on the honor system - maybe, in theory, you could get in with a fraudulent application with fake ECs and contact numbers. But if it ever came up that you lied....well, good luck😱

If you actually did the hours, you shouldn't worry. The committee probably won't call the doctor, and if they do - they probably won't really scrutinize over hours (unless you say you were shadowing like 30 hrs/wk when in reality it was closer to 2-4 hours/month)

 

[Dadcore]

Most adcoms can tell if you're lying about your experiences during the interview, let's just put it that way.

 

[Aerus]

Unless they call the institution, there isn't a sure fire way.

But it is to your advantage that you don't lie about having clinical experience, since you need to be able to explain how your experiences contribute to your reasons for wanting to become a physician. If you're just bsing on the spot and really don't have any experiences to back it up, then you're just screwing yourself over.

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm sure adcoms have seen most everything, and can probably detect liars. Also, you'll have to speak about most of your ECs in your interview, and I bet they can detect BS. That being said, it's mostly on the honor system - maybe, in theory, you could get in with a fraudulent application with fake ECs and contact numbers. But if it ever came up that you lied....well, good luck😱

If you actually did the hours, you shouldn't worry. The committee probably won't call the doctor, and if they do - they probably won't really scrutinize over hours (unless you say you were shadowing like 30 hrs/wk when in reality it was closer to 2-4 hours/month)

Even if they don't know you're lying, it'll probably be obvious to an interviewer that something is up - either you didn't take the experiences seriously or you didn't learn anything from them - because you won't be able to talk about your activities with any sort of depth.

There is no real "formal" verification, but the way in which you talk about your experiences and how they have shaped your interest in medicine will effectively "verify" what your clinical exposure. And, frankly, if you're able to lie and get by, then perhaps you didn't need the clinical exposure in the first place. No one is going to be impressed if you have 1000s of hours of clinical experience but can't seem to talk about it in a way that makes it clear that you learned something.

 

[Bluto385]

There is no real "formal" verification, but the way in which you talk about your experiences and how they have shaped your interest in medicine will effectively "verify" what your clinical exposure. And, frankly, if you're able to lie and get by, then perhaps you didn't need the clinical exposure in the first place. No one is going to be impressed if you have 1000s of hours of clinical experience but can't seem to talk about it in a way that makes it clear that you learned something.

Which is why I feel that the AAMC should eliminate the AMCAS section asking for the number of hours spent on each activity. Quality > Quantity

 

[mzarrowsmith]

Why would someone else keep track of your work hours for you? If you have a pen and a piece of paper, you should be good to go.

No one is going to "check" your hours; the point of clinical experience is to gain an understanding of the medical career.

 

[circulus vitios]

It's largely based on the honor system. On your app you will need to put a contact for the doctor you shadowed and probably the number of hours you shadowed him. But let's be real, we all know schools won't bother to verify it 99.9% of the time.

I don't think you have to put a contact number.

 

[LizzyM]

Which is why I feel that the AAMC should eliminate the AMCAS section asking for the number of hours spent on each activity. Quality > Quantity

Except that it may really matter that someone is employed 40/hrs wk while taking classes part-time, vs. working 4 hr/wk. We do use that hrs/wk to figure out how people are spending their time month by month.

 

[circulus vitios]

Except that it may really matter that someone is employed 40/hrs wk while taking classes part-time, vs. working 4 hr/wk. We do use that hrs/wk to figure out how people are spending their time month by month.

There should be a section for commuters. I commuted to class 5 days a week, 1.25 hours each way.

 

[LizzyM]

There should be a section for commuters. I commuted to class 5 days a week, 1.25 hours each way.

Well, there is always the "other" section of the application if you think it is important to include.

 

[circulus vitios]

Well, there is always the "other" section of the application if you think it is important to include.

Yeah but there's no specific section so I can see adcom members being all

 

[notbobtrustme]

Even if they don't know you're lying, it'll probably be obvious to an interviewer that something is up - either you didn't take the experiences seriously or you didn't learn anything from them - because you won't be able to talk about your activities with any sort of depth.

There is no real "formal" verification, but the way in which you talk about your experiences and how they have shaped your interest in medicine will effectively "verify" what your clinical exposure. And, frankly, if you're able to lie and get by, then perhaps you didn't need the clinical exposure in the first place. No one is going to be impressed if you have 1000s of hours of clinical experience but can't seem to talk about it in a way that makes it clear that you learned something.

I think you underestimate how well people can bull****.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I don't think you have to put a contact number.

I think you have to put in either a contact number or email.

 

[Geebeejay]

I think you have to put in either a contact number or email.

I put myself as a contact for a few of my ECs. One was many years ago, and I don't have the contact information of any of my supervisors....the others were hobbies.

 

[KnuxNole]

I think you underestimate how well people can bull****.

Yeah, you'd be surprised how people can fabricate stuff and come out spotless 😱
It's like a hidden skill for them!

 

[Josh7]

Yeah but there's no specific section so I can see adcom members being all

The Wire is the greatest show of all time

 

[circulus vitios]

The Wire is the greatest show of all time

The crime scene where the communicate entire in f-words is one of the greatest moments in cinematic history.

 

[masribrahh]

Even if they don't know you're lying, it'll probably be obvious to an interviewer that something is up - either you didn't take the experiences seriously or you didn't learn anything from them - because you won't be able to talk about your activities with any sort of depth.

There is no real "formal" verification, but the way in which you talk about your experiences and how they have shaped your interest in medicine will effectively "verify" what your clinical exposure. And, frankly, if you're able to lie and get by, then perhaps you didn't need the clinical exposure in the first place. No one is going to be impressed if you have 1000s of hours of clinical experience but can't seem to talk about it in a way that makes it clear that you learned something.

Keep in mind that some people end up with the short end of the stick with ****ty volunteering activities with minimal patient interaction (signing in patients, stocking supplies, organizing files, etc..).

So it doesn't necessarily mean that someone in an interview will say "omg, stocking files has shaped my interest in medicine! Let's have an in-depth discussion about what I learned from this experience."

 

[Anathema]

I've always been curious to see what a good vs bad explanation of clinical experience is. I feel as if I've gotten what I need from volunteering and have enjoyed it enough to talk well about it, but when I read about people receiving a holy affirmation to be a doctor after changing a patient's Kleenex box, then I doubt myself.

I volunteered under a relative for quite a number of hours so I hope adcoms don't think that's sketch.

 

[ucsfstudents]

You don't necessarily prove it. Most people will assume you are telling the truth. There usually is no reason to doubt a student in this regard.

 

[Pattycake25]

I've always been curious to see what a good vs bad explanation of clinical experience is. I feel as if I've gotten what I need from volunteering and have enjoyed it enough to talk well about it, but when I read about people receiving a holy affirmation to be a doctor after changing a patient's Kleenex box, then I doubt myself.

I volunteered under a relative for quite a number of hours so I hope adcoms don't think that's sketch.

The point of volunteering is to show that you had and still have genuine interest in medical practice, and have properly investigated it before embarking on the grueling journey of medical school. If you can effectively communicate how your experiences fulfilled this, then I'm sure your explanation is just fine. =)

 

[NickNaylor]

Keep in mind that some people end up with the short end of the stick with ****ty volunteering activities with minimal patient interaction (signing in patients, stocking supplies, organizing files, etc..).

So it doesn't necessarily mean that someone in an interview will say "omg, stocking files has shaped my interest in medicine! Let's have an in-depth discussion about what I learned from this experience."

This is true, but that kinda proves that you're taking the wrong approach to the whole thing. What does it matter if you did 500 hours of activity A if it doesn't provide you with insights into the profession? That's the whole point of shadowing and getting clinical experience, right?

Sure, you probably won't have an absolutely amazing experience, but if you don't think you're getting anything out of an activity, my advice would be to work to find something that might be more useful to you.

 

[Law2Doc]

But let's be real, we all know schools won't bother to verify it 99.9% of the time.

It's not 99.9% of the time. More like 60%-70% of the time. There are secretaries of admissions who are asked to follow up on this kind of info - I certainly had multiple places contact everyone on my CV, once they decided to interview me. Your odds of no one following up are still decent, but not negligible, and it's a gamble most Future professionals wouldn't attempt.

 

[notbobtrustme]

It's not 99.9% of the time. More like 60%-70% of the time. There are secretaries of admissions who are asked to follow up on this kind of info - I certainly had multiple places contact everyone on my CV, once they decided to interview me. Your odds of no one following up are still decent, but not negligible, and it's a gamble most Future professionals wouldn't attempt.

For residency or med school?

 

[occams_razor]

for my AMCAS activity list, I told each of my contacts in advanced that I was listing them as a contact to give them a heads up. None of the contacts I listed were ever emailed by any of the med schools I applied to, not even the ones I interviewed at.
It does happen, as I've seen people posting on SDN about schools contacting someone they listed on AMCAS, but it seems like it's not very common

 

[Law2Doc]

For residency or med school?

Med school. You don't need ECs/shadowing etc for residency.

But yes, for residency they are even more likely to contact your letter writers, prior employers, etc. Because the numbers involved are much smaller.

 

[Law2Doc]

for my AMCAS activity list, I told each of my contacts in advanced that I was listing them as a contact to give them a heads up. None of the contacts I listed were ever emailed by any of the med schools I applied to, not even the ones I interviewed at.
It does happen, as I've seen people posting on SDN about schools contacting someone they listed on AMCAS, but it seems like it's not very common

It's common, but with 120 med schools out there each getting up to 8000 applications, it's certain that some people will not get any such follow-up, while others get a lot. But as a future professional, it doesn't take a huge risk to make it a risk not worth taking, particularly when the payoff of fudging your ECs a bit is pretty nominal.

 

[occams_razor]

It's common, but with 120 med schools out there each getting up to 8000 applications, it's certain that some people will not get any such follow-up, while others get a lot. But as a future professional, it doesn't take a huge risk to make it a risk not worth taking, particularly when the payoff of fudging your ECs a bit is pretty nominal.

I wonder if there are often issues for people who list a contact that might not remember them. I've known a few friends who applied and assume that med schools don't reach out to each contact and they just list the head of an organization. I was worried about possible issues and that's why I told all my contacts in advanced that they may get an email from med schools I applied to

 

[Law2Doc]

I wonder if there are often issues for people who list a contact that might not remember them. I've known a few friends who applied and assume that med schools don't reach out to each contact and they just list the head of an organization. I was worried about possible issues and that's why I told all my contacts in advanced that they may get an email from med schools I applied to

I had a problem like that when changing jobs during my law career -- one of the administrators of a summer job I had back in law school that was on my CV couldn't even recall me ever being there. I had to fax my photo, CV and copies of pay stubs before they were willing to talk to my future employer. Can't imagine what that conversation was like, but I still got the job.

 

[Planes2Doc]

I had a problem like that when changing jobs during my law career -- one of the administrators of a summer job I had back in law school that was on my CV couldn't even recall me ever being there. I had to fax my photo, CV and copies of pay stubs before they were willing to talk to my future employer. Can't imagine what that conversation was like, but I still got the job.

Yet at the same time some verification might be quite lax. When I was filling out paperwork for my last job, I was forced to list my pizza delivery job that I did as a high schooler/early college student. This was an "under the table job" so at first, the agency could not verify it. I then called the pizza place, and found out my former boss quit! So I gave them his cell phone number, and they verified it because I clearly lacked everything you mentioned above. Later on, I realized I pretty much could have given them ANYONE'S number!