Timing of Shadowing

[aymar]

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Applying next cycle, and really don't see myself getting more than 20 hours of shadowing in this semester. The only issue is that I haven't shadowed in an official capacity since high school. This may come off as a silly question, but can I list those hours on AMCAS as well? I would hate to leave those out because it was a significant number of hours, but its been about 5 years.

I have a significant amount of clinical volunteer hours, so its not like I haven't been exposed to medicine- it's just the shadowing in an official capacity that I'm missing.

Also how bad is it going to look that I didn't shadow until spring of my senior year? Will that jump out?

 

[aymar]

Shamelessly bumping... would love some feedback if anyone has a second. Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[ifnotnowwren]

I would definitely do any shadowing you can get your hands on. Even if it's just 20 hours, it's going to show that you spent time with physicians specifically and witnessed their process/meaningful doctor-patient interactions/saw what it means to be a doctor, not just what a clinical setting is. Also if you are planning on applying next cycle, maybe try to get some more shadowing lined up in the first weeks of summer? If you find physicians who will let you spend a whole day with them, each encounter is at least 8 hours, and even one of those almost doubles the 20 semester hours. Ask people early, have it scheduled and ready to go. You can also look for doctors who work weekends during the semester - think hospitals or clinics. I don't think it would look bad to obtain shadowing hours during your senior year. If asked you can mention that it affirmed your desire to practice medicine. They want to make sure you know what you are getting into, and shadowing your senior year and then proceeding to apply would certainly show that you want to do this.

I'm not sure about the high school hours. How many were there?

 

[ac62994]

I would count them.

The point of shadowing is to get exposed to a physician's daily routine and you did it during HS and you still want to be a physician, then no problem. I think shadowing is excluded from the "Don't List HS Activities" list, because it serves a much different purpose than running track or whatever.

 

[eat_this_vegetable]

I would count them.

The point of shadowing is to get exposed to a physician's daily routine and you did it during HS and you still want to be a physician, then no problem. I think shadowing is excluded from the "Don't List HS Activities" list, because it serves a much different purpose than running track or whatever.

I also did a two week program in HS which gave me like 100h shadowing, I think I should include it like you suggest for OP. I'd like to see what the adcoms on sdn have to say about it

 

[aymar]

I'm not sure about the high school hours. How many were there?

Thanks so much for the replies everyone! This has been very helpful. In terms of the hours, it was ~30. Not massive, but significant given the fact that I probably won't get a huge amount in this semester.