I just have a question that I hope someone with more knowledge on BS/MD admissions can answer. I’m currently a junior, but I think I am interested in BS/MD programs for next year when I apply for colleges. I plan on a mix of BS/MD and undergrad; all of the BS/MD schools I am interested in I would love to attend undergrad as well (regular path.)
However, I don’t have a lot of doctor shadowing…and I don’t plan on getting much more. I mayyyy try to get some this summer…but truth be told I don’t like the process of “shadowing” all that much. I feel like the only thing you need are connections. You don’t need to submit a resume to be a “shadow”, you don’t need to do anything that contributes to the doctor’s work, and I just feel like a pain being in the room. I shadowed a dermatologist for 12 hours, and I just felt like I was in the room for no reason and causing the patients to be confused/discomforted. I was extremely interested in what the doctor did, but I felt personally that I was invading the patient’s privacy.
I know I am interested in the medical field for other reasons though. I am a huge fan of the life sciences, love working with people, and like the idea of running your own little business…plus the specialty I am interested in (medical oncology) also has research aspects and is “holistic”…what I mean is that I can provide the patient with lifestyle advice as well as traditional chemotherapy treatments. I also have many personal connections to cancer that motivate me to desire this career.
Even though I have little shadowing, I have a good deal of research experience. I will have 2 years of summer research (8 weeks each) at a top research lab contributing to biochem research, possible publication in the works, will be entering some competitions next year though I will create my college list as if I will have no publications or science fair stuff before app season. I will also have a rec letter (the PI told me w/o him asking that he will write me one for college and suggested I enter comps senior year) from the PI who is both a researcher and the same doctor that I shadowed.
I’m just wondering if you NEED a lot of doctor shadowing to be accepted into a BS/MD program? Or is research enough? Do you think I’d have a better chance just going the traditional route since I hate shadowing?
I agree that in most cases shadowing only shows how well connected your parents or schools are. My nephew went to a private school that had a great mentoring program for pre med students, not only they hooked kids with docs for shadowing, kids were prepped for how to dress and how to give interview etc by volunteer parents who were medical college professors. Same goes for kids of my friends who are doctors, their children had opportunities that weren’t available to better students than them.
@hebegebe thank you for your response! do you believe that without 100+ hours, the chance of being acceptance will be even slimmer than it already is?
@WorryHurry411 thank you for your response! I totally agree with what you’re saying…I got to a school that is architecture/engineering/design based so the school encourages those professions…meaning 0 resources for shadowing doctors. Shadowing mayy be available, but not in terms of set up programs. I feel uncomfortable emailing random physicians, and in general, like I said, I don’t like shadowing unless I actually have a real purpose.
Do you think little shadowing experience will hurt me even with research and volunteering (at a hospital, though in a nontraditional way…)
@LushLillies, so I think you’re misunderstanding the purpose of you shadowing a physician, why medical schools want to see physician shadowing (this is REGARDLESS of whether you do a BS/MD or go the traditional route by the way), & are mistaken in believing that research in a basic science lab can somehow serve as a good substitute for physician shadowing.
Sorry if I came off that way! I understand that physician shadowing gives you a good insight on the profession and is a very positive way to show interest…but aren’t there other ways to show interest, like through the essay and volunteering in the medical field?
Research is definitely not parallable to shadowing…but I was just curious if research would make up for less shadowing hours, even if they aren’t the same, and I guess it doesn’t.
Also, do you think shadowing abroad would be looked at the same as shadowing here in the US? Specifically, China, since my grandparents were doctors there. It’s extremely difficult for me to find shadowing here where I live (I have 0 connections here except for the derm I already shadowed and don’t want to again due to the fact that his practice is 3 hours away from me).
Finally, why don’t videos of physicians going about their days at work count as shadowing…isn’t it the same thing, just you aren’t being a bother by standing there? Like I said, I love watching the doctor interact with the patient…but I feel like I’M the problem and wish I was just invisible…
Shadowing is no replacement for work with healthcare delivery. As you note, it’s just standing there. Guess it depends on the target programs, how competitive they are.
@LushLillies If you get some opportunity (even if you have drive few hours during summer or weekends), do shawdoing for some more hours. It is not that you have to do any minimum x hours… You already have 12 hours, do some more to reach 30-40 hours at least. But ensure you are balanced in multiple areas to strengthen your application like GPA, test scores, demonstrated connection to show your passion to medicine, other EC / leadership skills and essays. Research helps in top bs/md programs.
Agree with you some extent. Though it makes full sense to expect students who are in UG to do shadow or do medical/clinical related activities during 4 years (when they are officially adult > 17 years), expecting HS kids for the same expectations level, is unwarranted. First it does not put all students on the same level playing field because as you rightly said, only folks who have some connections could manage shadow and many states do not allow to shadow if you < 18 etc., Also what exactly kids can conclude even if they attend shadow is open to individuals interpretation. Same challenge I see when kids state hospital volunteer experience. Most of the time, it is non patient and non-clinical staff interactions like sitting in the front desk as a greeter or in gift shop or doing some other admin work etc., Even to get that experience in some state, they don’t take unless you reached age 16 in summer and again this puts students not in same level playing field.
The whole BS/MD process is way too complicated and too competitive. Anyhow, things are not going to change that much with big institutions so you need to follow the process and get going for now.
@LushLillies,My D had very little shadowing experience, may be even less than yours. She got into one of the BSMD program. So from our experience “shadowing” just by itself , does not make any difference.
We had hard time finding a doctor who would do that. so we dropped the idea. It’s only for those who have connections.
However, such meaningful activities are must. Apply to as many places as possible for volunteering,shadowing…and pick what is best for you. More importantly, Whatever you do, ask lots of questions and gain knowledge. You will be asked lots of questions during the BSMD interview based upon your activity.
Overall, I think “quality” matters, not “quantity”.
