Physician Shadowing in Highschool?

Pre-Med & Medical School
1

Hello everyone,
I am a rising senior in highschool interested in pursuing a Premed track at an Ivy League school. I just started shadowing a Physician the other day. I have a two part question-

  1. Does shadowing a Physician look good on an application to an undergrad school? Since extra curriculars are pretty significant to selective schools, how much weight does this carry in terms of extra curriculars? Again, I just started and I do not know how much time I want to commit to this since my summer vacation is almost over.

  2. When time comes to apply to med school, will this be considered in my application even since this was done in highschool? I know shadowing is sort of an unofficial prerequisite for med schools, so will my hours be considered? Also, is there anything more to shadowing than following the doctor around, asking questions, taking notes and looking pretty? Because that’s practically all I’m doing as of now. Should I write some kind of a report once I’m finished?

Also a side question- prior to asking the physician that I’m currently shadowing, I was rejected by one doctor because he said it’s illegal for highschoolers to shadow doctors, but he said he would be happy to take me when I enter college. Is this true? I did some research and found nothing about this (I’m from Pennsylvania if that means anything), all I found was that HIPAA regulations are very extensive, but nothing that prevents highschoolers from shadowing.

Thank you in advance! I apologise for the long question.

2

Even for med school applicant you don’t have to shadow any one physician more than a week. You need to shadow a verity of physicians to learn what’s involved in a physician’s day to day operation so to decide whether medicine is for you. For UG applicant it’s not necessary unless you are applying for bs/md programs.

3

Shadowing a physician during high school, and even in college would not have any effect, positive or negative on your candidacy for med school. It would be a “fun” thing to do so that you can see what a day in the life of a physician is like. Then again, in the field of medicine, with so many different specialties and subspecialties, shadowing one physician will certainly not give you a broad picture of being a physician, and whether you will want to become one.
Do it for fun, but do not waste your time thinking it will help you, if you can use that time to do other more meaning activities. What will help you get into med school is good grades, meaningful ECs.

4

All med schools applicants require shadowing as an important Ec. It not necessary for HS students.

http://medicalschoolhq.net/how-to-effectively-shadow-a-physician-as-a-premed-student/

5

While it may not be required, it will help you by showing you the basics of the medical field, and helping you decide exactly what path you want to take. Also, the physician could possibly link you with another physician where you could intern during UG, because that would be considered for Med. school– not high school shadowing.