
Typically you’ll have to arrange shadowing opportunities yourself. Shadowing also affords you the hands-on experience and exposure that will (a) give you a sense of what working with patients and their families is like, and (b) demonstrate your dedication to becoming a physician. During college, it can further help you as you choose a major. It can help you during high school as you try to figure out which college programs you’d like to apply to. Shadowing can be useful at various stages of your pre-medical academic career. Regardless of shadowing requirements, some schools maintain that shadowing experiences can make applicants more competitive in the admissions process. There are schools (particularly in Canada) that do not require any shadowing hours. This may vary widely some schools require 12–24 hours, while others require more than 75 hours. For this reason, many medical schools across North America have a minimum requirement for shadowing hours. Shadowing allows you to get a clear sense of what it’s like to be a practicing doctor. Read on to find out what you need to know to shadow a doctor. Shadowing experience is often critical for getting into medical school-and for deciding whether that’s the right path for you in the first place. Shadowing entails following a doctor during the course of day-to-day work in a clinic, hospital, or operating room.
