May 14, 2025
Written By
You already know you have to shadow a doctor to get into med school. That’s not up for debate. But what no one really explains is how to shadow a doctor. You’re told it’s essential — but not how to find a doctor, what to say, how many hours count, or how to turn that shadowing experience into something meaningful on your application.
This article breaks it all down. You’ll learn what shadowing actually looks like (and what it’s not), how to find doctors even if you don’t know anyone in healthcare, how many specialties and hours you actually need to get into med school, and more.
And if you’re tired of guessing your way through this process, then Premed Catalyst can give you the insider knowledge that got 100% of our 2024-2025 on-time applicants accepted. Our mentorship program is built to make you competitive, with guidance on every part of the journey, including shadowing.
Book your free strategy session today and start building the application that will get you results.
Med schools don’t care how passionate you say you are. They care what you’ve actually done. And if you haven’t shadowed a doctor, you’re basically telling them you have no idea what this job actually looks like.
Shadowing proves you’ve stepped into the real world of medicine. That you’ve watched doctors navigate difficult patients, impossible systems, and 12-hour days with no shortcuts. It shows you’re not just chasing prestige or parroting a childhood dream — you’ve seen what it takes, and you still want in.
And if you’re paying attention, you’ll come out of it with better stories, stronger essays, and a deeper reason for why this path is right for you.
Shadowing is exactly what it sounds like — you are a silent observer in the room, absorbing everything like a sponge. You’ll observe a physician as they move through their day: diagnosing patients, breaking tough news, collaborating with nurses, handling chaos, and making life-altering decisions in real-time.
And if you’re doing it right, you’re not zoning out after hour three. You’re tracking how the doctor communicates, how they handle burnout, how they collaborate with nurses and staff, and how they teach. You’re letting the experience really impact you.
But let’s be clear about what shadowing isn’t. It’s not interning. It’s not clinical work. It’s not you filing paperwork, taking vitals, or updating patient charts.
And it’s definitely not:
If you walked out of your shadowing hours with nothing but a line on your AMCAS, you missed the whole point. Shadowing is where your why becomes real.
Unlike medical dramas you’ve probably seen on TV, shadowing isn’t really that dramatic.
What shadowing actually looks like is you standing quietly in a corner of a small exam room, trying not to be in the way while a physician does their job. And their job? It’s not just dramatic diagnoses or life-or-death situations. It’s charting. It’s answering patient questions for the fifth time. It’s dealing with insurance headaches. It’s real life — and that’s the point.
You might be in the room when a doctor delivers devastating news. You might sit in silence while they write notes between patients. You’ll walk through hospital hallways, observe conversations you don’t fully understand yet, and sometimes, you’ll just sit and wait. It’s equal parts fascinating and mundane. But if you’re paying attention, everything teaches you something.
Sometimes, patients will ask you why you’re there. Sometimes the doctor will bring you into a discussion or ask if you have questions after a visit. Other times you’ll feel invisible. That’s normal. You’re not there to perform — you’re there to absorb.
Let’s be real — a lot of premeds worry, “But I don’t know any doctors.” You’re not alone. Most students who get into med school started in the exact same place.
Connections help, sure, but they’re not required. What is required? Hustle. Creativity. Persistence. And the willingness to get ignored 27 times until someone finally says yes.
Try reaching out to your own doctors — your primary care provider, pediatrician, dentist, anyone you’ve seen regularly. Yes, it might feel awkward. Do it anyway. If they say no, ask if they know someone who might say yes. That’s real networking.
If that doesn’t work, tap into your school. Pre-health advisors, science professors, student orgs, even the volunteer office at your campus hospital — they’ve all helped students find shadowing before. You just have to ask the right way. Be respectful but clear. Explain what you're looking for and why.
Still getting crickets? Time to go grassroots. Make a list of local clinics, private practices, and hospitals. Then start emailing — or calling — one by one. Introduce yourself, express genuine interest, and offer to follow their protocols (HIPAA training, TB test, background check, etc.).
You want to shadow well — not just show up and stand around awkwardly. Good. That mindset will take you far. Now let’s talk about how to actually do it right.
Before you even think about stepping into a hospital or clinic, you need to get your logistics straight. Most places won’t let you shadow unless you’ve completed a few basic requirements. Expect to need the following:
Some hospitals or clinics will have formal shadowing programs — others will be more casual.
Hospitals and clinics aren’t classrooms. They’re high-pressure, emotionally intense environments where real people are sick, scared, exhausted, and trusting a stranger in a white coat. So when you walk in, act like someone who belongs there — even if you don’t feel like it yet.
Here’s how you prep without overthinking it:
Let’s talk numbers. Med schools certainly do. Most schools want to see at least 50-100 hours of shadowing. That’s the baseline. Hitting 100+ hours won’t hurt, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking more hours = more impressive. That’s not how this works.
Adcoms care more about what you got from the time you spent. Did you actually learn anything? Did it confirm your desire to become a doctor? Did it give you a clearer view of the kind of physician you want to be? That’s what makes your shadowing meaningful — not the hour total.
Track your hours in a spreadsheet with dates, physician names, specialties, and key takeaways. You’ll thank yourself later.
Med schools want to see that you’ve explored the field — not just followed one physician around in pediatrics for three summers straight.
Aim for at least 2–4 specialties, ideally across different settings (clinic, hospital, underserved community, etc.). Spending time in different specialties — like internal medicine, emergency, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry — shows range. It shows you’ve seen how medicine changes depending on the context. And more importantly, it shows that you’ve thought critically about where you fit in.
You showed up, took notes, stayed engaged — now what?
The real value of shadowing isn’t just in the hours logged. It’s in what you do with the experience after it’s over. Most premeds walk away, file it under “extracurriculars,” and never think about it again. If you do that, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Here’s what to do once the shadowing ends:
First, let’s be honest: not every doctor you shadow will be a good letter writer. Some won’t know you well enough. Some don’t write great letters. Some just won’t say yes. That’s okay. The key is knowing when to ask — and how to make it easy for them to say yes.
When to ask:
How to ask:
One last thing: If they seem hesitant or unsure — don’t push. A weak or generic letter is worse than none at all. You want a letter that speaks to your character, your professionalism, and your potential not just one that says “they showed up on time.”
Shadowing isn’t just about logging hours. It’s one of the few experiences that can actually shape your story. If you do it right, it won’t just check a box — it’ll give you the insights, reflections, and real-world moments that make your med school application stand out.
If you're in high school and thinking about shadowing, you're already ahead of most of your peers. That curiosity matters. Shadowing in high school helps you figure out early if medicine is the right path — before you waste time, money, or energy chasing the wrong goal.
But here’s the truth: most med schools don’t count shadowing hours done before college. So no, shadowing as a high schooler won’t help you rack up required hours for your AMCAS app. It won’t replace what you’ll need to do in undergrad. But that doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time.
Shadowing sounds simple — show up, follow a doctor around, learn stuff. But a lot of premeds still manage to screw it up. Here’s how not to be one of them.
Shadowing is just one piece of the med school puzzle. There’s also clinical experience, letters of recommendation, your personal statement, secondaries, the school list, the MCAT, interviews — and a hundred ways to get each one wrong.
That’s why Premed Catalyst exists. Our mentorship program works one-on-one with students to build competitive, complete med school applications — without the guesswork. We help you find and make the most of your shadowing opportunities, map out your activities, sharpen your personal narrative, and stay accountable every step of the way.
Book a free strategy session and let’s figure out what you need to do and what’s been holding you back.