When Can I Start? - 

As early as you want! Some hospitals require you to be 18 years old but you can always start in clinic if that is the case. You should definitely start as soon as possible if you already know you are interested in medicine!

How Can I Shadow? How Do I ask?

Reach out to doctors you know, cold email doctors in your area or find shadowing programs online! Check out my instagram for an email template to ask for shadowing. 

What Do I Bring -

1. A small notebook and a pen so that you can take notes! Shadowing is a valuable experience and you should be taking some notes throughout the day.

2. If you have a name tag or ID badge, I would definitely wear it!

3. Water bottle and a snack! It might be a long day and you'll be on your feet a bunch.

What Do I Wear? - 

Dress business casual unless the doctor specifically tells you to wear scrubs! If you are shadowing in surgery they will usually give you hospital scrubs to change into but you can always pack a pair just in case! Wear comfortable but professional shoes! Ladies - I would seriously avoid wearing heels because you will be on your feet all day. Trust me, you need comfortable and supportive flats. If you are a medical student, you should wear your white coat!

How Long Should I Stay?

You can ask beforehand. The doctor might leave it up to you in which case you can leave at the lunch break or at the end of the day! Make sure to bring snacks either way though, just in case.

Is There Something I Should Have Prepared Besides Questions? What Should I Learn Beforehand?

Having questions in mind before you go in is great! You typically don't have to know much to shadow but if you want to be proactive you can do a little google search into the doctor and the specialty! 

What Should I Expect My First Time Shadowing?

It really depends on the doctor and the specialty. But, in general expect to follow the doctor around and just listen for the most part. You won't be expected to participate, especially if you aren't a medical student. Hopefully, the doctor will take time to teach you in between patients so be ready to take some notes!

How Do You Organize a Time to Shadow with a Busy Med School Schedule?

So far it hasn't been too difficult. It really depends on the doctor's schedule, especially because some doctors are only on inpatient service one week out of the month. I typically find a morning that doesn't have any required lectures and pick that day. If i miss other lectures I will watch the recordings later. Finding a full free day can be difficult but I consider a free day any day that doesn't have a specifically required session since I can always watch recorded lectures later on.

Any General Tips?

1. If you ever feel light-headed or like you are going to pass out, quietly excuse yourself and sit down immediately. You really don't want to pass out in the OR or in a patient room so it's best to excuse yourself and sit down! If this does happen, do not stress about it. Plenty of medical students end up having to excuse themselves on their surgery rotation. It happens and it's totally okay but just be honest with yourself if you need a break.

2. I will say it one more time...bring snacks, drink water and wear comfortable shoes!!!!!

As a first year medical student, I am so eager to make connections with pediatric neurologists both at my school and at other California schools. At first, I didn’t really know where to start or what to say but I knew I wanted to introduce myself.

It can be nerve-racking to cold-email someone who you aspire to be one day. So, here are some tips for reaching out, asking for shadowing or research ideas and finding a mentor!

1. Research the person you are emailing! If they have a specific area of research you are in, read the abstracts (or even better, whole papers) of their most recent publications. Mention specifics in your email or later meetings to show your interest and commitment.
2. Have a goal in mind! This one I learned recently because I was caught off guard with this question. If you are looking for research, what are you hoping to get out of it? Do you want to create your own project? Do you want to get to know the lab and what research is like? Etc. It doesn’t have to be super specific but have an idea of what your end goal is.
3. Respect their time but DO NOT be afraid to follow up! People are busy and sometimes they forget to respond to emails. I usually give it a week before I send a short and very respectful follow-up email. Anytime I’ve done this the person has always thanked me for reminding them that they forgot about my first email! Do not be afraid to follow up.
4. Have some questions ready for them if you do get a chance to meet in person or over the phone. This is especially important if you are looking for a mentor in general. You want to show interest and also learn something if you are going to be taking up their time!
5. Don’t be afraid to reach out! This is honestly the most important thing. Cold emailing is scary but can lead to so many exciting opportunities. The worst thing that can happen is they say no or don’t respond and you move on to the next opportunity.

I hope this was helpful! Be on the lookout for an email template on my instagram soon!

Much Love Always

One of the most important extracurriculars for medical school is research experience. If you want a full list of extracurriculars you'll want to participate in, head over to my post titled "Extracurriculars You Need for Medical School".

Although it may not seem like it, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you want to gain research experience! The most important thing to remember is (as always) to pick something you are passionate about and can do consistently!

It is no secret that getting into medical school is difficult to say the least. My favorite thing to say is that I have a double degree in neurobiology and hoop-jumping because I have so much experience going through the recommended motions of applying.

Medical schools have taken on a "holistic review" approach which means that while they still put emphasis on GPA and MCAT score, they also heavily consider your extracurriculars.

When thinking about extracurriculars for medical school there are six categories or "boxes" you will want to check off. I'm going to go through them all here but keep an eye out for later posts that dive deeper into each activity!