Choosing Clinical Work or Shadowing During a Gap Year

Clinical work and shadowing can help you understand medicine in different ways. Choose an experience that fits your learning needs and the expectations of your target schools.

Distinguish the Roles

Shadowing generally involves observation, while employment or volunteering may involve other responsibilities. Read the role description and clarify supervision, training, and permitted tasks before committing.

Check Each School’s Expectations

Review how the school evaluates experience, including any stated preference for exposure to a particular professional pathway. Do not assume every osteopathic program requires a fixed number of hours shadowing a DO physician.

Plan Around Your Responsibilities

Consider paid work, caregiving, transport, course schedules, and application deadlines. A feasible, sustained activity may be more useful than a short commitment you cannot realistically maintain.

Record and Reflect

Track your actual hours and duties without double-counting. Reflect on communication, teamwork, and what you learned about the profession. Protect patient confidentiality in all written materials.

Use the Experience Honestly

Explain your contribution and learning in your application. Do not imply that observation was direct clinical responsibility or that a particular role guarantees an admissions outcome.