The number of shadowing hours required for medical school varies widely depending on the institution, but generally falls within a range of about 40 to 100 hours. Many medical schools have minimum requirements that can be as low as 12–24 hours or as high as over 75 hours, with an average expectation around 80 hours according to recent surveys
. Some top medical schools have notably high shadowing hour expectations, such as:
- University of Chicago: 200 hours
- Columbia University and Baylor College of Medicine: 150 hours
- Duke University and Johns Hopkins University: 120 hours
- Harvard University, Stanford, Yale, UCSF: around 40 hours
- Many other schools require between 20 and 40 hours
The purpose of shadowing is to gain realistic exposure to the life of a physician, including understanding clinical work, patient interaction, and the demands of the profession. Schools value shadowing not only for the hours but also for the variety of specialties experienced to demonstrate commitment and informed decision-making
. A good target for most applicants is to accumulate between 50 and 100 hours of shadowing, ideally across multiple specialties. More than 100 hours often yields diminishing returns, especially if other clinical experiences are robust. However, if a school specifies a requirement, it is best to meet or exceed that number
. In summary:
- Typical range: 40–100 hours
- Average expectation: ~80 hours
- High-requirement schools: up to 200 hours
- Aim for variety in specialties
- Quality and understanding gained are as important as quantity
Applicants should check the specific requirements of each medical school they apply to, as these can vary and change over time
