Shadowing vs. Volunteering: What Medical Schools Look For

Key Takeaways

• Shadowing is more passive and lets you observe physicians, whereas volunteering is more active and allows you to interact with patients and support staff.
• Shadowing enhances clinical insight and comprehension of a physician’s role, while volunteering fosters empathy, communication, and teamwork. 
• A combination of both is preferred by medical schools because it demonstrates dedication, maturity, and a comprehensive grasp of healthcare.
• Start early and reflect often: Keeping a journal and thinking critically about your experiences will help with applications and interviews.

Getting into medical school takes more than just good grades and test scores—it requires real-world experience in healthcare. Medical schools want to know that you’ve spent time understanding the field and what it truly means to become a physician. That’s where shadowing and volunteering come in. Both offer valuable insights and help build a strong application, but they’re not the same thing. 

Shadowing allows you to observe doctors as they care for patients, while volunteering lets you offer your time to help others in clinical or non-clinical roles. Each experience serves a unique purpose and teaches different skills. In this guide, we’ll explore the differences, benefits, and how to choose (or combine) both to stand out as a pre-med student.

What Is Shadowing?

Shadowing is the process of observing a medical professional—usually a physician—as they go through their day. This could mean watching them diagnose a patient, participate in surgery, or consult with other specialists. 

You’re not expected to do anything during shadowing except observe and absorb. It’s about seeing medicine in action, understanding how decisions are made, and gaining a sense of the day-to-day responsibilities of a doctor.

To put it simply, shadowing a doctor is similar to following them around to get a sense of what they do for a living. You observe without intervening or touching patients. During a checkup, you could be there, or you might hear the doctor discuss a diagnosis. It’s your chance to see if the path of medicine is right for you.

What Is Volunteering?

Volunteering in healthcare means offering your time to help in a hospital, clinic, or other medical setting without getting paid. You might assist with patients by bringing them water, helping them navigate the hospital, or just being someone to talk to. In non-clinical roles, you could help with office work or organizing supplies.

What’s important is that volunteering enables you to play an active part. You are assisting, not only observing. It teaches you how to collaborate with others, communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and show compassion—all of which are critical skills for a future doctor.

Shadowing vs. Volunteering: A Comparative Analysis

Although shadowing and volunteering both take place in healthcare environments, they serve very different purposes. Doing both allows you to gain both perspectives: one from the eyes of a doctor and the other from being part of the support system that healthcare relies on.

Clinical exposure

When it comes to real clinical exposure, shadowing usually goes deeper. You might observe surgeries, rounds, or patient consultations. You’ll hear how doctors reason through symptoms and decide on treatments. For instance, you might watch how a physician diagnoses a complex condition based on a short patient interaction.

In contrast, volunteering may or may not involve direct exposure to medical care. Clinical volunteers might work in emergency departments, physical therapy units, or patient transport. However, many volunteers work behind the scenes. Both settings are valuable, just in different ways.

If your goal is to learn how doctors work and how care decisions are made, shadowing provides that window. If your goal is to connect with patients and learn how a hospital functions overall, volunteering can be more fulfilling.

Interaction with patients

Volunteers usually have more opportunities to directly interact with patients. You might help patients get to their rooms, talk with them during long waits, or provide basic comfort and assistance. These moments help you learn how to be kind, patient, and supportive—skills that are critical for any future doctor.

Shadowers, on the other hand, are more in the background. You’ll observe how physicians communicate with patients but generally won’t be part of the interaction unless the doctor invites you to speak or participate in a discussion. This teaches you the formal, professional side of patient communication—how doctors break bad news, ask sensitive questions, or explain treatments.

Skills gained

Gaining experience through shadowing and volunteering not only strengthens your medical school application—it also shapes the kind of future physician you’ll become. Each path develops a unique set of skills that complement your academic knowledge and personal growth.

Shadowing helps you build:

• Observational and analytical thinking
• Familiarity with medical terminology
• An understanding of clinical workflow and time management
• Insight into how physicians approach complex decisions

Volunteering helps you develop:

• Empathy and emotional awareness
• Communications and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and flexibility
• A strong commitment to serving others

When done consistently, both activities also teach essential professional traits like punctuality, reliability, and accountability—all qualities that medical schools look for in serious, prepared applicants.

Medical school expectations

Medical schools look for applicants who are both academically strong and emotionally mature. They want to know you’ve seriously thought about becoming a doctor, not just imagined it from TV shows. Shadowing proves that you’ve seen what real medicine looks like. Volunteering proves you care about others and are willing to serve.

Many schools, including international institutions like AUAMED, recommend doing both. A mix of shadowing and volunteering shows that you’ve explored the profession from different angles—and are better prepared for the challenges ahead.

Accessibility and time commitment

Shadowing can be harder to arrange. You usually need to reach out directly to physicians, and some hospitals require background checks or paperwork before you’re allowed to observe. The schedules are often irregular—based on the doctor’s availability.

Volunteering is more structured. Most hospitals have formal volunteer programs with regular shifts and clear expectations. It’s often easier to get started, especially if you’re still in high school or early in college.

In terms of time, shadowing might happen over a few days or weeks, while volunteering usually involves a longer-term commitment. Some students volunteer weekly for months or even years. 

Which One Should You Choose?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—choosing between shadowing and volunteering depends on your goals, interests, and stage in your pre-med journey. Both offer valuable experiences; the key is deciding which aligns best with what you want to learn and accomplish now.

To help you figure that out, ask yourself:

• Do I want to observe how doctors diagnose and treat patients?
• Am I curious about the daily responsibilities of a physician?
• Do I learn best by watching professionals in action?
  If yes, shadowing may be the better fit.
• Do I want to interact with patients and provide hands-on help?
• Am I looking to develop people skills like empathy and communication?
• Do I want to contribute to the hospital or community in a meaningful way?
  If yes, volunteering might be the right choice.

Remember, this isn’t an either/or decision forever. The ideal approach is to do both over time. But if you’re just starting out, begin with whichever opportunity is more accessible. As you grow and gain experience, you can build a well-rounded understanding of healthcare that combines the strengths of both shadowing and volunteering.

Integrating Both Experiences for a Competitive Edge

If your schedule allows it, combining both experiences is the best way to prepare for med school. You’ll show that you’re curious, driven, compassionate, and dedicated. Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Start early: Don’t wait until your junior year of college. Start during high school or your first college year, if possible.
• Keep a journal: Write down what you observe, what you learn, and how each experience shapes your understanding of healthcare.
• Reflect: Think about what surprised, inspired, or challenged you—this kind of self-awareness helps you grow and makes your personal statement more meaningful.
• Use it in interviews: Schools love it when students bring up specific experiences during interviews. These stories show that you’ve been present, involved, and learning.

Conclusion

Shadowing and volunteering aren’t just checkboxes—they’re valuable steps in your journey toward becoming a doctor. Shadowing gives you a front-row seat to the world of medicine. Volunteering lets you step in and serve others. 

Both offer important lessons and experiences that will help shape you into a compassionate, knowledgeable, and capable physician. If you’re serious about a future in medicine, don’t limit yourself to just one path. Explore both options, reflect on what you learn, and use those experiences to fuel your growth. 

If you’re seeking a medical school that values well-rounded applicants, consider programs like those at AUAMED, where students receive support from day one to turn their passion into a profession.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does shadowing count as volunteering?

No. They are separate activities. Shadowing is about observing doctors. Volunteering is about helping people directly or indirectly.

How do you find volunteering or shadowing opportunities?

Talk to your school’s pre-med advisor, email local doctors or clinics, and check hospital websites for volunteer programs. You can also ask friends and family if they know any doctors willing to let you shadow.

How many hours of shadowing are recommended for medical school applicants?

There’s no fixed number, but aim for 40-100 hours of shadowing, ideally across different specialties. Volunteering can be ongoing—some students do two to four hours per week throughout college.