How Many Shadowing Hours You Need for Medical School in 2025

Considering applying to medical school this year? One key factor that often sparks debate is the number of shadowing hours required. In this guide, we’ll break down how many shadowing hours are recommended for medical school applicants in 2025 and show you how Go Elective’s in-person international medical internships in Kenya and Tanzania can elevate your application beyond the numbers.

Why Shadowing is a Must-Have for Pre-Meds

Shadowing is more than ticking a box on your application. It immerses you in the realities of healthcare, showing you the human and clinical side of medicine. Shadowing offers valuable exposure to patient interactions, the physician decision-making process, and the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare teams.

At Go Elective, we believe shadowing should go beyond observation—our global health internships offer participants hands-on learning with mentorship in East Africa’s busy hospitals, preparing students for real-world medical challenges.

How Shadowing Builds Essential Competencies

Shadowing cultivates:

Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Learn how physicians communicate complex diagnoses clearly and empathetically to patients.
Professionalism & Ethics: Observe medical teams handle ethical dilemmas and difficult conversations.
Commitment to Medicine: Seeing firsthand the demands and rewards of a medical career helps you reaffirm your goals.
Global Health Awareness: Through Go Elective’s programs, students develop cultural competence and an understanding of global healthcare disparities.

2025 Shadowing Hour Recommendations

There is no universal minimum, but here’s what top U.S. medical schools generally recommend for 2025:

Medical School	Recommended Hours
University of Chicago	200
Columbia University	150
Johns Hopkins University	120
Duke University	120
Harvard Medical School	40
Stanford University	40
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	20
University of Pennsylvania	30
Emory University	40
Northwestern University	40

(Always confirm with each school’s admissions office as requirements may evolve.)

Quality Over Quantity: Diversify Your Shadowing

Rather than focusing solely on racking up hours, aim for diversity in your experiences:

Shadow multiple specialties: Go beyond internal medicine—explore pediatrics, surgery, emergency care, and more.
Hospital settings: Experience both public hospitals like Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (Kenya) and private clinics to understand varied healthcare systems.
International exposure: Programs like Go Elective’s offer an unmatched opportunity to witness healthcare delivery in resource-limited environments.

How Go Elective Enhances Your Shadowing Hours

With Go Elective’s medical shadowing programs, students gain experience shadowing physicians and healthcare workers in Kenya and Tanzania, where medical conditions and cultural contexts differ greatly from those in the U.S. or Europe.

Our placements are designed to provide:

Clinical rotations in specialties of your choice
Mentorship by experienced physicians
Cultural immersion and global health education

Explore our medical internships in Kenya or Tanzania to boost your shadowing portfolio.

Shadowing Abroad: The Competitive Edge

Admissions committees appreciate students who demonstrate cultural sensitivity and a broadened worldview. Shadowing internationally with Go Elective allows you to:

Witness diseases rarely seen in Western healthcare settings (e.g., tropical diseases)
Understand healthcare disparities
Work alongside multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced hospitals

These experiences make your application stand out—not just for meeting shadowing hour quotas, but for showing you’re adaptable and globally aware.

Pro Tip: Log Your Hours Effectively

Keep a well-documented record of your shadowing, including:

Dates and total hours
Specialties shadowed
Observed clinical activities
Reflective notes on your learning outcomes

Having this on hand will strengthen both your AMCAS application and interview responses.

Go Elective’s Role in Your Medical Journey

Go Elective helps pre-med, pre-PA, and other healthcare students fulfill competitive shadowing expectations while also preparing them for medical school interviews and personal statements. Our placements provide context-rich experiences that align with AAMC’s core competencies.

Ready to get started? Check out how our internships abroad can help you stand out from the crowd.

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Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.