How to Log and Reflect on Shadowing Hours for AMCAS (with Examples + Template)

If you're preparing your medical school application through AMCAS, you already know shadowing is essential — but it's not just about the number of hours. It's about how well you log, reflect on, and present your shadowing experience to admissions committees. Whether you’ve shadowed in your hometown or an internship abroad, learning how to document your experience the right way can make a major difference.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to logging and reflecting on shadowing hours for AMCAS — with practical examples, a downloadable log sheet, and writing tips to help you stand out.

> Explore Go-Elective PreMed or Medical Internships Abroad

Why shadowing matters for AMCAS

Shadowing shows admissions committees that:

You've observed doctors in real clinical environments
You understand the challenges and responsibilities of a physician
You’ve explored your interest in medicine beyond the classroom
You’re developing critical traits like empathy, professionalism, and teamwork

While AMCAS doesn’t require a minimum number of hours, most successful applicants log 50–100 hours across multiple specialties or settings. That said, quality and reflection always outweigh quantity.

Step 1: Use a shadowing log sheet (sample included)

Keeping an organized log helps you remember key details and makes writing your AMCAS entries easier later on.

Date	Time	Hours	Physician + Title	Specialty	Location	Key Observations
07/04/2025	8:00 AM – 1:00 PM	5	Dr. Achieng, OB/GYN	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Mombasa, Kenya	Observed 2 deliveries, prenatal consultations, and discussed maternal complications.
07/06/2025	9:30 AM – 2:30 PM	5	Dr. Kim, Internal Medicine	General Medicine	Kisumu, Kenya	Watched rounds in male ward, saw management of TB, diabetes, and hypertension.

Step 2: Reflect on your experiences regularly

Shadowing isn’t passive — your growth comes from processing what you saw and how it shaped you.

Try these reflection prompts:

What did you learn about the patient-provider relationship?
How did the physician communicate with the care team or family?
What ethical challenges or difficult decisions did you observe?
Did you notice differences between healthcare systems (especially abroad)?
What surprised you, inspired you, or changed your perspective?

Keep a private reflection journal or use the notes section of your log. These insights will feed directly into your AMCAS Work & Activities section and personal statement.

Step 3: Write your AMCAS experience descriptions thoughtfully

In the AMCAS Work & Activities section, you’ll enter shadowing under the “Physician Shadowing (Clinical Observation)” category. You get 700 characters (including spaces) to describe each experience.

AMCAS sample entry (Go Elective internship):

Experience Type: Physician Shadowing
Title: Clinical Shadowing Intern
Organization: Go Elective – Coast General Hospital
Supervisor: Dr. Omondi, Emergency Physician
Dates: July 2025
Total Hours: 48
Description: Shadowed an emergency physician in a high-volume Kenyan public hospital. Observed trauma triage, patient stabilization, and interprofessional teamwork. Gained exposure to resource-limited medicine and reflected on the importance of adaptability and empathy in critical care settings.

Pro Tip: Focus on what you learned, not just what you saw.

Step 4: Combine shadowing with other activities for depth

Shadowing hours can be paired with:

Clinical volunteering (e.g., helping with patient education or outreach during your Go Elective internship)
Cultural immersion that informed your understanding of social determinants of health
Mentorship from clinicians you can later ask for letters of recommendation

This makes your experience multidimensional, helping you stand out in the application pool.

Step 5: Include key experiences in your personal statement

Your personal statement is where you can dive deeper. Use shadowing reflections to:

Illustrate moments that confirmed your desire to pursue medicine
Highlight your growth in understanding doctor-patient dynamics
Show your readiness for medical school, particularly after global exposure

Example:

“While shadowing in a maternity ward in Kenya, I saw a physician manage a delivery without access to electronic fetal monitoring. His clinical intuition, calm presence, and respect for the mother taught me that medicine is both a science and a human connection. That moment solidified my calling.”

Final thoughts

Shadowing is more than a box to check — it’s a chance to watch medicine unfold in real time. When you log your hours accurately and reflect deeply, your experiences become the building blocks of a compelling AMCAS application.

With Go Elective, you don’t just shadow — you learn from real cases in high-volume hospitals, reflect with mentorship, and return home with a journal full of insights to fuel your essays, interviews, and future practice.

> Ready to log meaningful shadowing hours abroad? Apply HERE