DukeWayne

I read some of these prior posts saying that shadowing doesn't help. If you don't want to get into medical school, then listen to those posts. If you do want to go to medical school, then read my post above. Shadowing is important because it is the only way you are going to get a meaningful letter of recommendation for an actual physician. You'll need letters of rec from a college professor who really knows you, from the university doctor you did research in, maybe from the leader/manager of a volunteer organization you worked for, but you will DEFINITELY need a letter of rec from a physician who knows you. Not having one is like trying to win a NASCAR race without a car. You might as well pack up and leave.

Lastly, please be careful about the advice you take. You should really be asking medical students or doctors for advice. That's why you need to find one to shadow. "The only people who know what it is like to be a medical student are doctors and medical students."

Good luck to all who are trying to become doctors. We need you. You'll definitely have friends who join this journey with you, and many of them will not finish it. They'll choose some other profession or will not have what it takes. You've got to be willing to take this walk alone.

Work hard and stay humble.