The best questions to ask while shadowing a doctor are about how the physician thinks, not facts you could look up. Ask why they chose a test, how they explained bad news, what their training was like and what they wish they had known. Save questions for the hallway or the end of the day, never in front of a patient.
A shadowing day goes fast. Without a plan you leave with a vague sense that it was interesting and no notes you can use later. With a short list of questions, you leave with specific answers, a clearer picture of the specialty and material for your applications. If you have not yet arranged a placement, start with our guide on how to ask a doctor to shadow them.
Why Good Questions Matter
The AAMC’s shadowing fact sheet advises students to bring a notebook, prepare questions in advance, take notes and ask questions between patients rather than during visits. That advice is simple, but most students skip the preparation part. A doctor who sees that you came ready is more likely to explain their reasoning, introduce you to colleagues and remember you if you later ask for a letter.
Good questions also help you test whether medicine fits you. You are not only watching a doctor work. You are collecting evidence about the daily reality of the job: the pace, the paperwork, the hard conversations and the parts nobody mentions in a brochure. Our overview of shadowing a doctor as a pre-med student covers the basics of the day itself.
When to Ask: Timing and Etiquette
Timing matters as much as the question. A good question asked at the wrong moment can interrupt care or embarrass a patient.
- Never during a patient visit. Hold every question until the patient has left the room, even if the doctor seems relaxed.
- Use natural breaks. Walking between rooms, charting time and the end of the day are the usual windows.
- Ask permission first. “Do you have a minute for a question about that last patient?” lets the doctor say no without awkwardness.
- Keep it short when the day is busy. One good question is better than five rushed ones.
- Protect privacy. You may be asked to sign a HIPAA form. Never write down names, birth dates or anything that identifies a patient, and never discuss patients outside the clinic.
- Read the room. After a difficult visit, a quiet “thank you for letting me see that” can be the right move instead of a question.
Questions to Ask Before the Day Starts
Use the first few minutes to set expectations. These questions show respect for the doctor’s time and help you stay out of the way.
- Where would you like me to stand during exams?
- Are there any patients today you would prefer I not see?
- Is it all right for me to take notes, and what should I avoid writing down?
- What does a typical day look like for you here?
- Is there anything you would like me to read or look up before we start?
Questions to Ask Between Patients
These are the questions that teach you the most, because they ask the doctor to explain reasoning you just watched.
What Was the Doctor Thinking?
- What were you looking for when you asked about that symptom?
- Why did you order that test instead of another one?
- How did you decide this patient could go home rather than be admitted?
- What would have changed your plan?
How Did the Doctor Communicate?
- How do you explain a new diagnosis to someone who is frightened?
- How do you handle a patient who disagrees with your recommendation?
- What do you do when there is a language barrier?
How Does the Team Work?
- Who else is involved in this patient’s care after they leave the room?
- What do nurses and other staff handle that patients might not see?
- How do you hand off a patient at the end of a shift?
Questions About the Doctor’s Career
Most physicians enjoy talking about their path when you ask at a calm moment. Keep these for lunch, a slow afternoon or the end of the day.
- What made you choose this specialty?
- What surprised you most about residency?
- What part of the job do you find most rewarding, and what is hardest?
- How do you balance work with the rest of your life?
- What do you wish you had known as a pre-med student?
- What would you look for in a student who wants to go into this field?
Questions About the Specialty
Each field has its own rhythm. These questions help you compare specialties if you shadow more than one.
- How much of your work is planned in advance, and how much is unpredictable?
- How long do you usually follow a patient: one visit, a hospital stay or years?
- What procedures or tools are central to this specialty?
- How is this field changing, and what skills will matter more in the future?
- What kind of personality tends to thrive here?
If you are weighing shadowing against other kinds of clinical work, our guide to shadowing vs clinical experience explains how schools tend to view each one.
Questions to Avoid in Front of Patients
Some questions are fine in private and a problem in the exam room. Save these for later, or skip them entirely.
- Anything about the patient’s diagnosis, prognosis or personal details while the patient can hear.
- Questions that second-guess the doctor’s decision in front of the patient.
- Salary and compensation questions on the first day, before you know the doctor.
- Questions you could answer with a quick search, such as basic definitions.
- Requests for a recommendation letter before the shadowing has ended.
A Simple Note-Taking Template
Take notes during breaks, not while the patient is in front of you. A one-page template keeps your notes consistent across days and specialties.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Date and setting | Clinic, hospital department or specialty, with no patient names |
| Case type | A general description, such as “adult with chest pain” |
| What I observed | The steps the doctor took, in order |
| Question I asked | Your exact question, written down right away |
| Doctor’s answer | The key point in a sentence or two |
| What surprised me | Anything that changed how you think about medicine |
| Competency link | The skill you saw, such as communication or teamwork |
The last row matters later. The AAMC lists premed competencies for entering medical students, including service orientation, cultural awareness, teamwork and oral communication. Tagging each day’s notes with one competency makes it much easier to write about the experience later.
Using the Answers in Your Applications
Your notes become raw material for your personal statement, your experience descriptions and your interviews. Interviewers often ask what you learned from shadowing, and “it was really interesting” is a weak answer. A specific story is a strong one: what the doctor did, what you asked, what they said and how it changed your thinking.
Three habits help:
1. Write a short reflection the same evening. Two or three sentences while the day is fresh are worth more than pages written months later. 2. Track your hours accurately. Record the date, setting and hours each day. Our guide to tracking clinical and volunteer hours shows a simple system. 3. Send a thank-you note. The AAMC recommends a thank-you note on your last day, and if the experience went well, asking for a letter soon after, while you are fresh in the doctor’s mind.
Shadowing and Clinical Experience Abroad
Many students add an international placement to shadowing at home. With IMA’s medical shadowing abroad programs, the same question habits apply, with a few extras about the health system itself: how patients pay for care, which conditions are most common locally and how the hospital manages with the resources it has. Under the supervision of licensed clinicians and within their training level, IMA interns also take part in direct patient care, such as taking vital signs, patient intake and basic patient interviews, so you will have more to ask about. You do not diagnose, prescribe or perform invasive procedures.
To compare options, see IMA’s pre-med internships abroad, then read our guide to what internships a pre-med student should do to see where shadowing fits among research, volunteering and clinical work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Questions Should I Ask While Shadowing?
There is no set number. Two to five thoughtful questions over a day is usually enough. Watch the doctor’s pace and ask fewer when the schedule is full.
When Is the Best Time to Ask a Doctor Questions?
Between patients, during charting time or at the end of the day. Never ask during a patient visit, and ask permission before you start.
Is It Okay to Ask a Doctor About Salary?
It is usually better to wait until you know the doctor and the setting is private. Questions about their path, training and daily work tend to teach you more.
What Should I Write in My Shadowing Notes?
Record the date, setting, a general case description, the question you asked, the answer and what surprised you. Never write down patient names or identifying details.
What If I Do Not Understand Something the Doctor Did?
Write it down and ask later, at a natural break. Doctors usually appreciate a student who wants to understand the reasoning behind a decision.
Should I Prepare Different Questions for Each Specialty?
Yes. Keep a core list about career path and daily work, then add a few specialty questions, such as how often a surgeon operates or how long a family doctor follows patients.
