Questions to ask residents and attendings when exploring a specialty

Why ask questions instead of just watching?

Because what you see on a shadowing day is a snapshot. You see the actions and outcomes, not the uncertainty, the setbacks, the admin work after hours or how someone feels about their career after 15 years. There's no substitute for firsthand experience, and questions are how you get the context behind it.

Good questions also show interest and initiative, which matters if the person you're shadowing could become a mentor or a letter writer later.

Who should I ask?

Ask both residents and attendings. They're living different versions of the same field.

• Residents can tell you about training: hours, call, how they're taught and what they wish they'd known as students.
• Attendings can tell you about practice: what call looks like after training, how their practice is structured and how the job changed over time.

If you can, talk to people at different stages and in different practice types. A specialty looks different in an academic center and in a small private group.

When should I ask?

Timing matters more than wording. Avoid asking during a busy moment or in front of a patient. Good moments are between cases, during a slow stretch of clinic, at lunch or at the end of the day. A simple "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about the field when you have a minute?" works.

What if I can't find anyone to shadow?

It's common, especially early in first year or at schools without a large hospital nearby. A few places to start:

• Interest groups. Most specialty interest groups host speakers and can connect students with residents or attendings who welcome shadowers.
• Upperclassmen. Third- and fourth-year students know which preceptors teach well and which departments are open to students.
• Your school's faculty. Clinical faculty who lecture in your courses are often happy to have a student join them, if you ask directly and follow up.
• Residents. A short, polite email to a chief resident or a resident you met at an event often gets a faster answer than going through a department office.

If shadowing truly isn't available, a 20-minute conversation with a resident is the next best thing. Many of the questions below work just as well over coffee or a video call.

The questions

Pick three or four per day rather than all of them at once. Save the checklist and come back to it after each shadowing day or rotation.

What should I do after the conversation?

Write it down the same day. Memory blurs quickly, and after a few weeks every field starts to sound the same. Note the answers, but also your own reactions:

1. How did I feel at the end of the day, energized or drained?
2. Did I like the people? Would I want to work beside them for years?
3. Could I do this at 3 a.m.? Could I do this for 30 years?

Patterns across several days are more useful than any single conversation.

What should I watch for in the answers?

Listen for consistency. If several people in a field mention the same frustration, it's a real feature of the job. If most of them seem genuinely fulfilled, that's one of the strongest signals you'll get.

Also listen for what people don't say. If nobody can describe a downside, ask more directly. Every specialty has trade-offs, and someone who's thought about theirs honestly will give you a better picture. Read the hidden challenges beforehand so you know what to probe.

Key takeaways

• What you see on a shadowing day is a snapshot. Questions give you the context behind it.
• Ask residents about training and attendings about practice. They're different jobs.
• Pick three or four questions per day, and ask at a calm moment.
• Write down how you felt at the end of the day. Patterns beat single impressions.

Everyone also asks

What should I ask when shadowing a doctor?+

Ask about the ordinary day, the non-medical work, call, what surprised them about the job, and whether they'd choose the field again. Questions about their experience usually get more honest answers than questions about the specialty in general.

Is it awkward to ask attendings personal questions about lifestyle?+

Usually not, if you ask respectfully and at a good moment, like between cases or at the end of the day. Most physicians remember being in your position and are glad to help.