A DO letter is "highly recommended", can I get in without one?

[Chuckwalla]

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I am interested in applying to a DO school this coming cycle along with MD schools. The site says a DO letter is "highly recommended".

The problem is I don't really know any DO's. My PC doctor is one but I hardly see him and he doesn't know who I am.

So do you think I will be alright if I don't have one and if not what is the best way to go about getting one?

 

[Roto]

Highly recommended is a short step from required in my book. If I were you, I would definitely shadow a DO. It is one thing to read about the osteopathic philosophy and say you believe it but its another to actually witness it.

Since your primary is a DO ask him/her if they would be willing to let you shadow them, or if they know another DO in practice. If you need to, pick up a phone book and starting looking for DOs in the area and call them. They understand that shadowing is part of the application process.

 

[psych]

I didn't have a DO letter but I did have a MD letter. If you are competitive (>3.5, 28+) I doubt you really need one.

 

[olivetofu]

The experience of shadowing a DO is well worth it IMO.

Maybe this DO school just "highly recommends" it, but I believe some require it. Get the letter so you're prepared to apply to schools you become interested in later.

I also think DO schools like to know that you've been exposed to osteopathic medicine and seen it used in a clinical environment.

 

[slim78]

I was accepted without a DO letter.

I had an MD letter

 

[DragonWell]

I am interested in applying to a DO school this coming cycle along with MD schools. The site says a DO letter is "highly recommended".

The problem is I don't really know any DO's. My PC doctor is one but I hardly see him and he doesn't know who I am.

So do you think I will be alright if I don't have one and if not what is the best way to go about getting one?

While it's generally a very good idea to have a DO letter, exactly how important it is varies by school. You may get more helpful responses if you mention the specific schools you're applying to.

 

[Chunkeroni]

Cases vary so much..I was accepted without MD or DO letter and average-ish stats.. 3.7 gpa 24R MCAT

 

[PowerDoc]

They say you need a letter from a DO, but thats not exactly true. They told me after I was accepted that they really want to see if you know about DOs, that they are equal to MD, and that you are excited to become one.

 

[RawkusMD]

I was accepted without a DO letter.

I had an MD letter

+1

 

[Powdermonkey]

While its not required, why not go ahead and get one? Call your pc and see if you can shadow for a day or a few days over the course of a few weeks. They already know you as a patient, and I think it would be easier to shadow him/her than a random stranger.

People have gotten in without DO letters, yes, but why take the chance that it might hurt you application?

 

[Willh]

I had a letter but...but I didn't send it everywhere, simply because I got it late(there's only one within 70 miles and she was too busy for me to arrange it)...
I didn't send it to UNECOM -- but I got in.

 

[metalmd06]

I applied to NYCOM and sent in all of my LORs, including some from MD's. They do not require, but recommend a DO letter. I currently work with a DO in a multi-specialty practice and I've been contemplating asking him to write me a letter. There are two problems with this: Firstly, I've only been working here for 2 months, and secondly, he is not the model DO. He does not implement OMM at all and he treats patients more like an MD (prescribes meds first). However, he is an extremely attentive physician who spends ample time with his patients. He spends time talking to each and every one of them in his office both pre and post examination. So in the end I'm not sure what I am going to do. I think that If I am not accepted this year I will go to my Mother's work and try to get to know the DO's there better and then maybe have a letter for next cycle.

 

[ShyRem]

I didn't have one when I applied -- I got in.

 

[TheLegendofEdel]

I applied to NYCOM and sent in all of my LORs, including some from MD's. They do not require, but recommend a DO letter. I currently work with a DO in a multi-specialty practice and I've been contemplating asking him to write me a letter. There are two problems with this: Firstly, I've only been working here for 2 months, and secondly, he is not the model DO. He does not implement OMM at all and he treats patients more like an MD (prescribes meds first). However, he is an extremely attentive physician who spends ample time with his patients. He spends time talking to each and every one of them in his office both pre and post examination. So in the end I'm not sure what I am going to do. I think that If I am not accepted this year I will go to my Mother's work and try to get to know the DO's there better and then maybe have a letter for next cycle.

If you've been working there for two months, I think you're fine about asking for an LOR. My DO gave it to me in two months because he knew I was applying and knew that having a DO letter was important. Also, being a DO doesn't mean you don't prescribe meds. My DO does the same thing; he prescribes the meds and tells them it's viral but if it becomes bacterial to start taking them. It's a security blanket because so many people go to the doctor expecting to get better, and in their minds, the only way to get better is through meds. It's sad but true.

To the original poster, if you are applying DO, it's always a good thing to have a letter from a DO just to show that you've had some experience in the field. I know people who have gotten in with and without letters; I guess it all depends on the school's personal preference. But in the end, having a letter will not hurt your application.

 

[Nuch]

MSUCOM doesn't require and almost discourages a LOR from a DO. They want you to have experience, but they're more interested with having letters from people that know you well.

If you apply to most other DO schools, I would encourage one if you can get one... it can't hurt.

 

[DallasAnnie]

I learned about osteopathic medicine late in the game so I didn't have a chance to develop a significant relationship with a DO. Although I have shadowed several MDs, I didn't include their recommendations in my application. Before deciding to apply to DO schools, I wrote and spoke with local DOs to see if it was something I was interested in pursuing. My application, without DO (or MD) recommendation, worked fine. I had several interview invites but it's GA-PCOM for me... 😀

 

[MaximusD]

I had 2 MD letters and a DO letter. Got complimented on them at my first interview, too... Point is, shoot for more rather than less. It's not hard to get LORs if you put some effort into it.

 

[JoeC]

Guess I'll tack this onto this thread instead of starting a new one:

Are there are places I can go to find local DOs that would be cool with getting shadowed? Should I call a local school to see if they know of any (I'm in Atlanta w/ GA-PCOM)? Should I just start cold-calling people?

Only direct DO communication I've had was with a guy who's now on an Allopathic AdCom, but the bad news is he's about 1500 miles away, so it's not as if I can shadow him.

 

[prionsRbad]

Guess I'll tack this onto this thread instead of starting a new one:

Are there are places I can go to find local DOs that would be cool with getting shadowed? Should I call a local school to see if they know of any (I'm in Atlanta w/ GA-PCOM)? Should I just start cold-calling people?

Only direct DO communication I've had was with a guy who's now on an Allopathic AdCom, but the bad news is he's about 1500 miles away, so it's not as if I can shadow him.

You can start here: http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=findado_main

I happened to have better luck by just looking through the phone book or google-ing DOs in my area and calling to set up an appointment with them. Also, check with your PC doc and see if they have any colleagues that are DOs. Good Luck!

 

[pamolive]

Guess I'll tack this onto this thread instead of starting a new one:

Are there are places I can go to find local DOs that would be cool with getting shadowed? Should I call a local school to see if they know of any (I'm in Atlanta w/ GA-PCOM)? Should I just start cold-calling people?

Only direct DO communication I've had was with a guy who's now on an Allopathic AdCom, but the bad news is he's about 1500 miles away, so it's not as if I can shadow him.

PCOM will provide you with a list of alum in the area who allow students to shadow. Call the philly office and they'll hook it up.

 

[stmclovin]

I was also accepted without a DO letter with only MD letter whom I knew only for 30 days or so.

 

[ringtail]

only had MD LOR. don't worry...be happy.

 

[fastdude400]

A DO letter was recommended at MSUCOM for me, but not required, I didn't have one and was still accepted. My 2 letters were from a Ph.D. in Biochemistry (my professor) and a Lab Director in my Analytical R&D lab. I shadowed multiple DO's though.

 

[jstuds_66]

I am interested in applying to a DO school this coming cycle along with MD schools. The site says a DO letter is "highly recommended".

The problem is I don't really know any DO's. My PC doctor is one but I hardly see him and he doesn't know who I am.

So do you think I will be alright if I don't have one and if not what is the best way to go about getting one?

I just got into TCOM as an OOS without a DO Letter. All of my experience is with MDs and letters are from MDs. But if you can get one, I would recommend it. I just didn't have the opportunity, but it still worked out for me.

 

[scpod]

....The site says a DO letter is "highly recommended".....So do you think I will be alright if I don't have one ....

You can hit a golf ball 500 yards, but if you can't putt you won't win most of the time. Oh, you'll beat a few people that are even worse than you, but the average guy with a "complete" game will will out over you most of the time.

When you are going to spend $200,000.00 on an education, you want to try to bring a "complete" game with you. Otherwise, it's just a total gamble. Sure, many people have been accepted without a letter, but for every one of them you hear about there are just as many (or maybe even more) that were NOT accepted. Do yourself a favor and put in the effort to locate a DO that will write you a letter.