Advice for a D.O. - L.O.R. request?

[djnels01]

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I have just moved to Kansas City, MO and started my volunteer work at the K.C. Free Health Clinic, working as a patient assistant. There are several doctors that volunteer 1-2 days a month here; only one is paid-staff, full-time (also a D.O.!). I work 4 days a week so I will be seeing him quite often.

How do I approach him, after only knowing him for a short while (read: less than a week), and ask for a letter of recommendation? I don't want to seem pushy, but at the same time I would like to complete my supplementals as soon as I can so as to "stay ahead of the game." At the risk of sounding egotistical (which I am anything but) I am a dedicated and qualified applicant that wants to "prove himself" to the D.O. The problem is I want to do it ASAP. Is this counter-intuitive?

My girlfriend thinks I should wait 2-3 weeks until I even bring it up. Assuming it would take him 2-3 weeks to provide the necessary letters (optimistically speaking), that's another month and a half before my supplementals would even begin to be processed...

Any advice on this matter? It would be greatly appreciated by any and all posters. Thanks for your time!

P.S. - Although it may seem as if I got the volunteer position only to fulfill the D.O. letter, I am pledged for volunteer service until June 30th 2006.

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

ask the DO if you may shadow him/her in addition to your volunteer work. Tell them you are applying DO and filling out your application at the moment. This is merely an opener to discuss getting an LOR, if you even need to shadow him outside your volunteer hours, etc. Don't wait.

I volunteered in a hospital with DOs and my letter will be coming from someone I shadowed once and only saw briefly on 2 other occasions. I have yet to read a post of anyone doing extensive shadowing/volunteering to get a DO LOR.

 

[ambernikel]

ask the DO if you may shadow him/her in addition to your volunteer work. Tell them you are applying DO and filling out your application at the moment. This is merely an opener to discuss getting an LOR, if you even need to shadow him outside your volunteer hours, etc. Don't wait.

I volunteered in a hospital with DOs and my letter will be coming from someone I shadowed once and only saw briefly on 2 other occasions. I have yet to read a post of anyone doing extensive shadowing/volunteering to get a DO LOR.

I think this is good advice. It is pretty much exactly what I would say to do. Don't come right out and ask for a LOR, (yet), but don't not mention your goals for med school either. This gets him thinking about it now. I always keep all my docs up to date on my med school stuff. They've all been there so they like to hear about my stuff here and there. But I don't like to impose my school on them, so it's a thin line. Docs understand so as long as you're respectful about it I'm sure they'll be happy to help out. It's karma you know, when we're docs we'll have to do the same thing!!! Anyway, I'm lucky because my docs are so awesome. They all have taken me under their wings and get all excited about my progress. It's fun.

 

[LovelyRita]

Bah. Every DO out there knows you need a DO letter to get into DO school, so what you should do is tell him what your intentions are--that you are going to apply and that a letter from a DO is required, and would he consider doing that for you? He's not going to think any less of you, as a matter of fact, he may pay closer attention to your work and it may make the letter more genuine. Who knows.

Now the challenge is working up the nerve to do it! Been there, done that, it's hard, but it doesn't end now...you'll be having to do this again in a couple years.

 

[mdille2]

My childrens pediatrician is a DO. I have spoke to him of my intentions to go to medical school in past visits. Just yesterday, I ask which school he attended and asked how he found a DO to give him a LOR. He said he had asked his family doctor, and volunteered to write one for me if I needed it. He just asked me to give him a copy of my transcripts and personal statement. So I think, you cold ask now.. All Do's know that LOR's are needed to apply to an osteo school.
Marcia

 

[nvshelat]

Not all schools require a DO letter