Anyone accepted without a LOR from a DO?

[ASDIC]

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i am applying this year, however I havent shadowed a DO yet...can someone tell me whether this could affect my admissions without a DO LOR?

thanks

 

[AspiringDoctor9]

Hihi!

It really depends on what schools you're applying to. Some schools require a letter from a DO (an MD won't do). However, some will allow a non-DO letter to substitute. For example, some of the California schools will allow an MD to write a letter in place of a DO. I know someone who got into COMP and TUCOM with no DO letter, so I'd suggest you check with each school you want to apply to, and see what their policy is.

 

[box29]

Off the top of my head, I know that LECOM and VCOM require a DO letter and will not accept any substitutions. I think that also goes for OSU-COM, but you might want to check.

 

[medic170]

Why don't you just take some initiative and go get one? I hate to say it, but all you people who say there is no way you can get a DO letter are not trying hard enough. BTW, IMHO, you can't really know osteopathic medicine until you have been around it.

 

[Fin-Nor]

Why don't you just take some initiative and go get one? I hate to say it, but all you people who say there is no way you can get a DO letter are not trying hard enough. BTW, IMHO, you can't really know osteopathic medicine until you have been around it.

i concur

 

[racystacey07]

I was accepted to TUCOM without a LOR from a DO. Regardless of whether or not you get a LOR from a DO, its still a fabulous idea to shadow one...
Hope that helps!

 

[delicatefade]

I was accepted to CCOM with an MD letter.

I was accepted to VCOM with a DO letter - I didn't know any DO's so I called one in the area and before I could get halfway through my explanation he said, "When do you need the letter?" HAHA!!!

 

[melmc]

I was accepted to AZCOM without a letter from a DO, but I did have a great LOR from an MD whom I have known for many years.

That said, I would recommend shadowing a DO for a day at the very least. I shadowed a family practice DO in a town 2 1/2 hrs from where I live (the only one that would return my calls in a 3 hr radius from my home town.) From this one day, I got to see OMM in practice, list that experience on my apps, and was able to better describe osteopathic medicine (a common interview topic) from that exposure. This way, schools could see that I knew what osteopathic medicine was about, even though I didn't get a DO LOR (I personally had a problem asking a person who had just met me to write a letter, even if he did have the initials DO behind his name.)

Hope that helps, and good luck with your applications!

 

[UNOStudent01]

I was accepted to DMU w/out a letter from a DO. I did mention that I shaddowed a DO radiologist, but never sent in a letter from him. DMU has an early acceptance program where they'll accept students even before MCAT scores are in, simply stating that you need a 25 or greater (not that hard)...

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I have shadowed a DO for over a year now... I recommend anybody applying to become a DO to shadow one for more than a day to really get a feel for it. You will realize it's not a backup for MD...

You can find a DO in your area via the internet or your local yellow pages. This is a decision that you will live with for the rest of your life. I highly recommend shadowing one before deciding to be one.

 

[PublicEnemy]

I was accepted to CCOM with an MD letter.

I was accepted to VCOM with a DO letter - I didn't know any DO's so I called one in the area and before I could get halfway through my explanation he said, "When do you need the letter?" HAHA!!!

whats his number?

 

[DrMom]

Off the top of my head, I know that LECOM and VCOM require a DO letter and will not accept any substitutions. I think that also goes for OSU-COM, but you might want to check.

Yes, OSU-COM requires a DO letter.

 

[Freakingzooming]

i dont know if this is certain but my cousin's gf had only an MD write her LOR but she got into Kirksville and Western.

 

[delicatefade]

whats his number?

Haha!!!!

I'm not sure he is around anymore - he was doing a PM&R Pain Management Fellowship at the VA Hospital where I work.

 

[rescuetomm]

DMU does not require a DO letter.

 

[Amy B]

It may have nothing to do with trying if you can't find a DO to shadow. I was in Northern VA and went through EVERY listing in the phone book. I called, sent letters, sent faxes and was shot down at EVERY SINGLE office. No one would allow me to shadow. I was told almost every time that it would be against HIPAA. Some offices I was told that they were not clinics and there patients wouldn't want students there.

As people on SDN know, I am not a meek, shy person, but I couldn't get any of those office to allow me to come in. I think it is the area. I knew people who had a DO in Richmond and was able to shadow her private patients with no troubles.

I ended up contacting one of the state area officers of Virginia's state Osteopathic Association and evern he wouldn't let me shadow, BUT he offered to sit down and interview me. I faxed him my PS and we talked for nearly an hour. He wrote my LOR from that interview.

So can you apply to DO schools without a DO letter....yes
Can you apply to all the schools without a DO letter.....No

 

[delicatefade]

It's only against HIPPA if they are too lazy to ask their patient if it's OK if you're in the room.

 

[vimal98]

I agree. I asked as many DO I can find in Phone book and online. But nobody allowed me to do that. Finally now I am shadowing one MD. she is such a nice person and a doctor. She told me that I can shadow her as long as I can and she will write a recommendation letter. I am going to apply without a DO letter. Won't apply to some like Nova which stricly needs a recommendation from DO.

 

[medic170]

For those having trouble finding a DO to shadow, you can also check with AOA and email them. Sometimes they can help you find somebody in your area.

 

[gioia]

It doesn't matter.

If you make it to an interview knowing nothing of DO's and the adcom senses you're using the school as an MD backup- you'll have problems.

If you make it to an interview w/ a DO LOR and no knowledge of DO's, you've dug your grave (opinion only).

Be passionate. Let genuine interest guide your decisions.

 

[irishlaydi]

Hi all, any advice on what to say when u call up the office of a DO to shadow them 😀 ? thanks

 

[Freakingzooming]

ask to talk to teh doctor in person.. sometimes its best to listen to trump- always go to the higherup cuz sometimes the recepetionist will give you the run around.

tell the doctor, that you're interested in osteopathic medicine,manipulation therapy, whatever that piques your curiousity and tell him or her that you would really appreciate it if you could shadow him or her for a week or even a couple of days ( don't say a day cuz that'll limit you into a corner) and if he or she says no, then move on.

I got lucky cuz my mom's doctor is a DO and she's amazing, chief resident at UCI, nice lady, don't know how im going to ask for a LOR.

 

[medic170]

Hello, My name is X, I am a premedical student and I am looking for a shadowing opportunity with a DO. Does your office have any opportunities avalaible? Thank you!

 

[TheFish005]

I got into both Western and TUCOM without DO letters. It might help that there are virtually NO DO's in my entire state and that I've worked for 6 MD's for over 3 years, all of whom have written me great letters. I would say it all depends on your personal situations.