Apply to D.O. w/o shadowing?

[teenmachinery1]

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As a backup, could I apply to D.O. schools without shadowing D.O. physicians?

 

[jkmph]

This excel file will answer your question(s).

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Do you think shadowing an EM doc, who happened to have been a DO but did nothing directly related to OMM or other such philosophies, could be articulated well enough in an application form to suggest to adcoms that, "Yes, I shadowed a DO?"

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Do you think shadowing an EM doc, who happened to have been a DO but did nothing directly related to OMM or other such philosophies, could be articulated well enough in an application form to suggest to adcoms that, "Yes, I shadowed a DO?"

Definitely!! Most DOs don't use any OMM.

 

[TeamZissou]

Do you think shadowing an EM doc, who happened to have been a DO but did nothing directly related to OMM or other such philosophies, could be articulated well enough in an application form to suggest to adcoms that, "Yes, I shadowed a DO?"

To echo CBear, sure thing. I never actually saw OMM until my interview at Western where they do a demonstration of it.

 

[engineeredout]

FYI, I did AACOMAS and a bunch of secondaries before actually getting my DO letter, so you could always apply and try to get the DO letter as you go along. Getting it in faster is more important if the DO letter is the only thing holding you up.

 

[premedinohio]

The question will probably come up in every interview even if a letter isnt required (though it usually is)

 

[QuackaDO]

FYI, I did AACOMAS and a bunch of secondaries before actually getting my DO letter, so you could always apply and try to get the DO letter as you go along. Getting it in faster is more important if the DO letter is the only thing holding you up.

OK, so I can see schools offering secondaries without you having the DO letter in hand (of course... it's not part of the primary) but will they offer you interviews and continue in the process without the DO letter and you just have to provide it before you matriculate?? I contacted several DO schools recently and one of them said something similar to this, so I wondered if it's common practice. I would have thought until your secondary was completed (including all your LORs which would include the DO letter) they would not offer interviews... am I wrong?

 

[slim78]

Often an MD letter will suffice and it won't matter at all whether you have a DO letter or DO shadowing experience. Depends on the strength of the other parts of your app and the preferences of those interviewing you (luck basically).

I never obtained a DO LOR or even shadowed a DO. Having a DO LOR and shadowing experience will make life easier but it isn't always a deal breaker.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

OK, so I can see schools offering secondaries without you having the DO letter in hand (of course... it's not part of the primary) but will they offer you interviews and continue in the process without the DO letter and you just have to provide it before you matriculate?? I contacted several DO schools recently and one of them said something similar to this, so I wondered if it's common practice. I would have thought until your secondary was completed (including all your LORs which would include the DO letter) they would not offer interviews... am I wrong?

LECOM-E offered many interviews last year, with a stipulation that an acceptance couldn't be offered until a DO LOR was received sometime after the interview.

Perhaps that's the school you're referring to. If so, I'm unaware of any other schools that do this.

 

[QuackaDO]

LECOM-E offered many interviews last year, with a stipulation that an acceptance couldn't be offered until a DO LOR was received sometime after the interview.

Perhaps that's the school you're referring to. If so, I'm unaware of any other schools that do this.

Yeah, if I remember right that is who it was.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Ok, what exactly are you referring to with a "DO letter?" I was under the impression that it's something penned by a DO suggesting that you would do fine as a DO. Then someone came along and suggested that a letter from an MD would suffice. What gives? Is it just a typical recommendation letter?

 

[Semicolon]

Ok, what exactly are you referring to with a "DO letter?" I was under the impression that it's something penned by a DO suggesting that you would do fine as a DO. Then someone came along and suggested that a letter from an MD would suffice. What gives? Is it just a typical recommendation letter?

When a school asks for a DO letter they're asking for a letter from a DO; it doesn't have to be special and based on osteopathic medicine, but if it were that would be great. It's generally just like any other LOR, but from a DO that speaks about your ability to become a physician.

That said, many DO schools do not require a DO letter, and in those cases an MD letter would just be treated as a LOR from a physician, which still certainly counts.