If you have no DO shadowing, but MD shadowing, is it worth it to send the AACOMAS in? Will schools dismiss applicants off the bat, who have had no interaction with DOs before they send in the AACOMAS?
If you have no DO shadowing, but MD shadowing, is it worth it to send the AACOMAS in? Will schools dismiss applicants off the bat, who have had no interaction with DOs before they send in the AACOMAS?
I'm in the same boat as you're. I have MD shadowing, but no DO, and I've talked to schools that say that most important thing is expose to the medical world. Some people don't even have any DOs in their area. You can tell them about why you want to go the DO route during the interview. Hope this helps.
You don't have to have any shadowing. You just have to be able to show them that you did in fact research medicine before applying. Some schools do not require a DO letter. Most schools that claim to require a DO letter will allow an MD letter. Many schools don't require a physician letter at all.
If you have any sort of patient-health care worker shadowing or experience at all you should be fine. If you don't it still isn't a problem so long as you can justify your decision to apply to medical school. You aren't expected to do this on AACOMAS but during interviews. Within reason, of course, if you haven't taken any pre-reqs or the MCAT they may wonder why you are applying.