Do I need a DO letter?

[pre med 2014]

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I am thinking about applying to DO as back up to MD. I am getting old and feeling the pressure to get on track to a medical career.

I have good ECs and studying hard for MCAT. My GPA is good for DO

I know only 3 DO schools require a letter of rec from a DO. But if they look at all my whole application it's pretty clear I don't need to shadow a DO. I have good shadowing already and got enough to hours to get everything I'm gonna get out of it. It's not like if I shadow a DO he's gonna start doing a manipulation technique for a tumor. It's just gonna be the same exact thing.

 

[NeuroLAX]

You're beating the horse here...

DO shadowing can help give you something intelligent to say about the Why DO? question you're bound to be asked. It's not required except at the few that require it. Plenty of people get in every year without DO shadowing.

 

[dsoz]

If you are going to play the DO game, then you play by their rules.

Find a DO to shadow and get a DO letter. It is required for most DO schools.

There are some DO schools that will accept a letter from an MD. But you will still be asked "Why DO?" If your answer is that it is a backup to getting into an MD school then you will be placed in the reject pile.

If you want a DO, then get a DO. if you are applying as a backup, then don't do it. The DO that I shadowed stated that the most unhappy physicians that he knows are DOs that wanted to be MDs. They have an inferiority complex that makes them unhappy. People that want to be DOs, are perfectly happy with the degree that they get from a DO school.

I was looking forward to going to a DO school, but the long shot MD school in my area offered me a position so I don't need to sell my house and have my spouse quit their job to move. Economics wins.

dsoz

 

[advair250]

10char

 

[dudeliness]

You're beating the horse here...

DO shadowing can help give you something intelligent to say about the Why DO? question you're bound to be asked. It's not required except at the few that require it. Plenty of people get in every year without DO shadowing.

👍

While a DO LOR is only "recommended" for most DO schools, if you want to have a good backup for your MD applications, why not find a DO to shadow? That way you can have something more to talk about when asked "Why DO?" instead of just saying that it's a backup in case you don't get into an MD. Even if that's really the truth, it wouldn't help you out to have that be your answer

 

[MedPR]

You're beating the horse here...

DO shadowing can help give you something intelligent to say about the Why DO? question you're bound to be asked. It's not required except at the few that require it. Plenty of people get in every year without DO shadowing.

Seriously.

Just get one. It isn't difficult

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[willen101383]

How do you answer "Why DO" if the DO you shadowed does the same exact thing as an MD?

98% of DOs practice the exact same way as MDs. In fact, I dont even really see how you could practice differently. That being said, the DO pathway is loaded with BS hoops you must jump through to let the "DO man" feel good about himself....alas a bunch of garbage.

 

[MedPR]

How do you answer "Why DO" if the DO you shadowed does the same exact thing as an MD?

You talk about the same things the DO schools talk about on their admission page.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[NeuroLAX]

How do you answer "Why DO" if the DO you shadowed does the same exact thing as an MD?

For starters, it always helps to shadow a DO that can show you some OMM.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Good luck finding one that does that

I didn't have any problem finding two at all. I have a few connections, so that could also explain it. Just because you don't see a DO use OMT during a shadow visit doesn't mean they don't use it ever. It's not as if the DOs that do use it try to do so for every patient they see, plus it takes time to perform a comprehensive set of techniques to address a particular problem. In other words, there's not just one technique for one complaint.

 

[MedPR]

Good luck finding one that does that

Not that hard.

 

[molarseeker]

I am thinking about applying to DO as back up to MD. I am getting old and feeling the pressure to get on track to a medical career.

I have good ECs and studying hard for MCAT. My GPA is good for DO

I know only 3 DO schools require a letter of rec from a DO. But if they look at all my whole application it's pretty clear I don't need to shadow a DO. I have good shadowing already and got enough to hours to get everything I'm gonna get out of it. It's not like if I shadow a DO he's gonna start doing a manipulation technique for a tumor. It's just gonna be the same exact thing.

The way I got a position with a D.O. physician is by sending out LETTERS. I typed up letters, stuffed it in an envelope, and also included my CV. I used a shotgun approach and sent the letters to 60 physicians last Thursday. So far I have gotten 2 shadowing positions.

 

[darklabel]

I am thinking about applying to DO as back up to MD. I am getting old and feeling the pressure to get on track to a medical career.

I have good ECs and studying hard for MCAT. My GPA is good for DO

I know only 3 DO schools require a letter of rec from a DO. But if they look at all my whole application it's pretty clear I don't need to shadow a DO. I have good shadowing already and got enough to hours to get everything I'm gonna get out of it. It's not like if I shadow a DO he's gonna start doing a manipulation technique for a tumor. It's just gonna be the same exact thing.

It will definitely put you ahead of the curve since most people apply without a letter from a DO. I say do it just to increase your chances at DO schools.

 

[Dharma]

Not that hard.

👍 OP you gotta play the game. Get a DO letter.

 

[dudeliness]

Well I shadowed a DO that works like an MD. My EMS director is also a DO so just the fact that they are DOs would help me out if I get an LOR, right? And would getting more than one help as well?

One is all you need. Just choose the person you think could write you a stronger letter. Good luck!

 

[pre med 2014]

.

 

[pre med 2014]

The way I got a position with a D.O. physician is by sending out LETTERS. I typed up letters, stuffed it in an envelope, and also included my CV. I used a shotgun approach and sent the letters to 60 physicians last Thursday. So far I have gotten 2 shadowing positions.

Thanks for this post. I will take this approach and just play the game. Part of the difficulty has been that they usually don't have an email listed so I kinda just get demotivated fast.

 

[MedPR]

Thanks for this post. I will take this approach and just play the game. Part of the difficulty has been that they usually don't have an email listed so I kinda just get demotivated fast.

One word. Telephone.

 

[molarseeker]

Thanks for this post. I will take this approach and just play the game. Part of the difficulty has been that they usually don't have an email listed so I kinda just get demotivated fast.

I didn't have much luck with the phone because 99.9% of the time you you speak with the receptionist and they don't wanna deal with you, so when you ask about shadowing they just say that the doctor doesn't do that. The letter is a much better idea because it's more personal than an email or a call. I hand signed all the letters and handprinted the addresses to make it look more personal. Here is the letter that I wrote the docs:

To: Dr. {DR'S NAME}, D.O.
From: {YOUR NAME}
Date: January 8, 2013
Re: Possibility of Shadowing/Volunteering



Dear Dr. DOCTOR, D.O.

My name is {YOUR NAME} and I am a senior neuroscience undergrad at UCLA. I am interested in the field of osteopathic medicine and am hoping to find a physician that will allow me to shadow/volunteer for him/her this winter quarter for a few days so that I will have a better understanding of the profession and obtain some experience in the medical field. I would like to have a solid foundation and I was wondering if you could help in that regard. I would really appreciate the opportunity to shadow in your office, or in the hospital, and speak with you if possible. I have included my contact information below and I look forward to speaking with you soon.


Sincerely,

{YOUR NAME}
{YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS}


To find a list of addresses that you can send to, go to this site:

http://www.opsc.org/

You can search for a D.O. in your area and it gives you their work address. I just went through and found 60 primary care physicians within 30 minutes of UCLA. Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[HeronsBeak]

I didn't have much luck with the phone because 99.9% of the time you you speak with the receptionist and they don't wanna deal with you, so when you ask about shadowing they just say that the doctor doesn't do that. The letter is a much better idea because it's more personal than an email or a call. I hand signed all the letters and handprinted the addresses to make it look more personal. Here is the letter that I wrote the docs:

To: Dr. {DR'S NAME}, D.O.
From: {YOUR NAME}
Date: January 8, 2013
Re: Possibility of Shadowing/Volunteering



Dear Dr. DOCTOR, D.O.

My name is {YOUR NAME} and I am a senior neuroscience undergrad at UCLA. I am interested in the field of osteopathic medicine and am hoping to find a physician that will allow me to shadow/volunteer for him/her this winter quarter for a few days so that I will have a better understanding of the profession and obtain some experience in the medical field. I would like to have a solid foundation and I was wondering if you could help in that regard. I would really appreciate the opportunity to shadow in your office, or in the hospital, and speak with you if possible. I have included my contact information below and I look forward to speaking with you soon.


Sincerely,

{YOUR NAME}
{YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS}


To find a list of addresses that you can send to, go to this site:

http://www.opsc.org/

You can search for a D.O. in your area and it gives you their work address. I just went through and found 60 primary care physicians within 30 minutes of UCLA. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you for posting this, I was having a hard time getting responses, I will definitely go with the letter approach.

 

[coolingglasses]

How do you answer "Why DO" if the DO you shadowed does the same exact thing as an MD?

I have an idea.




















Ask the DO you're shadowing.

 

[pre med 2014]

alright. shipping out 18 letters wish me luck.

 

[molarseeker]

alright. shipping out 18 letters wish me luck.

Good luck. If you don't get any replies within 2 weeks, send out more. Like I said, I sent out 58 letters and got 3 positions. Let me know how it goes.

 

[dudeliness]

I personally had great success just calling dr offices, speaking with clinic managers or secretaries and leaving my contact info there. Then I'd give it a couple of weeks and call back to follow up. Shadowed a general surgeon and an IM doc, both DO's.

 

[pre med 2014]

I am overwhelmed with responses. 18 letters sent out and I already got 3 offers.

Are there any benefits to shadowing more than one DO? I already have a bunch of MD shadowing under my belt.

 

[dudeliness]

I am overwhelmed with responses. 18 letters sent out and I already got 3 offers.

Are there any benefits to shadowing more than one DO? I already have a bunch of MD shadowing under my belt.

Are any of them cool specialties?

 

[molarseeker]

I am overwhelmed with responses. 18 letters sent out and I already got 3 offers.

Are there any benefits to shadowing more than one DO? I already have a bunch of MD shadowing under my belt.

Told ya 😉

 

[pre med 2014]

Are any of them cool specialties?

Ya I got a really cool one.