DO letter of rec from 2yrs ago?

[HopelesRomantic]

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I shadowed a DO neurologist two summers ago and even worked under him for a mini research project. Since then, we haven't kept in contact besides a year ago when I asked him to write me a rec for a college TA position. Do you think that it'd be appropriate for me to ask him for a DO letter of rec when I apply to schools this summer? Does the fact that he's not a PCP matter at all? With my spring break coming up, I'm contemplating using it to shadow a primary care DO and get a letter of rec from him/her instead. I'm applying to MD and DO schools, and while I've shadowed a lot, I haven't shadowed a PCP.

FWIW, which option should I pick?

1. Keep "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow an MD/DO PCP for the sake of shadowing and not for a letter.
2. Forget "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow a DO PCP for a letter.
3. Forget "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow a DO for a letter, regardless of whether (s)he's a PCP.

Thanks!

 

[DrMeows]

I shadowed a DO neurologist two summers ago and even worked under him for a mini research project. Since then, we haven't kept in contact besides a year ago when I asked him to write me a rec for a college TA position. Do you think that it'd be appropriate for me to ask him for a DO letter of rec when I apply to schools this summer? Does the fact that he's not a PCP matter at all? With my spring break coming up, I'm contemplating using it to shadow a primary care DO and get a letter of rec from him/her instead. I'm applying to MD and DO schools, and while I've shadowed a lot, I haven't shadowed a PCP.

FWIW, which option should I pick?

1. Keep "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow an MD/DO PCP for the sake of shadowing and not for a letter.
2. Forget "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow a DO PCP for a letter.
3. Forget "old" non-PCP DO letter. Shadow a DO for a letter, regardless of whether (s)he's a PCP.

Thanks!

There's no harm in asking for one at all. Clearly he is cool with writing one for you since he wrote you one for something else previously. This cycle I used a letter from a DO neurologist and the non-PCP thing didn't make a difference. I shadowed him two years ago, he wrote it two years ago, and it didn't matter that the experience was "old". The worst thing I could see happening by asking is them asking you to come shadow a couple days to make it current. But who cares?

On another note, definitely try to shadow a PCP or FC DO. It's a good experience to have a good thing to have on your app. I actually found one to shadow who practiced OMM on a daily basis so I'd recommend that as a pretty awesome experience! 👍

 

[HopelesRomantic]

Thanks! Truth be told, I'm not interested in observing OMM at all. So does it matter whether the PCP I shadow is DO or MD?

Any other opinions?

 

[DrMeows]

Thanks! Truth be told, I'm not interested in observing OMM at all. So does it matter whether the PCP I shadow is DO or MD?

Any other opinions?

I was only throwing the OMM thing out there because at every interview I had at a DO school, they mentioned it. It looks good on a DO app is really all I meant to say.

And no I don't think it should matter whether it's an MD or a DO PCP.