DO Letter of Recs

[Ralphie]

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I know some DO schools require them, but how critical/significant are DO letters of rec at schools that make them "optional"? Will a letter from a PA, whom I know quite well, benefit at all in lieu of a DO letter?

 

[smc927]

Call a school you are interested in and ask!

Good luck.

 

[ziggymonster19]

My D.O. letter came in a little late although I had known the D.O. that I shadowed for quite some time. I was accepted to all of the schools, that I interviewed at, that either did not mention, recommended or highly recommended having a D.O. letter before the letter arrived at the given schools. For the schools that actually required the letter, they held off looking at my application until they received it.

However, shadowing a D.O. and getting a LOR from him or her can only benefit you. Having a D.O. letter demonstrates that you've, at least, made an effort to learn more about osteopathic medicine from a first-hand source. Also, during interviews, adcoms typically ask what experiences you have had with osteopathic medicine and why you feel osteopathic medicine is a good fit for you. One of the best ways to articulate your interest in the field is by relaying your shadowing experiences. So, although I was lucky enough to get in without the letter, I would still recommend that you try to find a D.O. to shadow and write you a letter. It can only help. Good luck.

😀

 

[PreMedAdAG]

For the past three years, I have been trying to shadow a DO, with little or no success. I think I can get a letter from one, but I don't think that by the time I will apply that I will have actually shadowed one. What should I do, is this going to hurt me during interviews? With all of the new HIPPA guidelines, most DOs are turned off by having students in with them!

Help!

 

[Amy B]

I was accepted to a school that required a letter from a DO, no exceptions. I met with one for a 45 minute interview. I faxed him my personal statement and some of the secondaries I had filled out so he could know a bit about me and my desire to become a DO before we met.

It went well, I had him fill out my evalution sheet from my school and that was it. Simple and easy. Now it did come up in my interview from one of the interviewers as to why I didn't shadow. i explained I couldn't find anyone to shadow, but since my family doc when I was growing up was a DO I knew all about DOs. He did say he wished I knew more about DOs and I told him the best way to find about about DOs was to go to a DO medical school. He droppped the subject after that.

Try to see if you can meet with one for an interview.

 

[dollarbincommon]

I have the same dilemma as Ralphie. The country where I am, there are no DOs, only MDs.

I'm pretty sure I can get a LOR from a MD. But, since I'm thinking about applying to schools that require LORs from DOs, how do people go about doing this?

Do adcoms take consideration of this? I know adcoms will likely ask something like why DO and not MD... but what if degree title doesn't matter to you? Because I have absolutely no idea how to go about meeting a DO or traveling to the States. The only time I will be traveling to the States is during the interview process.

Amy B, you mentioned that you faxed papers to the D.O. Can I just call a DO, explain to him/her my situation, and fax him/her my papers without the face-to-face meeting to take place? Do you think this is right or not?

 

[Amy B]

That might be tough. I really think you would need a face to face meeting. But I am just speculating. I would say call them, there's no harm in that and maybe you will get lucky.

 

[Shinken]

I think getting a good DO LOR is critical (if you can get one). If you're really serious about going to a DO school, do whatever you can to get one.

My stats are not very competitive at all, but I was literally showered with interview offers (even from schools that give strong preference to in-state students), and I credit that in big part to the awesome DO letter I had.

My personal experience with DO's is that they're very approachable. Try to set up a face-to-face interview with one, even if you have to travel to a different town/state. You won't regret it.

 

[smc927]

dollarbincommon- you mentioned you don't have DOs in where you are but that you are applying to DO schools. Does this mean you are not going to be here until you start med school? Perhaps you could consider somekind of correspondence via email and/or phone with a D.O. At least if you have some conversations a DO could get familiar with you and write some kind of simple letter of recommendation. Just a suggestion.

 

[dollarbincommon]

Originally posted by smc927
dollarbincommon- you mentioned you don't have DOs in where you are but that you are applying to DO schools. Does this mean you are not going to be here until you start med school? Perhaps you could consider somekind of correspondence via email and/or phone with a D.O. At least if you have some conversations a DO could get familiar with you and write some kind of simple letter of recommendation. Just a suggestion.

That's exactly my problem. I'm in Ontario Canada right now. And there are ZERO DOs here. There are plently of MDs.

The only time that I can travel to the States is during the interview process. So, I'm trying to gather as much information as I can. Most of the DO schools accept MD LORs. Schools such as NSU, VCOM and LECOM required them (I checked from the AACOM website). But, maybe the website may be wrong.

I t hink I'm going to call DOs listed from the AOA website and see who would want to keep correspondence with me.

What about moderators (Russo DO)? 😀 Can I contact them? Or maybe Orons DO (the one that Amy B) contacted?

Which DO do you think I should contact? Because I wouldn't want to bother a busy DO who is on call. If anyone can reply to me, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[raptor5]

The 3 D.O. letters I had probably sealed the deal. All 3 went to PCOM and 1 of the D.O.'s is a Asst. PD.

 

[modelcitizen]

Originally posted by Ralphie
I know some DO schools require them, but how critical/significant are DO letters of rec at schools that make them "optional"? Will a letter from a PA, whom I know quite well, benefit at all in lieu of a DO letter?

TUCOM actually prefers letters from MDs who know you well, rather than a DO that you've known for 15 minutes. But I'm not sure whether a PA letter would be of any use.

 

[Amy B]

Wow, that is really going to be tough. I know VCOM requires a DO letter and will NOT make any exceptions. I had an MD letter and they would not use it instead of the DO letter. All I can think is you call the schools you are planning to apply to and ask them what you can do. Maybe they know someone that you could talk to on the phone. Call them and find out.

Or the simpliest solution is to only apply to schools that do not require the DO letter.

Good luck!!!!

 

[dollarbincommon]

Thanks everyone for replying to my post.

Good news. I called a D.O. school this morning to ask a simple question about the D.O. LOR. (PM me if you want to know the name of the school) The lady was very nice. She said that in the past there are a few people who have had hard times finding a D.O.

She said that what some people did is that she would arrange for them to meet one of the DOs before the interview.

She suggested that if in case I receive an interview invitation, that she could arrange for me to meet a DO the day before or the morning before the interview, so that I wouldn't miss the information during the interview day.

I think this is a good thing. I get a LOR PLUS I get to meet one of the school's DOs. I'm feeling good right now. I'm feeling loved. 😍 😀 It's a good start. Things are going to work out.

PS. Ralphie, I think you can do the same

 

[Amy B]

I'm really glad for you!!!!!!!!!!!