However, what do I even do when I get in touch with them? What are the schools expecting from a DO LOR? Am I supposed to shadow them? Any help would be awesome.
Okay, so, you want a DO LOR. In order to get one, the DO has to be able to attest to your maturity, knowledge of the medical field, personality, etc, etc. That can only be done if they spend time with you through (surprise!) shadowing.
Shadowing is pretty common. Find a DO near you who does what you want to see (I suggest primary care... places like ERs may have docs too busy to really talk to you).
How much shadowing is enough? I have no idea. I was told 160 hours and ended up spending a whole month, full time, at a primary care clinic with an MD and a DO (which was awesome, by the way). I've heard that as little as one week is fine. You can also shadow at different docs, so keep that in mind. I would suggest to shadow full time, even if only for a few days, to get a sense of immersion. I don't think you can get the complete picture by only going one day a week for a few hours.
When you shadow, be on your best behavior. Be polite, courteous, and respectful. Show up on time, show up looking professional, show up attentive and ready to ask questions. Don't be cocky - in all likelihood, you won't know anything. If you act like a person who is intelligent and interested in the field, more than likely the doc you're shadowing will see you as a person who is a serious candidate. By extension, you'll be someone they would be willing to write a letter for.
Remember that it's not all about the letter. You're also there to see the field and learn about what it's like to be a doc. This is serious business with massive wads of cash involved and you don't want to find out you hate medicine halfway through school. Pro tip: this ain't Grey's Anatomy or House. There is a lot to learn about what goes on outside of patient encounters or even about what patients are doing outside of the medical office environment. Pay attention to everybody working there instead of just the doc you're shadowing. They probably have been there for a while and know what's going on.
Afterwards, follow up on the docs. They just babysat you for a week for free and deserve a thank you letter at the least. If you established a relationship with them, I'm sure they'd appreciate knowing how their shadow is doing in the world. As for yourself, follow up on topics of interest. Insurance? Social factors? Ethics? Heart disease risk factors? There are mountains and mountains of books out there for you to read that will help you develop as a serious medical school candidate.
