DO/physician letter

[virusgirl]

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Hi everybody --

Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions on getting into an osteopathic school that wants a DO/physician letter if you don't have such a letter?

I realize that sounds like a silly question, but I ask because my pre-med advisor said that it isn't always a hard-and-fast requirement if your numbers are above their averages (mine are). I do not have a physician letter, and I'm applying to the following schools:

UNECOM
NYCOM
PCOM
CCOM
LECOM
UMDNJ

I know UNECOM, PCOM, and one of the others (I forget which) do NOT require a DO letter but the others do.

 

[KateGia]

Hi everybody --

Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions on getting into an osteopathic school that wants a DO/physician letter if you don't have such a letter?

I realize that sounds like a silly question, but I ask because my pre-med advisor said that it isn't always a hard-and-fast requirement if your numbers are above their averages (mine are). I do not have a physician letter, and I'm applying to the following schools:

UNECOM
NYCOM
PCOM
CCOM
LECOM
UMDNJ

I know UNECOM, PCOM, and one of the others (I forget which) do NOT require a DO letter but the others do.

Since you're too lazy to realize there are about 10000 threads on this, including an entire thread about recommendation letters, i'm going to be too lazy to post something new. Here is my response to the last person that asked this question:
I've been noticing a trend that people on this forum are way too nice. While "being encouraging" is a good thing, there is also a point where giving people too much confidence can be detrimental.

Yes, not having a doc LOR is a huge problem. "Strongly recommends" means "REQUIRED" in adcom speak. If you have a 4.0, and a 35 MCAT, or you have like 600 years of clinical experience, they'll look the other way, which is why they don't put required. If you are a run-of-the-mill applicant, and you haven't even put out the effort to meet a few docs, talk to them about what they do, and find out what osteopathic medicine is, then why should they take their time on you? If you have a good MD letter, it's better than no letter at all, because at least you're putting yourself out there, and maybe there just aren't a lot of DOs in your area. If you are looking for somewhere to start, go to the your own primary care physician. Ask them if they wouldn't mind if you shadowed them, or if someone else in the office wouldn't mind. Most docs are fine with it.
It's still REALLY early in the application season. You have plenty of time to do this, and it really shows that you're going the full stretch and really putting 100% into your application

 

[Cale]

Since you're too lazy to realize there are about 10000 threads on this, including an entire thread about recommendation letters, i'm going to be too lazy to post something new. Here is my response to the last person that asked this question:

Why be like that?

 

[Cale]

Virusgirl - The truth is it would be in your best interest to get an LOR from a DO physician. I have an LOR from an MD and DO to be on the safe side. I also called each school I'm interested in and asked the admissions group whether a LOR from a DO is highly recommended. They'll be honest and let you know exactly what they're looking for. Hope that helps.

 

[Ioriscrub]

I have a related question.

Over winter break I was fortunate enough to find a family practice D.O. who was willing to let me shadow him for 1 week (25 hours total). I neglected to ask him for an LOR at the end of it because I wasn't sure how appropriate it would be considering I had just met him that week and all I had done was follow him around and ask occasional questions.
Would it be worth it to message him back and ask for an LOR just to jump through the hoop of most D.O. schools requiring/reccomending one even though the letter most likely would be pretty generic?
I feel that I made a pretty good impression on him, but it is somewhat unlikely that I would get the chance to shadow him again soon since he is in KCMO and I am currently in Omaha. (I live in KC and go to school at Creighton in Omaha,Nebraska)

 

[JaggerPlate]

I have a related question.

Over winter break I was fortunate enough to find a family practice D.O. who was willing to let me shadow him for 1 week (25 hours total). I neglected to ask him for an LOR at the end of it because I wasn't sure how appropriate it would be considering I had just met him that week and all I had done was follow him around and ask occasional questions.
Would it be worth it to message him back and ask for an LOR just to jump through the hoop of most D.O. schools requiring/reccomending one even though the letter most likely would be pretty generic?
I feel that I made a pretty good impression on him, but it is somewhat unlikely that I would get the chance to shadow him again soon since he is in KCMO and I am currently in Omaha. (I live in KC and go to school at Creighton in Omaha,Nebraska)

Yes, send a thank you letter/email and ask for the LOR. He/she will understand and supply one.

 

[jm192]

I have a related question.

Over winter break I was fortunate enough to find a family practice D.O. who was willing to let me shadow him for 1 week (25 hours total). I neglected to ask him for an LOR at the end of it because I wasn't sure how appropriate it would be considering I had just met him that week and all I had done was follow him around and ask occasional questions.
Would it be worth it to message him back and ask for an LOR just to jump through the hoop of most D.O. schools requiring/reccomending one even though the letter most likely would be pretty generic?
I feel that I made a pretty good impression on him, but it is somewhat unlikely that I would get the chance to shadow him again soon since he is in KCMO and I am currently in Omaha. (I live in KC and go to school at Creighton in Omaha,Nebraska)

Do it! I hate to make people feel put out. I didn't sell candy in grade school, cuz I really didn't feel like the teachers and my neighbors wanted to buy that crap. I didn't think a busy doctor would want to write me a letter. But from people I've talked to, this isn't a new requirement. Nearly all practicing DO's had to go through the same process.. They're very understanding about it. I've also heard in many cases you don't even have to shadow. Countless people just meet for a short informal interview type session and leave a resume'. 25 hours with this physician is awesome. I only spent 3.5 shadowing the DO that wrote mine.

 

[scummie]

Recommended = required.

Why sell yourself short when you've got everything else?

 

[marke]

I have to respectfully disagree. I applied with only MD LOR to 6 D.O. School and got interview invite from 5 of them. I interviewed at 2 so far and was accepted to both. I really think that the content of the LOR is more important than the tittle (MD or DO) behind the physician's name. If u have a MD LOR stating that u are a terrific applicant, it hella beats a DO LOR stating that u are just an average applicant. i am not saying that a DO LOR doesn't hold any weight, if u can get a great DO LOR, then by all means, get it. It'll only strengthen ur application. But if not, remember, it is just one part of ur application! just buff up the rest of ur app, i really believe that u'll be fine! good luck!

 

[Valvool]

I also had only MD LORS and received interviews and acceptances at DO programs.