DO vs MD LOR: Help deciding?

[100chickadees]

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Hey friends! I'm planning on applying to DO schools this application cycle (June, if everything goes according to plans) and am having trouble finding DOs to shadow for more than a few hours.

I was able to shadow an MD for ~25 hours, and things went well with this individual, so I've been thinking about asking her for a letter of recommendation. I also shadowed an ER DO, but they only agreed to 4 hours of shadowing and I wasn't able to connect with them very well in that short time span.

I also just today lined up a full work day (~8 hours) of shadowing with another local DO and tried to arrange a weekly thing or at least a few days of shadowing, but the office manager said that I can only do one day because "once you've observed for one day, you've really seen it all".

My question is: should I try to get a letter from a DO that I've only shadowed for ~8 hours, keep trying to meet new DOs in the hopes of shadowing for more hours before June, or ask the MD I've shadowed for ~25 hours for a letter of recommendation?

Side question: when I do ask for a letter of recommendation from a physician, what exactly should I tell them to write about? What sort of information should I provide them with?

Sorry for the somewhat lengthy post, and thanks for taking the time to read it!! 🙂

 

[Meekor]

Get letters from both.

 

[mc_bio19]

Definitely get a letter from the MD, but I would also try and get a letter from the DO if the experience goes well.

 

[Cardboard101]

Get both. Prioritize the DO letter.
I'd give them a packet that includes your resume with your volunteer activities/experience and a 1-page guide to writing LORs for DO schools. 8 hours isn't enough to really get to know you, so give them as much information as you can. The more you help them, the more they can help you.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Some DO schools (admittedly not many, but still some) require a DO letter, so definitely get it. Even if it isn't a "strong" one that you want to include on all your apps, you can save it just in case you end up applying to one of the schools that requires it and send it just to them. But, a DO LOR is always beneficial when applying to a DO school.

 

[Magus5454]

Some DO schools (admittedly not many, but still some) require a DO letter, so definitely get it. Even if it isn't a "strong" one that you want to include on all your apps, you can save it just in case you end up applying to one of the schools that requires it and send it just to them. But, a DO LOR is always beneficial when applying to a DO school.

IIRC, you cant split letters on AACOMAS like you can on AMCAS