Generic LOR from DO physician?

[Flux10567]

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Hi!

I shadowed a DO physician in Neurology for a couple of days last year and he agreed to write me a LOR for medical school. I wanted to shadow him for a couple of more days or even for weeks, but he kindly said that 2 days was all he could do. He sent in the letter to my interfolio account and also cc'ed me the letter.
Unfortunately, it's a short, generic letter (3 short paragraphs that is just less than 1/2 page) and I was wondering if I should shadow another DO in hopes of getting a better LOR in the 2.5 months I have until the cycle opens?

It was difficult enough to find a DO to allow me the chance to shadow (called around 25 before this one accepted) and I work full-time, so it would be difficult to fit things into my schedule.

thanks!

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I wouldnt worry about it too much. So long as the rest of your app is good and you have good letters from your professors and such then its fine. Honestly, the real utility of having a DO letter is simply to show that you are committed to DO and/or that you have shadowed a DO.

Obviously if an opportunity falls into your lap and you have the chance to get a better one, then by all means go for it. Otherwise I wouldnt worry about it. My DO letter was probably meh as well. The doc was a great guy but honestly he was just so freaking busy, I am surprised I got anything out of him, and even then it was after a few times bugging him/his receptionist. And even with this average/below average DO letter I had no problem getting into multiple schools, one of which I specifically remember saying that my letters were great - so I am assuming they were talking about my other letters, they never brought up the DO letter.

So n=1 there. You can PM me if you want any more info/help.

 

[keevwu]

I never had a DO letter. But I always felt as though having a DO letter is more important as an indicator that you are actually interested in Osteopathic Medicine and not just applying to DO schools as a backup. I think having a generic DO letter is better than having only MD letters when applying to DO schools.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I never had a DO letter. But I always felt as though having a DO letter is more important as an indicator that you are actually interested in Osteopathic Medicine and not just applying to DO schools as a backup. I think having a generic DO letter is better than having only MD letters when applying to DO schools.

Exactly, spot on. It's really just a symbol that you are committed to osteopathic med, that's basically it. Obviously good quality helps your app, but average quality honestly doesn't take away much because at least it's a DO letter.

 

[biodome92]

I found that having a DO letter sort of trumps having an MD letter. It's not because one is necessarily better than the other, though. I found that osteopathic schools are very picky about having a DO letter, while allopathic schools (at least the ones I applied to, n = 15) could really care less. I emailed all of my MD schools with this question before applying, and all replied that they viewed the DO designation as equal to the MD. I think that adcoms also realize that many physicians are very busy. The fact that a doc would stick their neck out for you speaks for itself.

I applied MD and DO with my lone DO letter, and have done quite well on both sides. I say take your letter and run with it!

Best of luck with you app!

 

[PlaqueBuster]

2.5 months is a long time. And you don't need to submit letters until after secondaries come in. That gives you an additional month of primaries being processed even if you submit on day 1. There is no harm in shadowing another DO if you really wanted to show your interest.

 

[JeBrAs]

OP, I too found it hard to meet with a DO. I didn't even get to shadow they guy because he was in more of an administrative position than a clinical position so I only got to meet with him for 1 hour in his office to talk about Osteopathic Medicine. Fortunately for me he offered to write me a LOR before I even got the chance to ask him. Just the fact that I had a DO LOR has helped me in my applications even though we only had a brief meeting. If you have LORs from people that do know you well, that can make up for the "genericness" of this DO LOR. You should be in good shape just having a DO LOR, good job!

 

[Dr. Death]

Thank you for posting and replying on this thread. I have been contacting DO's for weeks now and the only ones that have got back to me have said "we only allow 10 hours of shadowing the Dr." I feel much better now that I won't be the only one with a two paragraph LOR

 

[samac]

2.5 months is a long time. And you don't need to submit letters until after secondaries come in. That gives you an additional month of primaries being processed even if you submit on day 1. There is no harm in shadowing another DO if you really wanted to show your interest.

Is this still true for the next cycle as the letters will be sent to AACOMAS

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Is this still true for the next cycle as the letters will be sent to AACOMAS

Oh I do not know. I am just hearing about this now.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Is this still true for the next cycle as the letters will be sent to AACOMAS

I believe you "can" use AACOMAS, but at least for the next cycle you can still use interfolio or whatever. Personally I would not use the AACOMAS letter service, again at least for this first year. I would expect some bumps in the road since its their first time implementing it. Interfolio was incredibly easy and fast.

 

[HappyFeet14]

I shadowed a DO for just 1 day and they were kind enough to write me a generic LOR. I did not have any issues justifying my interest in osteopathic medicine throughout my cycle/interviews, though I did have other DO/MD shadowing (just no LORs from them). Like others have said, it is really to show your interest and have a DO physician in the field generally touch on your professionalism and character. Generic DO letter > MD letter > No letter > Red flag letter. You'll be fine!!

 

[Giovanotto]

I hate to ask, but what does a generic DO letter look like? I'm quite sure the DO I'm shadowing will have me write one and he will sign off on it. Any ideas?

 

[biodome92]

I believe you "can" use AACOMAS, but at least for the next cycle you can still use interfolio or whatever. Personally I would not use the AACOMAS letter service, again at least for this first year. I would expect some bumps in the road since its their first time implementing it. Interfolio was incredibly easy and fast.

There's an AACOMAS letter service now?

 

[PlaqueBuster]

I hate to ask, but what does a generic DO letter look like? I'm quite sure the DO I'm shadowing will have me write one and he will sign off on it. Any ideas?

Talk about your character/passion and how it aligns with that of a medical student. Then talk about your demeanor/interaction with physician and patients from the perspective of the physician.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

There's an AACOMAS letter service now?

That is the rumor going around. Someone posted an email they got from AACOMAS talking about updates coming for the 2016 entering class application. I havent actually been able to find much on it to be honest, but I have no reason to believe that its not legit. Its pretty much time that AACOMAS jumps into the 2000's with the rest of the other app systems haha. But we wont really know until May.

 

[biodome92]

That is the rumor going around. Someone posted an email they got from AACOMAS talking about updates coming for the 2016 entering class application. I havent actually been able to find much on it to be honest, but I have no reason to believe that its not legit. Its pretty much time that AACOMAS jumps into the 2000's with the rest of the other app systems haha. But we wont really know until May.

I logged into my 2015 AACOMAS account, and there is a message that details a list of changes/improvements to the app service. A letter service is, indeed, one of them.

I think the updates are very overdue. The shortcomings of AACOMAS, when compared to AMCAS, are rather pronounced.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I logged into my 2015 AACOMAS account, and there is a message that details a list of changes/improvements to the app service. A letter service is, indeed, one of them.

I think the updates are very overdue. The shortcomings of AACOMAS, when compared to AMCAS, are rather pronounced.

can you actually quote the email?

For whatever reason I never got it.

All the same, like I said earlier, I would probably still stick with Interfolio for this first year. Would be a shame to be a month behind or something because AACOMAS screwed something up - as they are known to do.

 

[biodome92]

can you actually quote the email?

For whatever reason I never got it.

All the same, like I said earlier, I would probably still stick with Interfolio for this first year. Would be a shame to be a month behind or something because AACOMAS screwed something up - as they are known to do.

February 6, 2015

Dear AACOMAS Applicants,

On behalf of AACOM, we would like to share with you exciting news that the AACOMAS application platform will change beginning with the 2016 AACOMAS cycle in May 2015. We initiated this change as a result of shifting dynamics in newer technology and association business needs. After careful and considerable review, Liaison International was the company that was identified to best meet AACOMAS requirements. They have demonstrated experience with other Central Application Services representing programs in the health professions. The depth of Liaison’s experience with implementing and running centralized application services for 28 other associations of schools for the health professions (ex. dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary), their capacity to expand the AACOMAS menu of services and features (ex. electronic letters of recommendation, enhanced application management services), and the ability to implement the new platform between application cycles, made Liaison the best choice for AACOM and our applicants.

The new application system will go live on May 5, 2015. To prepare for the launch of AACOM’s new application system, please be aware of the following important updates:

We strongly encourage you to save/print off a copy of your current AACOMAS application in the event you plan to re-apply.

• The 2016 AACOMAS Application will not have the roll-over feature. Re-applicants will need to re-submit all transcripts. (This feature will resume in the 2017 AACOMAS cycle)
• Applicants may begin to apply to 2016 AACOMAS the first week of May 2015. As in previous cycles, COMs will not receive applications until mid-June.
• Letters of Recommendation: AACOMAS will now be able to receive and process letters of recommendation directly. Letters may still be received from Virtual Evals, Interfolio, and USPS mail.
• Military and foreign coursework will no longer be verified by AACOMAS nor included in the GPA. AACOMAS will still collect these transcripts and evaluations and make them available to the COMs for review. WES along with other foreign transcript evaluators will process these and forward them to AACOMAS.

More details about these changes are forthcoming. We will be communicating updates on our website:www.aacom.org , AACOMAS Facebook page, Twitter, and with our member medical schools. Should you have questions, please contact [email protected].

Thank you.

John Roane, Jr.

Chief Operating Officer

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Awesome, thanks so much, hopefully others will see it.

 

[Maps]

OP, I too found it hard to meet with a DO. I didn't even get to shadow they guy because he was in more of an administrative position than a clinical position so I only got to meet with him for 1 hour in his office to talk about Osteopathic Medicine. Fortunately for me he offered to write me a LOR before I even got the chance to ask him. Just the fact that I had a DO LOR has helped me in my applications even though we only had a brief meeting. If you have LORs from people that do know you well, that can make up for the "genericness" of this DO LOR. You should be in good shape just having a DO LOR, good job!

I'm doing the exact same thing as well! I found a super nice DO who is willing to just sit down and talk to me for an hour. I was wondering, how did you report this on your AACOMAS application? Because technically this would not be "shadowing" right?

 

[JeBrAs]

I'm doing the exact same thing as well! I found a super nice DO who is willing to just sit down and talk to me for an hour. I was wondering, how did you report this on your AACOMAS application? Because technically this would not be "shadowing" right?

I labeled it "Interview with a DO" and then for the duration I put 1 hour and then I summarized the interview in the explanation.