How important is it do shadow a DO?

Started by KamG96
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KamG96

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Hi everyone,

When it comes to shadowing and volunteer hours how important is it to have it be a DO? Ive shadowed internal medicine NPs, Medical Imaging MD, Family PA, Emergency room MD, Emergency Department volunteering, and Surgery MD. I haven't shadowed any DOs. Will this drastically effect my application/will the committee really care?

Thanks for the feedback.
 
Some schools care, others like to see it, but won't necessarily hurt you. I never got the chance to shadow a DO before submitting my app, I received 2 DO acceptances. That being said, I applied to only the DO programs that would also accept MD letters. In that way, my opportunities were limited. The schools I did apply to and was rejected from/never heard back may have given me a shot if I had a DO letter. They probably assumed I wasn't passionate about the DO program enough to shadow a DO physician. Long story short, get a DO letter if you can, it will only help.

Volunteer hours should be very important as many DOs may choose to practice in underserved/underprivileged areas. I think any candidate going into the healthcare profession should get as many volunteer/clinical hours as possible.
 
KamG96 said:
Hi everyone,

When it comes to shadowing and volunteer hours how important is it to have it be a DO? Ive shadowed internal medicine NPs, Medical Imaging MD, Family PA, Emergency room MD, Emergency Department volunteering, and Surgery MD. I haven't shadowed any DOs. Will this drastically effect my application/will the committee really care?

Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...
Look at the schools you want to apply to and see if they require it, as some do and some don't and some don't care. There aren't that many DO schools in total, so it's worth making sure you check all the required boxes and some of the recommended for the schools you might apply to. There is some value to shadowing a DO though, as it can help answer the Why DO? question that most schools ask. Best of Luck!
 
I think it's important. I didn't have one but still managed an acceptance however. If I was applying again, I would definitely jump through that hoop


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LoR - not that important, I made a spreadsheet this cycle with all the DO schools and whether they need a DO letter and was able to apply to 20+ DO schools without one, with plenty of acceptances.

Shadowing - super important IMO. Gives you SO much perspective and SO much to talk about in regards to when they say, hey! why DO?!
 
Its pretty important. I didn't have a DO-LOR, but I did have DO shadowing experience and I made damn sure to say so. Admissions wants to see an interest in the field and it gives you something to talk about on interviews.
 
Personally I feel that applying to DO schools without a DO LOR is akin to any of the other crippling application mistakes premeds make, such as applying to primarily high tier schools and or applying to a small number of schools.
 
If I will only be shadow a DO for ~10-15 hours between now and when applications come out, is that really adequate time? I have ~20 hours of MD shadowing already and can get a LoR from an MD (I don't currently have a LoR from a physician).
 
I would think unless the school specifically asks for DO shadowing a MD would be perfectly fine. I have about 50 hrs shadowing a DO and will have letter of recommend from one. Im hoping that will help as I apply this coming cycle since My volunteer hrs are somewhat low. :/.
 
redj said:
I would think unless the school specifically asks for DO shadowing a MD would be perfectly fine. I have about 50 hrs shadowing a DO and will have letter of recommend from one. Im hoping that will help as I apply this coming cycle since My volunteer hrs are somewhat low. :/.
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Do DO schools actually care that much about volunteer hours? I have a large amount of clinical but very, very few non-clinical volunteer hours. I hope the disparity isn't too big of an issue!
 
I think all MD/DO schools care about them. Im the opposite :wideyed: . I work/worked in places dealing with patients all the time so i have a lot of clinical experience but pretty much all my volunteering hour are non clinical.
 
Phoodie said:
Do DO schools actually care that much about volunteer hours? I have a large amount of clinical but very, very few non-clinical volunteer hours. I hope the disparity isn't too big of an issue!
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It's like everything else on your application. The more things you have that make you stronger the better the odds. That said quality is much better than quantity.
 
Phoodie said:
Do DO schools actually care that much about volunteer hours? I have a large amount of clinical but very, very few non-clinical volunteer hours. I hope the disparity isn't too big of an issue!
Click to expand...

In my experience this cycle it is school dependent. Some schools have missions that are very much in line with community service and these schools may pass you by because they are serious about taking applicants who have served in their communities (tutoring, food banks, big brother/sister, etc..). Most schools include something about this in their mission but some actually take it seriously in admissions, while others don't as much.
 
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