How to apply DO?

[smartwater]

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Hi all, I've been taking the AAMC CBTs, and I haven't been doing too well (22-27), and am now seriously considering going the DO route, but I have no idea where to start. I know that the AACOMAS (sp?) is similar to the AMCAS, but how similar? How different is the application process for DO med school? This whole time I have been focusing on getting my MD application together, and I feel like it's a little too late to get familiar/comfortable with the AACOMAS if I'm supposed to be applying this summer. Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[cbrons]

Well they are pretty much the same. LORs are added to AACOMAS directly from interfolio, which is pretty sweet if you already have them up there like me.

 

[rugger14]

definitely not too late! there are several DO schools that require an LOR from a DO you shadowed. I don't know if you have done this yet, but you want to get a shadowing experience lined up soon (sometimes it takes a while for them to write the letter)

 

[bioman2006]

.

 

[Krisss17]

Realize though that DO schools are becoming a little more competitive so you will still want to do the best you can with the MCAT. You are also probably going to have to answer the question "why osteopathy?', so you will want to make sure that you do a little research. I am sure that they do not want to hear "because I didn't have the grades for MD."

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

22-27 is low for MD, but a 27 can get you in MD, so don't use that as a reason to apply DO.

BUT: DO schools are more comfortable allowing people to excel even if they aren't great test takers. It's nice to feel wanted even if you don't fit the mold of a "perfect pre-med". Shadow a DO, learn that a career as a DO is about the same as a career as an MD and start your application. You still have time to get a letter from a DO if you start looking now. Apply DO because it's a great career choice.

I think there are some really great DO programs out there, and had I applied DO last year, I'd probably be finishing OMS-1 right now!

Best of luck!

 

[smartwater]

Thanks guys. I shadowed a DO just once, but I had to put it on hold because I was working and studying for the MCAT. I'm gonna try and start up again, but I would still feel REAL uncomfortable with asking him for a letter. I feel like it would be so obvious that I'm just using him for a LOR. Is this a common feeling???

Also, is Interfolio the only way to get your LORs uploaded? Or does the AACOMAS have a letter uploading program like the AMCAS? I've already told all of my letter writers to go to the AMCAS website, so now I feel like I'm kinda screwed 🙁

 

[pseudoMCAT45]

Well they are pretty much the same. LORs are added to AACOMAS directly from interfolio, which is pretty sweet if you already have them up there like me.

when do we need to turn in LORs by? during secondary or in with aacomas?

 

[CycloneDO]

when do we need to turn in LORs by? during secondary or in with aacomas?

with secondary.

 

[CardioPlus]

Thanks guys. I shadowed a DO just once, but I had to put it on hold because I was working and studying for the MCAT. I'm gonna try and start up again, but I would still feel REAL uncomfortable with asking him for a letter. I feel like it would be so obvious that I'm just using him for a LOR. Is this a common feeling???

Also, is Interfolio the only way to get your LORs uploaded? Or does the AACOMAS have a letter uploading program like the AMCAS? I've already told all of my letter writers to go to the AMCAS website, so now I feel like I'm kinda screwed 🙁

1st off, you just have to ask and hope for the best. I felt weird asking my DO for a letter too 🙂

Secondly, AACOMAS doesn't have a similar letter uploading program like AMCAS. I know that my school uses interfolio to upload and send out my committee letter. Your definitely not screwed with your LORs. Professors know that things change, although I'm sure it may not be the easiest to get in touch with them again and make sure they send out their letters. But def get on that ASAP so you can get the wheels turning now. The good news with that is the LORs aren't needed until the secondaries, so you can ask them now and while you are waiting for them to be put on interfolio, you can be working on the primary, getting that submitted and verified.

Don't sweat it though, its still early in the cycle so as long as you get going it'll all come together shortly. Another good thing is that you can pretty much copy nd past your activity descriptions from AMCAS to AACOMAS ( but the character limit for AACOMAS is 750 as compared to about 1300 (I believe) on AMCAS, so you might have to trim some words/sentences). Definetely make the DO letter your top priority as it takes time to have the letter written, whereas the other letters are finished.

Best of Luck to you! Let me know how it comes alonggg

 

[pseudoMCAT45]

with secondary.

thnks, your bird looks awesome

 

[Powdermonkey]

22-27 is low for MD, but a 27 can get you in MD, so don't use that as a reason to apply DO.

BUT: DO schools are more comfortable allowing people to excel even if they aren't great test takers. It's nice to feel wanted even if you don't fit the mold of a "perfect pre-med". Shadow a DO, learn that a career as a DO is about the same as a career as an MD and start your application. You still have time to get a letter from a DO if you start looking now. Apply DO because it's a great career choice.

I think there are some really great DO programs out there, and had I applied DO last year, I'd probably be finishing OMS-1 right now!

Best of luck!

Uhhhhh.. Its exactly the same. We get more tools added to our toolbox to use to treat patients though because we learn OMT. Think of a DO as an MD++. 😀

Original poster: if you really want to consider a career as a DO you need to do some research about the profession. You'll find that they are strikingly similar. In fact they are licensed the same and a DO and an MD can practice in all the same fields. The AACOMAS application is practically the same as the AMCAS, just go fill it out and check it out. I didnt even know what a DO was the year I applied until about now so you're not too late at all.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Uhhhhh.. Its exactly the same. We get more tools added to our toolbox to use to treat patients though because we learn OMT. Think of a DO as an MD++. 😀

Original poster: if you really want to consider a career as a DO you need to do some research about the profession. You'll find that they are strikingly similar. In fact they are licensed the same and a DO and an MD can practice in all the same fields. The AACOMAS application is practically the same as the AMCAS, just go fill it out and check it out. I didnt even know what a DO was the year I applied until about now so you're not too late at all.

I was reffering to getting into allo-residencies being more difficult as a DO. In some programs you have to prove yourself more as a DO and in other programs you won't have access at all. The end result is the same, just some of the terrain is rockier.