Importance of LOR from DO, Applying later

[stunod123]

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Hi everyone,

1. How important is a LOR from a DO for the schools that don't require one? I still have yet to shadow a DO... :/ Will probably get that done in the next few weeks though.

2. How bad is it to apply to DO schools in June? I'm currently swamped with school work (Qtr system), EC, and applying via TMDSAS/AMCAS so I may not be able to submit until mid June. Am I at a significant disadvantage?

Brief overview of myself: 4th year asian male, Texas resident, attending a top 25 OOS university in California, cGPA~3.5 sGPA~3.3 MCAT: 511 (129,125,129,128) Plenty of valuable EC in health care, community service, and research.

Thanks in advance for any input! 🙂

 

[DrMikeP]

Hi everyone,

1. How important is a LOR from a DO for the schools that don't require one? I still have yet to shadow a DO... :/ Will probably get that done in the next few weeks though.

2. How bad is it to apply to DO schools in June? I'm currently swamped with school work (Qtr system), EC, and applying via TMDSAS/AMCAS so I may not be able to submit until mid June. Am I at a significant disadvantage?

Brief overview of myself: 4th year asian male, Texas resident, attending a top 25 OOS university in California, cGPA~3.5 sGPA~3.3 MCAT: 511 (129,125,129,128) Plenty of valuable EC in health care, community service, and research.

Thanks in advance for any input! 🙂

This has been discussed many times on SDN... Do some searching for more detailed answers but here's a summary.

1. It's one of the few things toward your application that you can actually do something about through effort. It is necessary for some schools (The school requirements are available on AACOM site) and not for others that will accept MD instead and people get into some DO schools without a DO one. That said, if you are on the edge of accept vs not then the DO letter might just push you over it to acceptance and given some schools require it, so unless there is a good reason you can't then get one or you've limited yourself needlessly! Even if you don't have it by the time of submission it's still worth getting on by secondaries.

2. For DO.. June to mid July is still early.

Your stats are decent so apply early and broadly and you'll likely get some II's. I'd recommend applying in TX and out.

Best of Luck!

 

[Goro]

At my school, which does not require the DO LOR, it is a MAJOR plus. The DOs on the Adcom will always ask if a candidate has a DO LOR.

Hi everyone,

1. How important is a LOR from a DO for the schools that don't require one? I still have yet to shadow a DO... :/ Will probably get that done in the next few weeks though.

2. How bad is it to apply to DO schools in June? I'm currently swamped with school work (Qtr system), EC, and applying via TMDSAS/AMCAS so I may not be able to submit until mid June. Am I at a significant disadvantage?

Brief overview of myself: 4th year asian male, Texas resident, attending a top 25 OOS university in California, cGPA~3.5 sGPA~3.3 MCAT: 511 (129,125,129,128) Plenty of valuable EC in health care, community service, and research.

Thanks in advance for any input! 🙂