In a sort of dilemma

[Lord Vader]

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Hi all,

So I am in the process of submitting the supplementals to the schools I am applying to. I noticed that most of the schools I'm applying to suggest you have a recommendation letter from an Osteopathic Physician, and two of them actual require it. I am shadowing an Osteopathic Physician at the moment. However, I've only been shadowing him since January and even then I've only had 5 four hour long sessions with him. Furthermore I don't want to risk having him write my letter for me because I feel like I haven't really gotten to know him that well since he typically is too busy to pay me any attention throughout the day. Should I just write the recommendation letter in his name? Even if I ask him to write me a letter, I'm afraid he'll take his time, which is bad since some of the deadlines are coming up.

 

[Kevin Baker]

Are you applying for this current cycle? Or the 2011-2012 cycle?

 

[Lord Vader]

For the current cycle. Yes I know it's late but I had trouble getting the required number of recommendation letters in the first place.

 

[Kevin Baker]

I'd recommend doing whatever you can to get that DO letter ASAP and I'd explain the situation to him/her. I'd also write your own letter beforehand that he or she can simply sign. Writing your own letter is common enough in grad school apps that it won't seem too weird.

It may take him/her 4 weeks to write a letter and get it to you or interfolio.

 

[Easy C]

Just a few things.

Should I just write the recommendation letter in his name?

Short answer, If you have permission then do it! If you dont then you are a liar.

If I knew who you where and knew that you did not have the person's permission to write a letter of recommendation for yourself on their behalf I would out you for dishonesty! I also personally would not chance it. Some schools do send out e-mails that ask a recommend writer more basic questions about an applicant. Not necessarily to see if they did write a letter but sometimes schools are looking for certain things and these small questionnaires help get those things answered.

BUT, if you had the Doctors permission to write your own letter and he was willing to sign it, slap it on his letterhead and send it to the schools for you then Awesome! This kind of thing happens a lot.

So I am in the process of submitting the supplementals to the schools I am applying to.MCAT was 26P, my GPA is 3.53 and my Science GPA was 3.25.

You are a bit late in the game. If you still dont have a DO letter in then this late in the ballgame you might get wait listed at a school. Most schools have applicants they have had sitting around since September, and they have either sent in Letters of Intent, Re-taken the MCAT, or shown some other interest to make themselves more appealing for the spots schools still have open.

Your stats are not bad one bit! But the early bird does get the worm in the application process.

I would either get permission to write your own letter or just be honest with the Doc, Hey I need a letter by this date, would you mind writing it. Most Doctors can sympathize with the application process and are more than happy to help you out. Also some schools don't hold the DO letter too high in entrance weight, some just want it others do weigh it heavily. Id research into the schools you really want to get into and see how they evaluate the letter in your whole application.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[fiznat]

Should I just write the recommendation letter in his name?

While you're at it why don't you send in forged transcripts?

Worst idea ever. Don't do that. You're really really late at this point. Talk to your DO and see if he can bang out a letter really quick. If not, look towards next year. Your stats are decent, you'll get in somewhere for sure.

 

[aspirant11]

First of, check out these deadlines:

http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2011cib/2011cib-p18.pdf


Second, take into consideration that there are thousands of applicants who have been complete for MONTHS, so turning in secondaries now is not favorable--however, there is always a chance that you can/will receive a late interview (but slim IMO)

So, if I was in your position I would apply VERY early in the upcoming cycle. I would have all of my letters of recommendation downloaded in interfolio, AND have my personal statement on point.

Best of luck.

BTW, if you're sincere about osteopathic medicine and if you are able to articulate your passion for medicine, then I think you will have a solid chance of getting some interviews.

And in the mean time, gobble up some meaningful volunteer hours... Dominate.

ciao.

 

[jellybean13]

Wait... are you really asking if you should FORGE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM A DO because you feel that you haven't been shadowing them long enough to ask for a letter?

I really, really hope I misread what you were asking OP...

Wow.

 

[poopyhead]

Wait... are you really asking if you should FORGE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM A DO because you feel that you haven't been shadowing them long enough to ask for a letter?

I really, really hope I misread what you were asking OP...

Wow.

I'm assuming he meant that he would write the letter first. Then, the DO would look over it, add stuff, and/or make any modifications before signing it. I've encountered this before myself. Sometimes the "big shots" are busy, and they trust that you can describe yourself pretty well.

 

[seap3]

Wait... are you really asking if you should FORGE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM A DO because you feel that you haven't been shadowing them long enough to ask for a letter?

I really, really hope I misread what you were asking OP...

Wow.

+1

Unfortunately, I think that is exactly what the OP is asking. The answer is NO! It is not ok to forge a LOR just because you waited too long in the cycle and are afraid to ask for a letter. Yikes. I really hope the adcoms are reading this and question any letters that come in this late in the cycle from someone with those stats (btw, incase of a post deletion they are 26P, 3.53, 3.25).

When I think about everything I went through to get my REAL DO letters last spring & summer and then someone comes along asking this...... I feel like

Alright, I admit this post is coming off really crabby, but come on people, this question is rediculous.

 

[Druggernaut]

My DO letter came from a physician I shadowed once for three or four hours almost a year before I applied. At the end of that day, he offered to write me a recommendation if I needed one. I intended to shadow more closer to the time I wanted the letter, but things didn't work out that way, and his first notice that I wanted a letter was via my pre-med advisor mailing him a request for one. He wrote it, and I'm starting school next year. You've spent more than enough time with this guy to ask for a letter; they know you need them. Don't forge a recommendation.

You may have waited too long to have a realistic shot at an acceptance this year anyway, though.

 

[kcin]

^^

Agreed. A lot of physicians realize the whole application system is a game and won't make you shadow for endless hours before providing a letter. I shadowed a DO a couple times, but he provided me a letter after the first time. However, you're throwing your money down the toilet at this point in the cycle.