Is DO shadowing required for DO acceptance?

[premedmind]

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I've shadowed an MD but I've heard I should at least talk to a DO and get a letter from him saying I know what the DO profession is all about. Is this true?

What is the easiest way to find a DO to talk to or even shadow? By the way....I just finished junior year and would like acceptance for 2010...am I too late to do this?

 

[Evergrey]

Edit: Oops I dunno where I read that then.. 😛

AOA maintains a directory of D.O.'s, and you can use it to search for D.O.s nearby to shadow and then hopefully ask for a LOR: http://www.osteopathic.org/directory.cfm

(I think I used to know a database where it listed only D.O. physicians who are offering for people to shadow them, but I can't find it.)

Edit: Yeah accidental misinformation, not my best moment. I read on my school website that they want you to have a D.O. rec for the premed committee if you're applying D.O., but I thought that was for AACOMAS, not their own purposes. My bad.

 

[slim78]

You must have a letter of recommendation from a D.O. for the AACOMAS. It is mandatory (I'm not sure if it can be waived).

AOA maintains a directory of D.O.'s, and you can use it to search for D.O.s nearby to shadow and then hopefully ask for a LOR: http://www.osteopathic.org/directory.cfm

(I think I used to know a database where it listed only D.O. physicians who are offering for people to shadow them, but I can't find it.)

Really? Is this a new requirement? I never shadowed a DO or obtained/submitted a DO LoR and received multiple acceptances.

 

[bcgans]

This information is wrong. You do not necessarily need a letter from a DO to get accepted into a DO program. Each school has instructions as to whether it is a requirement. You most certainly DO NOT need ANY letters for the AACOMAS primary application. LORs are part of the secondary application process.

Which schools require a DO LOR? --> This link will open a spreadsheet that has DO schools and if they require an LOR. Thanks chocolate bear, I hope I didn't offend you by lifting your link.

 

[fitz0809]

This information is wrong. You do not necessarily need a letter from a DO to get accepted into a DO program. Each school has instructions as to whether it is a requirement. You most certainly DO NOT need ANY letters for the AACOMAS primary application. LORs are part of the secondary application process.

Which schools require a DO LOR? --> This link will open a spreadsheet that has DO schools and if they require an LOR. Thanks chocolate bear, I hope I didn't offend you by lifting your link.

Agreed. You definitely don't need a letter from a DO for all schools.

On the other hand it is a good idea to at least find one to shadow to show that you are interested in osteopathic medicine.

 

[Siggy]

You must have a letter of recommendation from a D.O. for the AACOMAS. It is mandatory (I'm not sure if it can be waived).

AOA maintains a directory of D.O.'s, and you can use it to search for D.O.s nearby to shadow and then hopefully ask for a LOR: http://www.osteopathic.org/directory.cfm

(I think I used to know a database where it listed only D.O. physicians who are offering for people to shadow them, but I can't find it.)

 

[quynhhuong]

I conquer! You do not need to shadow a DO. Some schools don't even require a DO letter, but some do. So you should do ur research thoroughly. Use the OMCIB as ur bible after u finished with ur MCAT, go on the schools' websites 'cause some of them have secondary questions on pdf file, too.

If you can't find a DO to shadow, u could drive out of ur city range and schedule a lunch with a DO who's willing to help u 'cause the DO that I'm shadowing right now did the same thing. He had lunch with this guy, wrote him a LOR n that guy got into PNWU. Make sure u know wat u r getting urself into if ur heart is set on becoming a DO, have bunch of questions, n be friendly.

Most DOs understand that every doctor has to go thru the same process and they're more than happy to help.

 

[sylvanthus]

I applied to every DO program that did not require a DO letter and I believe that number came out to be 16 schools I put in primaries at.

So, no, you do not need a DO letter. I'm not sure where the above poster got his information that it is absolutely required, so be careful who you listen to on here is my only thought.

 

[sylvanthus]

Sorry for the double post. I would also like to add that if you can get a "good" letter from an MD as opposed to an "ok" letter from a DO you hardly know, go for the MD letter.

That is the choice that I made and it worked out well. My MD letter also made mention of how I was a good fit for an osteopathic school, so if you can get him/her to make mention of that I think it would help.

 

[not so calm now]

Sorry for the double post. I would also like to add that if you can get a "good" letter from an MD as opposed to an "ok" letter from a DO you hardly know, go for the MD letter.

Why not get both? It definitely can't hurt to have a DO letter, especially if you have a stronger MD letter.

 

[slim78]

Even though I didn't have a DO letter I applied to a school that required one. They granted me an interview and gave me the email address of one of their on-campus DOs to meet with on interview day. Seemed like they weren't too strict on the whole DO LoR thing even though they supposedly "required" it. They were very willing to work with me.

I agree that if you CAN get one you should, but if you can't don't let that stop you from applying anyway.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Thanks chocolate bear, I hope I didn't offend you by lifting your link.

Certainly not! My links are to help make things easier for everyone. Lift them any time--you don't even need to cite me as the source! A few of them, like that spreadsheet were from other helpful posters, anyway. 😀 👍