Is it okay if I use the same personal statement for AMCAS and AACOMAS?

[CupcakeMD]

I will be applying to MD and DO schools this year. Do you think it's okay if I use the same personal statement for MD and DO schools? If you are applying to both as well, will you be doing it? Or has anyone done so, and everything turned out okay?

I'm just a bit worried. I know DO and MD schools are distinct from each other and proudly embody different philosophies. I heard DO's schools would like to see "committed" applicants, and not just applicants using them as a back-up. However, it is always stressed that DO's can do exactly what MD's do. I would like to practice medicine, regardless of the title. Applicants for AMCAS don't necessarily have to demonstrate they have a deep understanding and commitment to allopathic medicine, so is it important that AACOMAS applicants do?

What do you guys think??

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[ODorDO]

I would use the same one, since i've heard that most D.O.'s secondaries emphasize on "why D.O.?" than just "why physician?"

it's just my opinion, lets hear from more experienced applicants. 🙂

 

[engineeredout]

Use the same. Save your "Why DO specific" for the secondaries which ask for it, or the interviews which will definitely ask about it.

 

[The Poet Sings]

so you guys really wouldn't mention anything about omm in your do personal statement? i have it in mine (still a draft, though) because i thought it was an important thing to mention... but i wouldn't want to restate the same thing in a secondary. i basically wrote that i'm interested in omm because i have scoliosis and i'd want to be able to learn more musculoskeletal stuff to be able to treat others with musculoskeletal disorders etc etc. thoughts?

 

[MikeTheGipper]

so you guys really wouldn't mention anything about omm in your do personal statement? i have it in mine (still a draft, though) because i thought it was an important thing to mention... but i wouldn't want to restate the same thing in a secondary. i basically wrote that i'm interested in omm because i have scoliosis and i'd want to be able to learn more musculoskeletal stuff to be able to treat others with musculoskeletal disorders etc etc. thoughts?

I personally did emphasize "why D.O." in my personal statement last year. I did apply to MD schools also and essentially my essay was the same, but for the DO application I did specificaly explain how/why I wanted to become an osteopathic physician, how it fits my personality, and how I was inspired by my former pediatrician (who is a DO) and so forth. Of course in your secondaries and interviews you will go on to further explain "why DO" but personally I think you should absolutely touch on it in your personal statement.

 

[L743]

I used the same exact essay for both and was accepted at both. The secondaries are where you can directly address why the certain school and why DO or MD. Other than that, show passion for being a physician in general. As a side note, during an interview I explained that treatment philosophy is individual and does not depend upon the medical school attended. The interviewer seemed really receptive to this thought.

 

[Tuckermans]

I also used the exact same personal statement and was offered interviews at both. It did not really hurt my application at all. I was asked about it at both Osteopathic and Allopathic interviews, but the questions were not "this seems odd etc." rather "please explain X in your personal statement". Both types of schools seemed to view at as completely sufficient.

I would address your commitment to medicine in general, not just to the "Osteopathic Philosophy". I explained my personal philosophy towards medicine in my interviews, and that got me four acceptances. Say why you want to go into medicine and be passionate about it; that will stand out far more than a creative repetition of philosophy that is arguably still used. Good luck!🙂

 

[Tuckermans]

.

 

[Semicolon]

Use the same. Save your "Why DO specific" for the secondaries which ask for it, or the interviews which will definitely ask about it.

+1 👍

You'll get plenty of opportunities to explain your love for osteopathic medicine in your secondaries and interviews. Save it for then.

 

[RySerr21]

I will be applying to MD and DO schools this year. Do you think it's okay if I use the same personal statement for MD and DO schools? If you are applying to both as well, will you be doing it? Or has anyone done so, and everything turned out okay?

I'm just a bit worried. I know DO and MD schools are distinct from each other and proudly embody different philosophies. I heard DO's schools would like to see "committed" applicants, and not just applicants using them as a back-up. However, it is always stressed that DO's can do exactly what MD's do. I would like to practice medicine, regardless of the title. Applicants for AMCAS don't necessarily have to demonstrate they have a deep understanding and commitment to allopathic medicine, so is it important that AACOMAS applicants do?

What do you guys think??

make it easier on yourself and just use the same one. you can show your "commitmment" to osteopathic medicien by showoing that youve done work with DOs or maybe even have a letter from a DO. It won't make a difference whether you talk about it in the PS or not.

 

[Revilla]

I personally did emphasize "why D.O." in my personal statement last year. I did apply to MD schools also and essentially my essay was the same, but for the DO application I did specificaly explain how/why I wanted to become an osteopathic physician, how it fits my personality, and how I was inspired by my former pediatrician (who is a DO) and so forth. Of course in your secondaries and interviews you will go on to further explain "why DO" but personally I think you should absolutely touch on it in your personal statement.

I didn't emphasize "why DO" in my PS, but was told I should have. I don't think it'll hold you back from getting an interview/acceptance, but it's one of those things that if you can do it, why not? Don't go on and on about it (you'll have time for that in the secondary and during the interview), but if you can, touch on it briefly.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

i was really glad i used the same personal statement for both app services.

the DO secondaries pretty much all asked "why DO?," so I was glad I still had some ammo left for that question and didn't use it all on the PS.

 

[engineeredout]

I didn't emphasize "why DO" in my PS, but was told I should have. I don't think it'll hold you back from getting an interview/acceptance, but it's one of those things that if you can do it, why not? Don't go on and on about it (you'll have time for that in the secondary and during the interview), but if you can, touch on it briefly.

So you have something original to say on the secondary or in an interview. They don't want to hear a restatement of your personal statement.

 

[CupcakeMD]

Thanks everyone! This helped alot.

 

[bioman2006]

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[Bacchus]

I didn't emphasize DO in my personal statement. I wrote one and used it for both. Save your OMM experience for the interviews since its the most tangible reason you'll have to sway your interviewers. Philosophy is great, but OMM is an actual experience you can have.

 

[Revilla]

So you have something original to say on the secondary or in an interview. They don't want to hear a restatement of your personal statement.

So you can't expand on what you say in your personal statement during interviews? I don't know about that. In my interviews, my personal statement came up quite a bit and we talked about some of things I mentioned. I assume this would be the same.

As for secondaries, those are essays. I'm not saying to make his personal statement about "why DO?" Obviously, you save that for secondaries. I'm just saying that I was told to touch on it (briefly) if I had to reapply. Putting in one or two lines about osteopathic medicine won't hurt you, IMO.