length of shadowing?

[paperclips]

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I am planning on applying early in 2013. However, I have not shadowed a DO before, but have plenty of MD shadowing. Do I have enough time from today to June to get a meaningful experience shadowing a DO? How much experience do DO schools expect applicants to have?

Thank you.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I would say shadow at least 20-30 hours. But some will write you a letter sooner. It depends on how much the doc wants you to shadow, too.

 

[GopherMD]

I shadowed one D.O. for around 15 hours and sent in his letter around August to all the D.O. schools. I have been accepted to three schools so far. I think at least 10-15 hours should suffice. Good luck with the application process!

 

[zoner]

I shadowed 16 hours, for four hours at a time. And I did it in May and I got an awesome LOR from one of the doctor I shadowed. He was brilliant and he said some really positive things about me. We clicked so I guess I got lucky.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I shadowed one D.O. for around 15 hours and sent in his letter around August to all the D.O. schools. I have been accepted to three schools so far. I think at least 10-15 hours should suffice. Good luck with the application process!

There you go. It doesnt have to be 1000 hours+! 🙂

 

[paperclips]

Fantastic. I was afraid I would have to match my MD shadowing, which may prove difficult.

Thanks!👍

 

[sc4s2cg]

Fantastic. I was afraid I would have to match my MD shadowing, which may prove difficult.

Thanks!👍

No, you don't have to match it. I shadowed 20 hours DO and 40 hours MD, got accepted to two osteopathic schools so far. All my interviewers asked me about what I thought the difference between MD and DO was, and kind of expected me to answer why I chose one over the other.

 

[dfib slim]

.

 

[BrianK0220]

The DO I shadowed said he'd write me a letter after shadowing him for four hours. Another said not yet after twenty four hours. Find someone you click with a don't waste your time. First impressions are key. Find someone as close as possible to your gender, age, background, etc.

 

[abolt18]

I shadowed a guy for about 2.5 hours a week for 4 months. You have loads of time but I'd start trying to organize it NOW and start shadowing ASAP. There are few things more frustrating than being done with ALL your secondary apps and waiting on a freakin LOR before schools will look at you.

 

[BuddyTheElf]

Like others have posted, it depends on the person. I shadowed one DO for 4 hours and he offered to write a letter for me. Try to get more out of it than just a letter, though. Good luck next year!

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I would say there are no set hours. However long you think it takes to feel comfortable enough for someone to write you a letter.

If I were an attending, which isn't all that far off, I would expect at least a couple of OR days and a couple of clinic days eg 2 weeks of shadowing.

 

[HH8911]

I shadowed a DO in family practice for about 20 hrs over the course of a couple months, and he wrote me a good letter within a week after I asked. I gave him a resume and summary of my EC's too so he could personalize it a bit. I think a bit of preparation on my part led to the speedy turnaround, so I would suggest putting together a packet with all required info. I've gotten letters pretty quick by doing that (with professors too).

Good luck!

 

[drshark]

20 hours is a good amount, the more the better but don't feel like you need 50+ hours

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

I spent one 8 hour day with a DO and he felt comfortable writing me a LOR. Just contact a few offices and see what you come across. Unless you find a doc who uses omm everyday in practice don't count on seeing it in your brief time shadowing.

 

[Columbia09]

I shadowed a DO for 4 hours and got a letter out of it. Out of the 10 schools I applied to I got 7 interviews and was accepted to the first one I went to.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your GPA and your MCAT score?

 

[dfib slim]

.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I did 40, but it was my only shadowing...

 

[paperclips]

Also, since I have your attention, what is my chance at a DO in CA? How about nationwide? I'd be so happy to attend Tour or WesternU, so I can stay close to friends and family.

cGPA 3.67 l sGPA 3.50 l MCAT 30Q

Volunteer/Shadow
Volunteer 1.5 years in a hospice, 300 Hours
Volunteer Emergency Room @ local SD hospital, 3 months, ~50 Hours
Shadowed/Volunteered with multiple endocrine surgeons @ UCSF for 6 months, 192 Hours
Shadowed Cardiologist @ UCSD 2 months, 32 Hours

Nonmedical EC
San Francisco Food Bank, present, currently 1 month
Elementary school volunteer tutor, 3 years
Program director of elementary tutoring program, 1 year
Officer of a non-profit volunteer organization, 1 year
Editor in chief of magazine, 1 year
Photojournalist, 2 years

No research

Employment
9 Months, Marketing Assistant, Part Time
3 Months -- Present, Administrative Assistant, Full Time
3 Months, Community Organizer, Obama for America, Full Time

*MCAT is 11BS, 8VR, 11PS

 

[pre med 2014]

Also, since I have your attention, what is my chance at a DO in CA? How about nationwide? I'd be so happy to attend Tour or WesternU, so I can stay close to friends and family.

cGPA 3.67 l sGPA 3.50 l MCAT 30Q

Volunteer/Shadow
Volunteer 1.5 years in a hospice, 300 Hours
Volunteer Emergency Room @ local SD hospital, 3 months, ~50 Hours
Shadowed/Volunteered with multiple endocrine surgeons @ UCSF for 6 months, 192 Hours
Shadowed Cardiologist @ UCSD 2 months, 32 Hours

Nonmedical EC
San Francisco Food Bank, present, currently 1 month
Elementary school volunteer tutor, 3 years
Program director of elementary tutoring program, 1 year
Officer of a non-profit volunteer organization, 1 year
Editor in chief of magazine, 1 year
Photojournalist, 2 years

No research

Employment
9 Months, Marketing Assistant, Part Time
3 Months -- Present, Administrative Assistant, Full Time
3 Months, Community Organizer, Obama for America, Full Time

*MCAT is 11BS, 8VR, 11PS

Those are MD stats. I would leave out that Obama experience - you could get a republican interviewer

 

[paperclips]

Really? I'm very proud of that experience. And I thought it may be a positive since medicine/science is relatively liberal.

Edit: In hindsight, you may have a point. It only takes one conservative to get a rejection letter.

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