listing DO shadowing in AMCAS application

[iluvmed&ba6eekh]

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i'm applying for both the MD ad DO route this cycle, and i've shadowed both an MD and a DO throughout that past couple of months. i've learned a lot about medicine from both physicians, both experiences were really valuable. so i'm tempted to list the DO shadowing as well as the MD shadowing in my AMCAS application.

would any of the allo adcoms have any issues with this?

 

[Depakote]

i'm applying for both the MD ad DO route this cycle, and i've shadowed both an MD and a DO throughout that past couple of months. i've learned a lot about medicine from both physicians, both experiences were really valuable. so i'm tempted to list the DO shadowing as well as the MD shadowing in my AMCAS application.

would any of the allo adcoms have any issues with this?

A doctor is a doctor. Go ahead and list both.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

im listing all physicians ive shadowed.
however, im not using my LOR from the DO in my AMCAS app.
despite it praising my involvement at the patient interaction level...oh well🙄

 

[dtepper]

Yea, what they said. List both. As far as LOR (if you're getting one) it's iffy.
MrMatt... I did the exact same thing. Listed DO shadowing on app, not using it for AMCAS. Just letting you know to maybe make ya feel better.

 

[shaggybill]

Hmm...last time I checked, DO's are physicians too. And if a DO states in an LOR that you would make a stellar doctor, than I don't see why it should matter what letters the initial behind his name are.

As far as listing the DO shadowing, you'd be crazy not to (even more crazy than not including the DO LOR).

 

[BklynWill]

Why would a letter from a DO be harmful for your application to an MD school?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

a LOR from my DO would (potentially) hurt me for AMCAS because it stresses a motivation to learn OMM at osteopathic programs. No mention of allopathic at all.
i just get the sense the adcom would read it and think...well why the hell is this guy applying for MD?!

 

[RySerr21]

a LOR from my DO would (potentially) hurt me for AMCAS because it stresses a motivation to learn OMM at osteopathic programs. No mention of allopathic at all.
i just get the sense the adcom would read it and think...well why the hell is this guy applying for MD?!

i feel you on that one....i have two letters from a DO....one is specific to osteopathic medicine and the other never metnions it so that I can use it for my MD applications as well. hopefully it worked out okay.

 

[deleted74029]

i feel you on that one....i have two letters from a DO....one is specific to osteopathic medicine and the other never metnions it so that I can use it for my MD applications as well. hopefully it worked out okay.

I'm sure you probably already have heard this, but if you haven't did you know that the physician in your avatar is actually a D.O.

 

[Depakote]

I'm sure you probably already have heard this, but if you haven't did you know that the physician in your avatar is actually a D.O.

I suspect ryser was going for irony.

Anyway, to comment on the DO LORs, if you have one that sings your praises about the desire to learn OMM and is tailored to DO schools, then yes, you should probably avoid sending this to MD schools. However, if you have a letter from a DO that simply comments on your desire to become a physician then there is no reason not to send this to both MD and DO schools.

 

[175961]

I can only think of one example (I'm sure there are more, though)...UofU med school says that when shadowing MD, DO will work fine, and nothing else. However, most DO schools that I've been looking at prefer a LOR from a doc that is a DO (duh), as I'm sure MD school would prefer an MD. But when it comes to shadowing I dont think it matters

 

[Depakote]

I can only think of one example (I'm sure there are more, though)...UofU med school says that when shadowing MD, DO will work fine, and nothing else. However, most DO schools that I've been looking at prefer a LOR from a doc that is a DO (duh), as I'm sure MD school would prefer an MD. But when it comes to shadowing I dont think it matters

Many DO schools would like to see that you understand the DO philosophy and have seen it in action. (theoretically) Subsequently, they want a letter from a DO attesting to that fact. MD schools just want to see that you've seen a doctor in action, they don't draw a distinction between MD and DO, they'll take a letter from either (but it would be stupid to send a letter saying how you are gung-ho for OMM to MD schools).

Side note: I was accepted to 4 DO schools with LORs from MDs only so these aren't hard and fast rules.

 

[175961]

Many DO schools would like to see that you understand the DO philosophy and have seen it in action. (theoretically) Subsequently, they want a letter from a DO attesting to that fact. MD schools just want to see that you've seen a doctor in action, they don't draw a distinction between MD and DO, they'll take a letter from either (but it would be stupid to send a letter saying how you are gung-ho for OMM to MD schools).

Side note: I was accepted to 4 DO schools with LORs from MDs only so these aren't hard and fast rules.

In your honest opinion would you be worried about it at all. Personally I just want to be a doctor...prefer MD, but wont being crying the blues if I have to go DO. All of my shadowing experiences have been with an MD, although I do plan on applying to DO school as well. You think I should be trying to squeeze DOs in there as well when I shadow, or is it not that big a deal??

 

[Depakote]

In your honest opinion would you be worried about it at all. Personally I just want to be a doctor...prefer MD, but wont being crying the blues if I have to go DO. All of my shadowing experiences have been with an MD, although I do plan on applying to DO school as well. You think I should be trying to squeeze DOs in there as well when I shadow, or is it not that big a deal??

Not having a DO LOR did limit my options when I applied to DO schools, but as I said, I still got in to 4 schools. I just had to pick those 4 carefully to make sure they didn't require the DO LOR, but they were great schools and I would have been happy at any of them. If you do get a DO LOR, you'll have a lot more options, if it doesn't speak specifically to your desire to become a DO versus a physician, you can use it at MD schools as well.


summary: If you have time/the opportunity, getting a DO LOR will make life easier and give you more choices, but it's not necessary.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

IF you can shadow a DO with relative ease, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY!
i had to drive a whole hour every time i shadowed my DO. it was expensive and time consuming...but i got a great LOR. 😀

 

[175961]

Not having a DO LOR did limit my options when I applied to DO schools, but as I said, I still got in to 4 schools. I just had to pick those 4 carefully to make sure they didn't require the DO LOR, but they were great schools and I would have been happy at any of them. If you do get a DO LOR, you'll have a lot more options, if it doesn't speak specifically to your desire to become a DO versus a physician, you can use it at MD schools as well.


summary: If you have time/the opportunity, getting a DO LOR will make life easier and give you more choices, but it's not necessary.

Cool beans👍

 

[a817]

In your honest opinion would you be worried about it at all. Personally I just want to be a doctor...prefer MD, but wont being crying the blues if I have to go DO. All of my shadowing experiences have been with an MD, although I do plan on applying to DO school as well. You think I should be trying to squeeze DOs in there as well when I shadow, or is it not that big a deal??

I would say not having a DO letter isn't a big deal. They are only a few school that a require it. And a couple school are okay with an MD letter. Just check on their website, it will tell you. Definitely not a reason, not to apply

 

[Depakote]

off the top of my head, the following DO schools were cool with me not having a DO letter, I'm sure there were more, but these were the ones that met other criteria I had:

DMU
KCUMB
CCOM
UMDNJ-SOM

 

[a817]

off the top of my head, the following DO schools were cool with me not having a DO letter, I'm sure there were more, but these were the ones that met other criteria I had:

DMU
KCUMB
CCOM
UMDNJ-SOM

i think lecom both campuses and lmu were the only school that required it when i applied