LOR: to ask, or not to ask?

[vantheman]

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I understand most osteopathic schools prefer you to have a LOR from a DO. I am a scribe and one of the physicians I work with is a DO and he will probably agree to write me a letter if I were to ask. However, he doesn't know me that well (especially compared to my other evaluators) and I don't think the letter will be ideal.

If it was your decision, would you just submit strong LORs (1 from a MD) and omit a DO letter, or do you think its better to ask the DO physician I work with for a letter?

Any words of advice or opinions would be great

 

[Cawolf]

From what I have gathered, I would pursue the DO letter.

 

[IIIIIII]

Better to have one, whether good or generic, than not.

 

[DrPatriot]

I have an excellent letter from an MD but I still went and shadowed a DO for 5hrs and got a LOR. It might not be as strong but I definitely think it will open more doors than not having one

 

[Stephanopolous]

Get the DO letter. Swap into some of his/her shifts if possible to get to know them better.

 

[vantheman]

Hey thanks everyone, I just asked and he enthusiastically agreed. We had a great shift tonight and he really got to know me which was great.

 

[Grace184]

Yea, from what I understand from Goro, a DO letter is more of a box checking thing- it need not be strong, schools don't expect it to really be. They go through thousands of them. Your personal LORs make the difference.