M.D. - D.O. frustration

[Somnorexia]

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Hey everyone. I'm kinda new around here so any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm considering the D.O. option this cycle, but since I wanted to do M.D. forever I haven't really had any contacts with a D.O. I know that some schools want a LOR from a D.O....but I don't really have much time to get on that right now since I'm also studying for the MCAT...
So after all this my question is: is there anyone out there who also did not have a D.O. LOR but had an M.D. one and got into a decent number of D.O. schools?
Please let me know.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Hoberto]

Hey everyone. I'm kinda new around here so any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm considering the D.O. option this cycle, but since I wanted to do M.D. forever I haven't really had any contacts with a D.O. I know that some schools want a LOR from a D.O....but I don't really have much time to get on that right now since I'm also studying for the MCAT...
So after all this my question is: is there anyone out there who also did not have a D.O. LOR but had an M.D. one and got into a decent number of D.O. schools?
Please let me know.

Thanks a lot!

I had no DO letter and received acceptances from several schools. Most schools will take an MD letter and some don't require a physician letter at all. Do you have any particular schools in mind or an area of the country?

 

[Jamers]

Hey everyone. I'm kinda new around here so any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm considering the D.O. option this cycle, but since I wanted to do M.D. forever I haven't really had any contacts with a D.O. I know that some schools want a LOR from a D.O....but I don't really have much time to get on that right now since I'm also studying for the MCAT...
So after all this my question is: is there anyone out there who also did not have a D.O. LOR but had an M.D. one and got into a decent number of D.O. schools?
Please let me know.

Thanks a lot!

It depends on the school. Most schools will list this information but, contact the ones you are interested in if they do not.

 

[maxhealth]

I also got into several DO schools with an MD letter. I spoke with adcoms about it and they would rather see an MD letter from someone who actually knows you over a letter from a DO that you've shadowed for a day. I think some schools may be pretty strict about the DO requirement however.

 

[wazi-woman]

I also got into several DO schools with an MD letter. I spoke with adcoms about it and they would rather see an MD letter from someone who actually knows you over a letter from a DO that you've shadowed for a day. I think some schools may be pretty strict about the DO requirement however.

So it really doesn't matter too much, I guess, if you have some background about the profession, right? Like if you shadow a DO and apply to an MD school or visa versa. Or is it really THAT big of a deal. These requirements are a little silly sometimes, but I can understand why since there are so many applicants.

 

[maxhealth]

Hi Wazi,

You're right, some of these requirements are a little silly. I found the best way to get straight answers is to call the admissions offices directly. Don't be afraid to do this, they are happy to answer your questions. It is fine to get some background info from SDN but to get facts, go to the source. Good luck!

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I know for a fact that LECOM requires a DO letter.

A handful of other schools do as well but most are pretty explicit about the requirement (if they have it) on their website. I think there was a thread a while back about schools that require DO letters. You may want to do a search for it.

 

[Taus]

Its worth it to shadow a DO and get a letter.... even its only a few times. IMO the best DO's to seek out if your interested in seeing the difference would be FP/sports med, FP who does OMM, or an OMM specialist. Its kind of cool to have seen the stuff being used in the real world, on patients w/ pain, before you have to learn it. It can be a great experience for you to talk about on your interviews as well.

 

[medhacker]

It can be a great experience for you to talk about on your interviews as well.

Indeed, I think this made a major difference in my interview 👍

 

[dawg44]

I tell you what is big. At a state school like OSUCOM a letter from a state senator or representative will go along ways as a LOR.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I tell you what is big. At a state school like OSUCOM a letter from a state senator or representative will go along ways as a LOR.

Perhaps, but the DO letter is still required. No letter = no acceptance.

 

[scpod]

I know that some schools want a LOR from a D.O....but I don't really have much time to get on that right now since I'm also studying for the MCAT...

Then you make time for it. It's a part of the process, just like your scores, LORs, and ECs. How can you really say that you want to be a DO if you haven't spent any time with one. When you get an interview and they ask you, "Why DO?", what will you say? Will you lie? Will you say, "I really didn't have the time to look at DOs because I was studying for the MCAT"?

 

[Somnorexia]

Wow so many replies! You guys are great. Yes, I should start calling around, you're right, that's the only way to get most recent info. Did all of you do M.D. and D.O. apps at the same time or just D.O.? I'm familiar with both and I think both are good programs...

 

[OSUdoc08]

Wow so many replies! You guys are great. Yes, I should start calling around, you're right, that's the only way to get most recent info. Did all of you do M.D. and D.O. apps at the same time or just D.O.? I'm familiar with both and I think both are good programs...

Most people apply to both at the same time. This is what I did.

Others apply for MD first and then apply to DO if they do not get in.

Some apply to just DO only.

 

[strawberryfield]

Most people apply to both at the same time. This is what I did.

Others apply for MD first and then apply to DO if they do not get in.

Some apply to just DO only.

I applied to both also, with only MD letters.
Send the MD letter if the MD knows you better than the DO. I applied to 4 DO schools, got 3 interview invites, completed 2 interviews and got 2 acceptances.

 

[Faraaz23]

I'd highly recommend trying to find time to shadow a DO (and one who does OMM), even just once or twice. It'll give you something to talk about in essays and in interviews. And you need to be able to figure out what you'll say if interviewers ask "so I see you are (and have) applying to MD schools to, why is this? If you got into both, where would you go? Why?"

 

[OSUdoc08]

I applied to both also, with only MD letters.
Send the MD letter if the MD knows you better than the DO. I applied to 4 DO schools, got 3 interview invites, completed 2 interviews and got 2 acceptances.

That's great if you are applying to DO schools that don't REQUIRE a DO letter.

Unfortunately, OSU-COM does. I don't know which other ones do as well.