Necessary?

[ZeaL6]

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I understand it is recommended pre-osteopathic students get a letter from a DO but honestly, how big of a deal is it? I was going to shadow this summer but turns out I only got a 27 on my MCAT so I'm retaking and don't have time to shadow one. I have shadowed multiple doctors but only have a letter from an MD. A doctor is a doctor in my eyes so I don't see why you specifically need one from a DO.

 

[wjs010]

It's just a formality that looks Better. You are retaking a 27 for DO? You better rethink that idea. 27 is good enough to get in most schools, depending on your gpa. If your gpa is at least average, you could polish your EC's however you want... dO shadowing or whatever. Do not retake that mcat unless you're going to try md

 

[survivordo]

A few schools highly recommend/require it, UNECOM for example, they want you to prove you are actually interested in DO not just using it as backup. With an MCAT of 27 I would focus on other things unless you are trying to go for MD.

Survivor DO

 

[hallowmann]

I understand it is recommended pre-osteopathic students get a letter from a DO but honestly, how big of a deal is it? I was going to shadow this summer but turns out I only got a 27 on my MCAT so I'm retaking and don't have time to shadow one. I have shadowed multiple doctors but only have a letter from an MD. A doctor is a doctor in my eyes so I don't see why you specifically need one from a DO.

About half the DO programs in the country either require a DO letter (LECOM-E/SH, LECOM-B, LMU-DCOM, OSU-COM, KYCOM, RVUCOM, VCOM, & WVSOM) or strongly recommend it (CCOM, AZCOM, MU-COM, NYCOM, PNWU-COM, PCOM, GA-PCOM, TUNCOM, UNECOM, & COMP). Others just recommend/prefer it or have no preference. While not essential at all programs, it is really a benefit. Basically you can get in without it, but it helps, and at some places (where its a requirement) its a deal breaker.

If you can, I would look into shadowing a DO. A few days of shadowing really is all you need for an LOR, and the experience will likely be a topic at all DO interviews, a positive if you do have it, and a negative if you don't. In most of those places where its a requirement, they want it for 2 reasons: 1) just to verify you actually are interested in the DO profession (i.e. you've had exposure to it) and 2) just as a checkbox. Even an OK letter will do in those cases.

 

[ZeaL6]

I am applying both MD and DO. I'm not using DO as a backup, but I don't want to limit my options to any place. I visited the new MD school at Western Michigan and was highly impressed, and I don't think a 27 will cut it. It's not because it's MD, just because I liked the school. Plus I was scoring 31 average on AAMC's and was really upset so it was a gut instinct to just take it again.

Also my cGPA is 3.74 and sGPA is 3.81, so I'm fine for DO in that department I believe. Only less than average side of EC's is research, which I have very little.

 

[ZeaL6]

I'm debating this retake now. What does everyone else think? If I apply to 15-20 MD and 10 DO do you think Ill be good?

 

[Goro]

Your chances at an MD school with a 27 on the MCDAT are pretty low. Fine for DO.

Concerning the DO LOR, if you lack it, I've known interviewers to call you out on it in interviews if you're from places that have a lot of DOs, like the mid-west.

I'm debating this retake now. What does everyone else think? If I apply to 15-20 MD and 10 DO do you think Ill be good?

 

[cliquesh]

I'd retake the mcat.

You are fine for DO schools, though.

 

[ZeaL6]

At this point I'm 75/25 against retaking. It'd just be too hard to pull up my mcat 4-6 points to offset a late app while researching, working, and trying to fill out secondaries/getting a DO letter. I think I'm great for most DO schools and according to the AAMC charts, a white applicant has a 45% chance of admission to MD schools with a 3.75 and a 27. I think applying broadly and early is better than retaking without a guarantee to score much better. Does anyone agree/disagree?

 

[cliquesh]

I think it might worth postponing medical school for a year and retaking the mcat, especially if the 27 was on your first attempt with minimal studying.

You will get into a DO school this cycle. You probably won't get into a MD school. If you got 4 more points on your mcat you'd probably get into a MD school somewhere. I think it's worth the "wasted year" if you think you can improve by +4 points.

 

[Jazzy G]

I think it might worth postponing medical school for a year and retaking the mcat, especially if the 27 was on your first attempt with minimal studying.

You will get into a DO school this cycle. You probably won't get into a MD school. If you got 4 more points on your mcat you'd probably get into a MD school somewhere. I think it's worth the "wasted year" if you think you can improve by +4 points.

Only if you feel like you would be happier being an MD than a DO. You can still apply through aacomas with your current MCAT and show your pending score. A lot of school could interview and accept students even if your new score wasn't reported yet. It won't really make you later.
Shadowing a DO isn't only good for checking a box, but I know for me it was really instrumental in increasing my desire to go osteopathic. And if you have a similar experience that will bring power to the interviewing process.

 

[IH8ColdWeath3r]

I think it might worth postponing medical school for a year and retaking the mcat, especially if the 27 was on your first attempt with minimal studying.

You will get into a DO school this cycle. You probably won't get into a MD school. If you got 4 more points on your mcat you'd probably get into a MD school somewhere. I think it's worth the "wasted year" if you think you can improve by +4 points.

Yeah I agree completely. Study hard for the MCAT and retake, especially if your avg was 31. Maybe the test hit your weaknesses. If you apply, you will definitely get into the top tier DO schools with your MCAT/GPA, both of which are solid. But, you will have a hard time with MD schools. I believe you may still get interviews at some of the mid to lower tier schools, but I believe that you would significantly increase your chances if you score a 30+ and maybe add some additional ECs.

Btw, the DO is not mandatory (I know plenty of people who got into reputable schools without one), but it does no harm and probably helps show that you did do some DO shadowing and have a genuine interest in osteopathic medicine. Research is also not mandatory, unless you are into research or are applying to research oriented schools with the intention of pursuing research as a physician or MD/PhD

 

[Jazzy G]

.... and don't have time to shadow one...

If an adcom asks you why you didn't shadow a DO, and this is your response.... how do you think this will reflect on you? Even if you shadow one and don't get a letter of recommendation, you will be in a better position.

 

[TwinsFan]

I understand it is recommended pre-osteopathic students get a letter from a DO but honestly, how big of a deal is it? I was going to shadow this summer but turns out I only got a 27 on my MCAT so I'm retaking and don't have time to shadow one. I have shadowed multiple doctors but only have a letter from an MD. A doctor is a doctor in my eyes so I don't see why you specifically need one from a DO.

Kind of revealing that you're not committed to the profession enough to spend a couple days checking it out through shadowing, but you're applying to gain an acceptance and spend 200k+ at their school 😕

 

[ZeaL6]

I've seen DO's do work in cardiology but I was on the outside. I didn't know them personally enough to ask for a letter. My point is if I take the MCAT again I won't have time, if I don't take it I will have time

 

[hallowmann]

I've seen DO's do work in cardiology but I was on the outside. I didn't know them personally enough to ask for a letter. My point is if I take the MCAT again I won't have time, if I don't take it I will have time

Don't look at the shadowing as such a daunting thing. I devoted 2 days a week for 3 weeks to shadowing my DO, but I know people who shadowed their DO for only 2-3 days. That's all you need. About half a week's worth of effort shouldn't really affect your MCAT performance.

As far as the MCAT goes, I think its worth retaking if you think you can do better. Sure you should be fine for DO, but you'd be in even better shape with a 29, and as it stands, unless you are a URM, you don't have a great shot at MD schools. If you are a URM, disregard that statement.

 

[ZeaL6]

I'm not URM. I decided not to retake. I applied to 32 MD and 8 DO schools. Wherever I land I'm sure I'll be happy! I just have to work hard to get where I want once I'm in. I called a DO today and am going to start shadowing

 

[pattr]

I am applying both MD and DO. I'm not using DO as a backup, but I don't want to limit my options to any place. I visited the new MD school at Western Michigan and was highly impressed, and I don't think a 27 will cut it. It's not because it's MD, just because I liked the school. Plus I was scoring 31 average on AAMC's and was really upset so it was a gut instinct to just take it again.

Also my cGPA is 3.74 and sGPA is 3.81, so I'm fine for DO in that department I believe. Only less than average side of EC's is research, which I have very little.

I'm assuming you're from around there then? Are you from Michigan? MSUCOM is a great option for DO and they don't require a DO letter. Their MCAT average is right around a 27. Also their reputation, clinical rotations, and residency network/match lists are among the best in the DO world. And Michigan is like the most DO-friendly state in the country. If you're in-state you might also benefit from the tuition which is 20k less than oos.

If it makes you feel any better, I also underperformed on the real MCAT by several points compared to my practice tests. You get over it though... it's a silly test really; no one really cares about what you got on it after you get into a school.

And it sounds like you'd be happy going either way, DO or MD, which I think is a healthy attitude. Just be sure you know the advantages and disadvantages with each choice, which I won't rehash here but has been debated in this forum far too many times.

 

[hallowmann]

...And it sounds like you'd be happy going either way, DO or MD, which I think is a healthy attitude. Just be sure you know the advantages and disadvantages with each choice, which I won't rehash here but has been debated in this forum far too many times.

I second this. Honestly though, if you think you could do better, why not retake? If I wasn't content with my score, I'd retake, because I'd always wonder if that would have made a difference. If you don't care where you go, I guess it doesn't matter, but when you go on interviews and see different schools, you'll be ranking them in your head and not getting into your top choice will definitely be disappointing.

I also scored well below my practice test averages, but I was just above the threshold where I said I wouldn't retake.