Question about letters to MD + DO

[pinealgland]

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Last year I applied to MD and was rejected. This year, in addition to reapplying to new MD schools, I'm also applying to DO schools at the same time. My question is what would be the best way to organize my recommendation letters for MD and DO? I will have to ask my professors to write letters again since I am applying to MD schools I did not apply to during the last cycle, but I will also need to have them send letters to DO. I guess using Interfolio would be the best way, but should I tell them that I'm applying to both MD/DO programs and will need two different letters? Or will the letters be the same and all uploaded to Interfolio together? Just kind of generally confused about the process and would appreciate some information on how to go about doing this.

 

[DrHoffy]

I would have your letters of rec be about medicine in general not the MD versus DO degree. Then shadow with a DO, read the book called The DO's by Norman gevitz ( or just skim it) and have the DO you are shadowing write a more DO specific letter...why you would make a great DO.....and use that letter as one of your DO letters for the application cycle in aacomas.

Plus by the time you get through all this I suspect the residencies will be "combined" as they are in the plans now to do so.

Marcia
GA-PCOM 2011
EM/IM resident
Www.oldpremeds.org
Conference June 6-9 Washington DC

 

[rkaz]

Agreed with Marcia. When I applied (albeit 4 years ago), I used the same letters for both. I also included the letter from my DO physician to both osteopathic and allopathic programs (as she just happened to be a DO who wrote me a letter... which was about why I'd be a good doctor, not necessarily about me being a DO or MD). However, if you want your DO letter to be more specific about why you'd be a great *osteopathic* physician, and only send those to DO schools (obviously), that is fine too.