• The 2026-2027 DO School Specific Threads are now available in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 discussions are now available in the prior year discussions forum.

Requirements

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

hospitaldoctor1

Membership Revoked
Removed
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
What are the differences in requirements for DO and MD?
I heard that to apply for DO school you definitely need a recommendation letter from a DO doctor and you must have worked with a DO doctor...
is this true?
What is the average GPA and MCAT for DO school?
 
As far as I know, all DO schools need a physician letter, preferably DO but can also be MD for some schools. You don't need to have worked with a DO. I'm not sure what the average GPA/MCAT is overall, but you can look up individual schools fairly easily. They are all lower than most U.S. MD schools, I think.
 
Some schools do require a DO letter, there is a list of them under the FAQ thread in the pre-DO section or look for Chocolate Bear's (the Moderators) signature and there is lots of your typical background information.

No, you don't have to have worked for a DO to go to a DO school.
 
Some schools do require a DO letter, there is a list of them under the FAQ thread in the pre-DO section or look for Chocolate Bear's (the Moderators) signature and there is lots of your typical background information.

No, you don't have to have worked for a DO to go to a DO school.

Exactly. Check the FAQs at the top of the forum and my signature links.