Secondary Apps dilemma, please help

[rc4ch]

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I received a couple of secondaries, but in the next 2 weeks, I will be shadowing a DO and hopefully be getting a letter from him. I also have around 90 hours of MD shadowing, and will be getting a letter from that too, but I have heard here that some DO schools require a DO letter to be accepted and just wanted to make sure I have the best chance.

So should I wait to submit my secondaries until I have the DO letter or submit the secondaries asap with information about my current DO shadowing and just email Admissions that I will have a DO letter on the way? I just don't know what's the best thing to do... I heard that admissions do not look at applications until all letters are there.

Also, do you guys know which schools definitely require DO letters for acceptance?

List of schools I applied to:

AZCOM
CCOM
DMU-COM
KCOM
LECOM
NYCOM
OSU-COM
PCOM
PCSCOM
UNECOM
WVSOM

My top choices are PCOM, CCOM and UNECOM.

STATS (Just in case)

Overall: 3.86
Science: 3.85
MCAT: 25M, 8, 8, 9
90 hours MD Shadowing
Plant trial research(still ongoing)
50 hours of volunteering at the hospital

Thank you guys for reading.

 

[IamAriDO]

I believe the recent consensus is to send your secondaries in and either mention that you have a DO letter on the way or submit and then update with the letter when you receive it. I would list your DO shadowing (especially if it wasnt on your primary) as a precursor to the letter and that way they know that you have some osteopathic exposure.

Hope that helps
IamAriDO

 

[rc4ch]

Thank you for the response. Anyone else have an opinion?

 

[JagerDO]

I would send in your secondary now and just send any letters in waiting later. Just think, they might want you even without the letters. You can always add to your file in the future.

 

[thriftnuh]

check chocolate bear's signature for a link to schools that require a DO letter, or check the CIB. otherwise, i'd definitely get the secondaries and the MD letter submitted now- which wouldn't hurt for the schools that do require the DO letter.