Send in Secondaries now, or wait for another letter.

[WingsFan]

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I've been working through the essays for my secondaries, and I'm getting ready to submit most of them this week, but I've recently set up a shadowing opportunity with a very well known doc who has said he would be willing to write a LOR for me. I'm wondering if I should wait the 2-3 weeks it would take for me to shadow him and for him to write the letter, or if I should send everything in now. A DO already wrote me a LOR, but he mentioned my interest in osteopathic medicine, and I have a feeling that an MD who doesn't say anything about the DO profession and is really well known might be better looking. Is it worth it to wait?

 

[indianjatt]

I would send in your secondaries now. Further delaying your secondaries is only going to hurt your chances. Especially for something like a LOR from a doctor you barely know(sounds harsh, but it is does not justify the extra delay). If you are worried about your DO letter hindering your MD chances, don't send the letter.

 

[eefen]

I would probably send the secondaries in now, especially if you have the requisite letters already. Having your application complete early outweighs an extra letter, IMHO. Also, you have no idea how long it will actually take the doctor to write your LOR - could be two weeks, could be two months. In any case, it will provide a nice venue for an update later down the road, if you feel that is necessary.

 

[WingsFan]

Right, it makes more sense to be early than wait for something that might not be as beneficial as I'm hoping. I still can't decide on whether or not to use the DO letter for MD schools.

 

[Jepstein30]

Right, it makes more sense to be early than wait for something that might not be as beneficial as I'm hoping. I still can't decide on whether or not to use the DO letter for MD schools.

Don't use the DO letter for MD schools ESPECIALLY if it references your interest for osteopathic medicine.. just going to have ADCOMs asking "why MD?" after reading it.