so i called up several dos to shadow and..

[OneLove]

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I called up several D.Os to try and find one to shadow. One finally got back to me. She, however, only wants me to come for one day. Should I even ask for for a LOR. If so, how can I take it in such a manner where it can be sure that I didn't look or tamper with it (I know some schools offer services for this sort of thign, unfortunately I am not signed up with the LOR service at my school's career center. Additionally? what should I prepare myself with for this shadowing experience? What should my dress attire be?

THanks All!

- Peter

 

[Lady Tokimi]

professional attire......bring a notepad just in case you need to jot down notes (besides that it looks like you're interested).

Well, see how the shadow experience goes first, see how she reacts towards you, ask alot of questions........

At the end of the day, if you felt that it was a good exp and she is impressed by you, ask for an LOR.

 

[FutureDocDO]

I called up several D.Os to try and find one to shadow. One finally got back to me. She, however, only wants me to come for one day. Should I even ask for for a LOR. If so, how can I take it in such a manner where it can be sure that I didn't look or tamper with it (I know some schools offer services for this sort of thign, unfortunately I am not signed up with the LOR service at my school's career center. Additionally? what should I prepare myself with for this shadowing experience? What should my dress attire be?

THanks All!

- Peter

You're lucky to have the opportunity to shadow. I was turned down by all mine. Luckily one agreed to write me one after talking with me for 15 minutes.

 

[RetiringInMy80s]

On the official website for future applicants it says that you can get your letter of recommendation from either an MD or a DO. I'm going to ask my Internal medicine doctor who knows me, what I've been through with a rare disease and knows my motivations for pursuing a medical degree.

As for shadowing I have access to more doctors than most here may have because I run a non profit for a rare disease. I'm hooked in with NORD and the NIH's rare disease program. I realize most people won't have these exact resources but my point is this...find an interest even if it is a temporary interest in some aspect of medicine and go and volunteer with an organization that deals with that be it a hospice, the American Cancer Society or whatever and let people know you want to become a D.O. and you'll likely get hooked up with someone who you have a common interest with who can recommend someone to shadow. That seems like a much better approach than just calling people you have no common base with and asking them.

 

[MsEvolution]

I only had MD LOR's and they worked fine for me. I was upfront on my interview that DO's were scarce in my region and I hadn't ever had a chance to meet one until I started visiting DO schools for interviews.

This didn't seem to be a problem at all since I got accepted to all the DO schools where I interviewed.

Good luck!

 

[oudoc08]

Here's an idea, though it might sound a little shady at first.

How about making an appointment as a new patient with a DO that you'd like to shadow. Go when you have a earache, or a cough or something, and also mention that you'd like to get a complete physical as well. That way you can evaluate whether he/she is someone you'd like to shadow If so, during the interview, casually mention that you're a pre-med, and that you would like to do some volunteering/shadowing. Ask if he/she would consider letting you shadow for a day or so.

Sometimes, it's more comfortable for the doc to consider you, when they've talked to you in person for a bit, rather than have their unit clerk give them a handwritten message that says that some kid wants tag on their shirtails.

It's not a devious plan either, because everyone needs a checkup now and then 😉.

 

[JakeHarley]

Have you tried calling or writing to your state osteopathic organization? That's what I did, and they were able to send me three names and numbers of DOs who had specifically expressed interest in having students shadow them. It took me less than a week to arrange to shadow, and I've been doing it every other week since last August. Sure beat cold calling physicians from the phone book!

 

[OneLove]

I called up NYCOM to ask if they could help me find a physician to shadow. They, however, were turned off by the fact that I wasn't allready matriculated in an osteopathic medical school. I don't understand the point of having someone in medical school shadowing a physician when there are undergrads who could use such an experience to help consolidate their future career goals and plans.

Additionally, If i end up asking for a letter of recommendation, do I ask her to send it to my undergraduate university? Also, I won't know if its a good LOR or not, so how does one decide which LORS to send in?

 

[Dies Irae]

If you are really having trouble finding a DO, then just shadow an MD for the LOR. Osteopathic Schools will understand that it is difficult in some areas to even find a DO let alone shadow and get a LOR from one. I was lucky because the first DO I called up to shadow was more than happy to meet me and later on write me a LOR.

 

[OneLove]

additionally, I just finished my freshman year, and the only premed classes I have taken are PHysics I and II. Perhaps I am pursuing a shadowing oppurtunity prematurely?

 

[markshuster]

additionally, I just finished my freshman year, and the only premed classes I have taken are PHysics I and II. Perhaps I am pursuing a shadowing oppurtunity prematurely?

I would say, yes, you are doing this prematurely. So let me get this straight, you would have a DO write you a LOR now, and then use it in like 2 years when you go to apply to med school? or are you applying now? you are really early if you just finished your freshman year!

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Anyone have any experience with LECOM or Nova with this situation. I have a small list of DOs. And with my work schedule the only time I would be able to do it is on the weekends or the evenings.

 

[OneLove]

I was thinking of using it later on when I do apply ( 2 years from now). I wasn't sure when everyone else was shadowing so I wanted to do this as soon as possible. Perhaps I will wait to utiliize a shadowing experience for when I am more adept in the general sciences.

 

[OneLove]

do you guys think I should go for the shadowing experience regardless?

 

[DrBowtie]

do you guys think I should go for the shadowing experience regardless?

Yes. You need some.

 

[ShyRem]

I think whenever you decide to do the shadowing thing would be fine. Dare I say that if you shadowed for a longer period of time you might get a FABULOUS letter, and some great learning experience if you find the right DO. Shadowing on and off for one or two years beats shadowing for a week hands down.

 

[Timbo0984]

First off, to shadow a DO, contact their office and say that you are available to volunteer as an office assistant twice a week. Once you're there, youll be able to see how their office is run and foster a healthy relationship with the physician. Regarding letters of rec, open an account with Interfolio.com - it is only $10 a year - anyone who write you a letter will mail it to them, and then they will make photocopies and do all the work for u, once you get secondaries. I think it comes out to like 3 dollars a package, once they have all of your letter and you tell them where to mail it to. Hope this helps....worked for me.

 

[OneLove]

I think i may shadow just to shadow wihtout asking for a LOR. How will adcoms be able to verify that I acutally shadowed this physician without an lor though?

 

[OneLove]

Would one even bother to write down a one time shadowing experience in the aacomas? Wouldn't it seem rather desperate to have to write down a shadowing session lasting only a few hours.

 

[littledoc2be]

either have the doctor send the LOR directly to the schools you are applying to, or ask the doctor to seal the LOR in an envelope and sign over the seal. That seems to work. And if any of those ideas dont work, I'm sure if you just send it in it won't be such a big deal. If the schools doubts the letter at all they can always call up the doctor directly and ask for confirmation.

 

[OneLove]

shoudl I not even ask for an LOR because I am only going into my sophomore year and am only shadowing her for a day

 

[markshuster]

shoudl I not even ask for an LOR because I am only going into my sophomore year and am only shadowing her for a day

go shadow, observe and take in the experience. Do not ask for a letter. Let's be honest, it would be a waste of the doc's time. How shaddy would it look for you to whip out a letter marked with a 2005 date in 2007 when you actually go to apply? Plus do you know for sure which schools you are applying? Some schools are very strict on their LOR policies. Wait until the year that you are applying and then find a doc to get you a letter. best of luck.

 

[OneLove]

That is exactly what I plan on doing. Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[raspberry swirl]

for the poster who asked about LECOM in regards to LORs, you dont NEED one from a DO, although they will say so. my friend couldn't seem to get one, and he called up admissions and told them, and the girl was like, oh just come for an interview anyway. i think he eventually got one, but as long as you make some effort and tell the admissions people you are having difficultly, you probably wont have a problem. i had a hard time finding time to shadow the DO that wrote my LOR. i ended up just sending him a personal statement and resume, and he just wrote me one based on that. if you go that route, i recommend reading the LOR or at least asking the DO what he or she wrote, because i got burned on my NYCOM interview when my interviewer asked me what i discussed with him, and i had no idea what to say. i tried to be vague, but by the look on her face, i knew i was way off . . ..

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Thank you for your replay raspberry. I was able to shadow a DO here at work but only for a few hours and then he left for Yale. So I am out on that end.