Some Questions About the DO Application Cycle

[docpar]

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Here is some background info before I make my main post: GPA: 3.79
sGPA: 3.71
MCAT: 28 (9 PS, 10 VR, 9 BS)
Volunteer at an ambulance corps.
Volunteer at a hospital
Worked at a medical group
Shadowed a cardiologist (MD) and general surgeon (MD)

I applied to MD schools this summer and took my MCAT on August 6th. However, I got a very shaky score for MD schools. So, now I'm thinking of applying to DO schools as well.

My questions are:
1) Am I too late to start the application cycle for DO schools? I know that many of the deadlines are technically far away, but how much of a disadvantage will I be if i apply now? Just looking for osme opinions here.
2) Would I have needed to have shadowed a DO? As you can see, I've only shadowed MD's. I hear some DO schools like/require DO letters of recommendation or something.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Iliketoytles]

Here is some background info before I make my main post: GPA: 3.79
sGPA: 3.71
MCAT: 28 (9 PS, 10 VR, 9 BS)
Volunteer at an ambulance corps.
Volunteer at a hospital
Worked at a medical group
Shadowed a cardiologist (MD) and general surgeon (MD)

I applied to MD schools this summer and took my MCAT on August 6th. However, I got a very shaky score for MD schools. So, now I'm thinking of applying to DO schools as well.

My questions are:
1) Am I too late to start the application cycle for DO schools? I know that many of the deadlines are technically far away, but how much of a disadvantage will I be if i apply now? Just looking for osme opinions here.
2) Would I have needed to have shadowed a DO? As you can see, I've only shadowed MD's. I hear some DO schools like/require DO letters of recommendation or something.

Thanks for any help!

Your stats are pretty darn good for DO schools. It is a bit late, but with your competitive stats I'm sure you'll land an interview somewhere.

And no, there are some schools that, although may recommend a DO letter, will accept an MD letter. There are only a few schools that require DO only.

 

[docpar]

Your stats are pretty darn good for DO schools. It is a bit late, but with your competitive stats I'm sure you'll land an interview somewhere.

And no, there are some schools that, although may recommend a DO letter, will accept an MD letter. There are only a few schools that require DO only.

Thanks for the input. Yea, I just want to become a physician. MD or DO is fine with me (not concerned with "prestige"). Actually, I am even partial to the DO philosophies regarding muscoskeletal well-being, holistic healing, and attention to structure/postures.

Your answer brought up another question though - what if i haven't gotten a letter of recommendation from the physicians I shadowed? Are they required (I didn't even include them with my MD application lol)? I mean I could probably get them anyways, but that would slow down my application even more lol.

thanks again

 

[Iliketoytles]

Thanks for the input. Yea, I just want to become a physician. MD or DO is fine with me (not concerned with "prestige"). Actually, I am even partial to the DO philosophies regarding muscoskeletal well-being, holistic healing, and attention to structure/postures.

Your answer brought up another question though - what if i haven't gotten a letter of recommendation from the physicians I shadowed? Are they required (I didn't even include them with my MD application lol)? I mean I could probably get them anyways, but that would slow down my application even more lol.

thanks again

Most schools require a physician LOR when you turn in your secondaries. So yeah, you should give those doctors a call and ask them to write you an LOR. You only need one.

And remember, you turn in your LORs with your SECONDARIES, not the primary. So you should submit your primary ASAP, and as you're waiting for it to be verified (a few weeks), call your physician immediately and ask them to write an LOR.

 

[docpar]

Deleted

 

[docpar]

Most schools require a physician LOR when you turn in your secondaries. So yeah, you should give those doctors a call and ask them to write you an LOR. You only need one.

And remember, you turn in your LORs with your SECONDARIES, not the primary. So you should submit your primary ASAP, and as you're waiting for it to be verified (a few weeks), call your physician immediately and ask them to write an LOR.

Excellent info man. thanks a lot!