Submit primary or wait to shadow DO?

[kazza2ud]

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I will be shadowing a DO next week (I have not previously shadowed DOs, only MDs). My question is, should I submit my primary today (Wed the 27th) or wait until I have shadowed the DO next Tuesday or Wednesday, and then try to incorporate those experiences into my essay a bit, and add the shadowing in as a extra-curricular experience or whatever. I don't like the idea of delaying the primary, but I realize having something in my essay mentioning that I have actually shadowed a DO and have some idea what I'm applying to might be a strong positive.

On the other hand, I'll have plenty of chances to talk about the experience in my secondaries, right? What do you guys think?

 

[Art Vandelay2]

Shadow ASAP and submit by mid-June. Also, work on secondaries now and you'll be ahead of the game.

 

[Krisss17]

Am I mistakened or is the first day that you can submit your primary June 1st? 😕

As for the OP, I would suggest not waiting for your DO letter. Just submit your primary as soon as you can. Once you have the letter from the DO, just send that to interfolio.

 

[antapolar]

I will be shadowing a DO next week (I have not previously shadowed DOs, only MDs). My question is, should I submit my primary today (Wed the 27th) or wait until I have shadowed the DO next Tuesday or Wednesday, and then try to incorporate those experiences into my essay a bit, and add the shadowing in as a extra-curricular experience or whatever. I don't like the idea of delaying the primary, but I realize having something in my essay mentioning that I have actually shadowed a DO and have some idea what I'm applying to might be a strong positive.

On the other hand, I'll have plenty of chances to talk about the experience in my secondaries, right? What do you guys think?

Don't wait for it, I didn't mention any DO shadowing experience in my primary, and still offered secondary from all that i applied (25+ schools). Those experience can be better used to answer your secondary prompt. If its LoR you are worrying, then its fine too, because school no need LoR until you need to hand in your secondary. So my two cents would be to submit your primary now if you have an essay already done for it. Then use the Do shadow exp in your secondaries.

 

[kazza2ud]

I was hoping there'd be a consensus! I'm scheduled to shadow the DO next Tuesday (June 2nd). I already have a good essay written (it's what I used to apply to MD last year) but it's not extremely DO-specific. I suppose I could add something based on the experience next week, or just go ahead and submit and work it into the secondaries.

 

[Doctor Bob]

Submit your primary then go shadow. The primary is just to make sure you meet minimum requirements. You'll have plenty of chances to impress them with your knowledge of all things osteopathic at a later time.

 

[beckhunter116]

Am I mistakened or is the first day that you can submit your primary June 1st? 😕

As for the OP, I would suggest not waiting for your DO letter. Just submit your primary as soon as you can. Once you have the letter from the DO, just send that to interfolio.

No, you can submit it now.

 

[211519]

I was hoping there'd be a consensus! I'm scheduled to shadow the DO next Tuesday (June 2nd). I already have a good essay written (it's what I used to apply to MD last year) but it's not extremely DO-specific. I suppose I could add something based on the experience next week, or just go ahead and submit and work it into the secondaries.

On AACOMAS, you can enter future activities. I entered my shadowing (which occurred in October 2008), but I submitted my primary at the beginning of June 2008. I actually got into several DO schools before I even shadowed. It's worth much, much more to you to submit now. Besides, you won't need your DO letter until secondaries start rolling in (in most cases).

So, note your intention and submit.

 

[bigyihoroi]

SUBMIT NOW!!! Just put shadow a D.O. as one of the future activities. Primary takes more than a month for AACOMAS to process. At least that is true for me.

 

[Cloud 9]

Off topic I know but how can someone's avatar be so huge?! lol..

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Definitely agree with what everyone has mentioned already. Submit in the first week of June, then make sure all of your letters are in line later on. Unless you are already working with a particular school they will not access your letters until your secondary in most cases. Good luck.

 

[Docsted]

I didn't mention anywhere on my applications about shadowing a DO, never talked about it in my personal statement either. Getting your app in and writing secondaries quickly are key here. I agree with everyone else that you should incorporate do shadow stories into secondary applications.

 

[tmandudeguy]

im just bumping this again... its a good post. I was freaking out because I begin shadowing in a few weeks and I want to send my primary now as soon as possible. so the consensus is to write that in the future I will shadow? Where in the app is this? I didn't see a future activity section

 

[tmandudeguy]

just gonna bump this one more time... anyone please? where is this future activity section where I can say I will shadow a physician in the future?