Submitting a LOR from a DO to MD programs?

[IceDuchess]

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Hello everyone,

I am applying to both DO and MD programs this cycle. One of the DO's that I scribe for in the emergency department has agreed to write me a LOR. My question is: Is it a good idea to submit LORs from DOs to MD programs?

The reason I am asking this question is that DO programs list on their websites that they "prefer letters written by DOs". Do MD programs have a similar preference in receiving LORs primarily from MD physicians? Would it hurt if I submitted the DO LOR to MD schools?

I would appreciate your advice!

 

[gyngyn]

We prefer no physician letters (with either degree).

 

[Catalystik]

I am applying to both DO and MD programs this cycle. One of the DO's that I scribe for in the emergency department has agreed to write me a LOR. My question is: Is it a good idea to submit LORs from DOs to MD programs?

The reason I am asking this question is that DO programs list on their websites that they "prefer letters written by DOs". Do MD programs have a similar preference in receiving LORs primarily from MD physicians? Would it hurt if I submitted the DO LOR to MD schools?

I would appreciate your advice!

There are maybe five MD programs that request a physician letter (one of them will take any health professional, including a physician). They aren't picky about the letters after the doc's name. It won't hurt to to collect a DO letter and to use it for any medical school requesting a doctor's LOR.

 

[Innoutburgers]

We prefer no physician letters (with either degree).

Why is this? I'm a nontrad out of school for a while and was planning on having one PA letter.

 

[gyngyn]

Why is this? I'm a nontrad out of school for a while and was planning on having one PA letter.

Physician letters are fluff. We are congenitally incapable of anything else.

 

[IceDuchess]

We prefer no physician letters (with either degree).

Thank you for your comment, Gyngyn. Could you please clarify what you mean by your comment? Do you mean that med schools in general do not like receiving any letters from any physicians, or that they simply don't have a preference whether it be DO or MD? And why is this the case?

 

[IceDuchess]

Physician letters are fluff. We are congenitally incapable of anything else.

Sorry, just realized we posted at the exact same time.

Do you suggest I not submit ANY letters from doctors?

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you for your comment, Gyngyn. Could you please clarify what you mean by your comment? Do you mean that med schools in general do not like receiving any letters from any physicians, or that they simply don't have a preference whether it be DO or MD? And why is this the case?

Physician letters are fluff. They add nothing to an application.

 

[gyngyn]

Sorry, just realized we posted at the exact same time.

Do you suggest I not submit ANY letters from doctors?

I am recommending that you only waste everyone's time on them if the school specifically asks for a "clinical" letter (AZx2, RFU or Utah).

 

[IceDuchess]

Ah, okay I see. Thank you! 🙂

 

[IceDuchess]

I am recommending that you only waste everyone's time on them if the school specifically asks for a "clinical" letter (AZx2, RFU or Utah).

One additional question: I work with ScribeAmerica. Would a LOR from my Chief Scribe bear more weight than from a doctor I'm working with?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

We prefer no physician letters (with either degree).

Except for USUHS which requires one (doesn’t have to be from a physician but does have to be clinical). Not sure if any other schools require one. Don’t think so.

 

[Innoutburgers]

I am recommending that you only waste everyone's time on them if the school specifically asks for a "clinical" letter (AZx2, RFU or Utah).

So theoretically if a physician was your supervisor at your job, it would not be wise to obtain a rec letter from them?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I am recommending that you only waste everyone's time on them if the school specifically asks for a "clinical" letter (AZx2, RFU or Utah).

Ah there you go.

 

[Catalystik]

I am recommending that you only waste everyone's time on them if the school specifically asks for a "clinical" letter (AZx2, RFU or Utah).

Except for USUHS which requires one (doesn’t have to be from a physician but does have to be clinical). Not sure if any other schools require one. Don’t think so.

Add Seton Hall to your list.

 

[Catalystik]

So theoretically if a physician was your supervisor at your job, it would not be wise to obtain a rec letter from them?

An employer's letter is different from a shadowing letter, in my opinion.

 

[Innoutburgers]

An employer's letter is different from a shadowing letter, in my opinion.

OK, thank you for the clarification!

 

[gyngyn]

So theoretically if a physician was your supervisor at your job, it would not be wise to obtain a rec letter from them?

That's not a "physician letter." It's an employer letter from someone who happens to be a physician. If your PI is a physician, it's a PI letter, not a physician letter.