Using a DO LOR for MD. Yay or nay?

[aeh82477]

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Hi all,

I'm applying this upcoming cycle and am in the process of getting my LORs together. I plan to apply MD and DO. I've been shadowing a DO for a while now, with whom I've had an absolutely great experience and I know that he's going to write me a strong letter. Can I use that letter for my MD app as well? It's not taboo, is it? I see it as he's going to be writing about what he's seen in me throughout our experience and how well he thinks I can fair in a career in medicine. I think that's relevant to both apps.

Let me know what you think. Thanks

 

[playaodamonth]

Hi all,

I'm applying this upcoming cycle and am in the process of getting my LORs together. I plan to apply MD and DO. I've been shadowing a DO for a while now, with whom I've had an absolutely great experience and I know that he's going to write me a strong letter. Can I use that letter for my MD app as well? It's not taboo, is it? I see it as he's going to be writing about what he's seen in me throughout our experience and how well he thinks I can fair in a career in medicine. I think that's relevant to both apps.

Let me know what you think. Thanks

It's fine, especially since the LoR will talk about your strengths, quality of character, and passion for medicine. I got into an MD with my DO LoR. But obviously another letter from an MD won't hurt, if you could find the time to shadow one for like 20 hours.

Also it may depend on which MD schools you apply...my state MD school is very DO friendly so maybe my case differs from yours.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Only DO schools require that you specifically have a DO letter. DO letter for MD is perfectly fine because they are doctors.

 

[Goro]

It's fine. The purported MD bias against DOs exists only in the minds of pre-meds and elderly MDs.

Hi all,

I'm applying this upcoming cycle and am in the process of getting my LORs together. I plan to apply MD and DO. I've been shadowing a DO for a while now, with whom I've had an absolutely great experience and I know that he's going to write me a strong letter. Can I use that letter for my MD app as well? It's not taboo, is it? I see it as he's going to be writing about what he's seen in me throughout our experience and how well he thinks I can fair in a career in medicine. I think that's relevant to both apps.

Let me know what you think. Thanks

 

[aeh82477]

Awesome. Thank you all!

 

[BenzylAcetate]

The advice my pre-med committee advisor gave me, that I strongly agree with, is that it depends on the content of the letter. If the doctor you are shadowing writes things specific about osteopathic medicine it might not come off well. I have no idea what could possibly be said that would deter allopathic schools, but based on the number of applications my school's committee has reviewed I trust their advice.

In all reality it probably isn't that much of a concern. Perhaps mention that you will be applying to both MD and DO schools and plan to use this LOR for both applications.

 

[TriagePreMed]

No, don't do this. While true the bias is not big in the real world, the last thing you need is this being a roadblock because it fell on the lap of some *****.

 

[Buckeye1992]

I was going to use my DO letter for USUHS. The DO I shadowed is the only (former) military doctor I shadowed, so I figure it will work the best.

 

[StudyShy]

It's fine. The purported MD bias against DOs exists only in the minds of pre-meds and elderly MDs.

👍 This also reminds me of one of the DO's who I work with who has got to be in his 70s and is a farmer on the side. No joke. He takes his mules to the fair, and they are prize winning! I love reading his H+Ps because of the atiquated language that he uses. For instance, anxiety="nerves" for him. There was one time that I had to tell him to turn off his tractor so that he could hear what I was trying to say when talking to him on the phone, lol.

I still think that this is better than the doctor who pees (I can hear him) when I am trying to take orders from him on the phone. I swear if he tries to poop, I'm hanging up! 😱

 

[Twink]

.

 

[DrEnderW]

Absolutely use it. It's a letter from a practicing physician.

 

[UCFMD]

There's no way it would be held against you simply because its from a D.O.

SDN just makes you believe crazy things..

 

[Back 5]

There's no way it would be held against you simply because its from a D.O.

SDN just makes you believe crazy things..

My DO letter specifically says I will be a benefit to the Osteopathic community. I think I will need to have an MD letter for my Allopathic applications

 

[UCFMD]

My DO letter specifically says I will be a benefit to the Osteopathic community. I think I will need to have an MD letter for my Allopathic applications

Ok this is a tough one to spin. Just walk into your interviews ready to explain all of the ways you're going to contribute to the osteopathic community as an allopathic student. 😀

 

[Ost3oclast]

Only DO schools require that you specifically have a DO letter. DO letter for MD is perfectly fine because they are doctors.

This. Its all good OP

 

[SurgeDO]