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Dr. Josh
If applying allopathic and osteopathic, who should I get LORs from?
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I had my committee letter, two DO letters, and a letter from the PhD where I did my research. I applied to both and have only heard from DO schools, but that is probably due to my stats and not the letters. I would advise you to have one letter from an MD and one from a DO, that way you cover both. Good luck!
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Yeah...
MD/DO letters are the most impressive, IMHO.
My advisor told me to only send one, but I told him no. I had 3 and I sent all of them.
At my interview @ WVSOM, I was commended on having 3 strong MD/DO letters...one was from a (very) personal contact with my family with unique knowledge of my past, one was from an MD I shadowed, and the other was from a DO that my family goes to...
First and foremost, make sure that you utilize a committee letter if still available and that you contact a DO for DO schools, if possible. If you've shadowed an MD extensively, it would be better to get an MD letter from a physician that knows you well than it would be to get a DO letter from a physician who you've never met. Of course, a DO letter IN ADDITION to the strong MD letter is better, because then you have a strong rec from the MD PLUS a LOR from a DO which signifies a willingness to learn about the osteopathic profession.
Most schools require 2 science LORs and 1 non-science LOR..and this is what my committee required. If your school has no committee, try using "interfolio" or another letter service. DO NOT send your letters directly... you need to assure in some manner that ths schools understand that you did not tamper with or affect your letters. This usually means waiving the right to view your letters through some means.
Hope this helped...bakc to micro.
MD/DO letters are the most impressive, IMHO.
My advisor told me to only send one, but I told him no. I had 3 and I sent all of them.
At my interview @ WVSOM, I was commended on having 3 strong MD/DO letters...one was from a (very) personal contact with my family with unique knowledge of my past, one was from an MD I shadowed, and the other was from a DO that my family goes to...
First and foremost, make sure that you utilize a committee letter if still available and that you contact a DO for DO schools, if possible. If you've shadowed an MD extensively, it would be better to get an MD letter from a physician that knows you well than it would be to get a DO letter from a physician who you've never met. Of course, a DO letter IN ADDITION to the strong MD letter is better, because then you have a strong rec from the MD PLUS a LOR from a DO which signifies a willingness to learn about the osteopathic profession.
Most schools require 2 science LORs and 1 non-science LOR..and this is what my committee required. If your school has no committee, try using "interfolio" or another letter service. DO NOT send your letters directly... you need to assure in some manner that ths schools understand that you did not tamper with or affect your letters. This usually means waiving the right to view your letters through some means.
Hope this helped...bakc to micro.
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LOL!
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Dr. Josh
I don't have a committee so i have to ask for all individually and I doubt I'll be able to get 2 science letters.
Why would a DO or anyone write someone a lette rif you never worked for them. I can get a DO letter, and hopefully an MD letter after i shadow one. I can get one science letter and one in my major. i guess that's not good enough?
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I'm not going to say something's ok if it's not. If you can't get a committee letter, schools vary on what they require. Most DO schools require a MD or DO letter (some are DO ONLY)...
It's not easy to get recommendations. It was especially difficult for me, because most of my classes have 300+ students at a large university. It takes some time and forethought. I spent much of sprign semester and summer semester meeting wtih professors (and getting turned down by a few who admitted, "I don't know you well enough"...) Most professors understand and will have a meeting with you. They often request an academic resume or curriculum vitae so that they have a good understanding of your stats, involvements, and area of academic concentration. A few of mine requested my transcripts and my personal essay/statement from AMCAS/AACOMAS. Others requested nothing.
Best of luck... remember, it's just another hurdle that you can overcome. Hundreds of thousands before you have gone through this awful process. I am confident that you can, too. If this is goign to be a huge problem, you may want to consider waiting a year and get to know some of your profs.
Best of luck!!
It's not easy to get recommendations. It was especially difficult for me, because most of my classes have 300+ students at a large university. It takes some time and forethought. I spent much of sprign semester and summer semester meeting wtih professors (and getting turned down by a few who admitted, "I don't know you well enough"...) Most professors understand and will have a meeting with you. They often request an academic resume or curriculum vitae so that they have a good understanding of your stats, involvements, and area of academic concentration. A few of mine requested my transcripts and my personal essay/statement from AMCAS/AACOMAS. Others requested nothing.
Best of luck... remember, it's just another hurdle that you can overcome. Hundreds of thousands before you have gone through this awful process. I am confident that you can, too. If this is goign to be a huge problem, you may want to consider waiting a year and get to know some of your profs.
Best of luck!!
