I know many schools, particularly DO schools like to have an L/O/R from a practicing DO. There aren’t a lot of DOs in my area and I’ve already put out feelers toward them (yes, I have shadowed, just not with many DOs). Anyone have any advice on how I can get this done in a hurry.
Sounds like you have shadowed with a DO though (“yes, I have shadowed, just not with many DOs”). If you have just ask for a letter. I only shadowed a total of about 30 hours and only 8 was with a DO. That’s what I used for my DO applications. Some DO schools will take an MD letter too. You can check that with each school. It might be harder to answer the “why DO” question though (comes up in secondaries and interviews).
- starri Said:
Anyone have any advice on how I can get this done in a hurry.
A hurry?!? - No. Any physician that you approach now and shadow a couple times and try to get a LOR from will:
1 - not write a good LOR
2 - not help your application
3 - be seen right through from an admission committee realizing you are "padding" your application.
What is your definition of "hurry?" If you have time to approach a DO (or MD) - a simple phone call to the office manager will do - and spend several months shadowing with the true intent of learning, then do that. If you don't have that time, then work on the rest of your application.
This may sound bad, but the DO that I got to write my letter; I was just honest with. I called before I shadowed her and said to apply DO I need a letter of recomendation from a DO. I asked her what I woudl need to do for her to write me a letter. She asked me to come down for three days straight and shadow her. The letter must have worked out for me, b/c no one brought it up in a negative light during my interviews. Sometimes honesty is best, most Doc know the hoops you have to jump through to get into med-school.
Many DOs understand this LOR process and are willing to let you shadow. Just ask. (“If you don’t ask, they can’t say ‘yes.’”)
Cheers,
Judy