FAQs
Why should I consider an application coach?
This is what every prospective client wants to know.
Like most people I coach, you have probably received plenty of advice from family, friends, mentors, and colleagues. You may have been reassured that your application looks great or that your interview skills are solid. Their advice may be thoughtful and well-intentioned. But residency applications and interviews are high-stakes, and sometimes an experienced, objective perspective can identify opportunities or concerns that those closest to you may not see.
If this weren’t a high-stakes juncture in your career, it’s unlikely you’d be reading this.
My role is to provide honest, actionable guidance based on years of experience reviewing applications and interviewing candidates. I will help you strengthen the way you present your accomplishments on paper and teach you how to approach interviews with a better understanding of what programs are evaluating and how to communicate who you are effectively.
Another great question.
When you engage my services, you work directly with me. I do not delegate your application review, personal statement, or interview preparation to someone else.
I bring more than 25 years of experience in graduate medical education, including service as an Internal Medicine Program Director and Designated Institutional Official. I understand residency selection from the program's perspective, but I also understand how to coach applicants to communicate their experiences, strengths, and accomplishments effectively.
I am a Certified Student Career Coach and Certified Interview Coach and have worked with applicants from around the world. Quite simply, I know this process, I care deeply about the people I coach, and I will give you my best work.
If you are on the fence, I invite you to read the reviews from those who have worked with me and decide for yourself.
Why should I select you?
What's it like to work with you?
My coaching style is both collaborative and directive, depending on what you need. I will be honest and clear about how I see your application, your interview skills, and the options available to you. I will listen carefully to your perspective, but I will not hesitate to tell you when I think something needs to be stronger.
I am extremely detail-oriented and won't settle for anything I believe puts you at a disadvantage. I care about the people I coach, and I take that responsibility seriously.
I ask my clients to bring the same commitment to the process. If we work together, you can expect me to be prepared, candid, invested, and fully engaged in helping you put your best foot forward.
Will you tell me if you think my application or Match strategy is unrealistic?
Yes. One of the reasons to work with an experienced coach is to receive an objective assessment, even when the answer may not be what you hoped to hear. I will always be respectful, but I will also be candid about concerns I see in your application, the attainability of your goals, and how I believe your strategy might require reconsideration.
I would rather help you make an informed decision toward to a realistic goal rather than see you pursue a strategy that would likely be unsuccessful.
Do you work with older graduates and those who have "red flags"?
Yes. I work with clients who are genuinely committed to strengthening their applications and interview skills. I ask only that you be completely honest with me about your situation and willing to put in effort at least equal to my own.
I understand that concerns such as year of graduation (YOG), USMLE performance or failure, lack of U.S. clinical experience, a change of specialty, or other challenges can feel overwhelming. My role is not to pretend those concerns don't matter. It is to help you understand how they may affect your candidacy, determine what can be strengthened, and develop a thoughtful strategy for addressing what cannot be changed.
I will help you present yourself as effectively and honestly as possible while navigating the realities of today's competitive residency market. I am particularly proud to have helped many applicants match successfully despite graduating from medical school more than ten years before applying for residency.
Will you write my personal statement or application for me?
No. My role is to help you identify what is strongest in your experiences and express it effectively in your own voice. I provide detailed editing, guidance, and feedback, but your application should always remain authentically yours. My suggestions for revisions are exactly that: suggestions.
I want the person who appears on paper to be the same person a program meets on interview day.
Can you guarantee that I will match?
No one can guarantee a residency or fellowship Match, and I would be wary of anyone who claims to do so. There are simply too many factors involved in the selection process that neither you nor I can control.
What I can promise is an experienced and candid assessment of your application, thoughtful guidance about what can be strengthened, and my full commitment to helping you present yourself as effectively as possible.
Do you offer discounted pricing?
I believe in keeping my pricing fair and transparent. All current fees are clearly listed on my website and reflect the time, preparation, and individualized attention I devote to each client, as well as the experience I bring to our work together.
I recognize that the residency application process is expensive and that many applicants face significant financial constraints. For that reason, I have been thoughtful about setting my fees. However, I am generally unable to offer individual discounts or negotiate pricing.