Undergraduate Prehealth Advising
For students who are in college or recent graduates who are two or more years from applying, we offer prehealth advising for medical or physician assistant school. We are committed to helping our students build the most competitive application before they apply. Our undergraduate prehealth advising package provides comprehensive, personalized guidance—from strategic course planning to thoughtful extracurricular development and beyond—so students build strong, well-rounded profiles that align with their long-term goals. Please read below to see exactly what is included in this package.
1st and 2nd Year of College
We recommend a minimum of meeting 1x per semester (1x every two quarters) and another in November/December for summer planning.
Topics include and are not limited to:
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Assist with course planning.
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Discuss work and activity experiences customized to the student's interests and to build the competencies needed to be a competitive medical school applicant.
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Provide list of educational resources.
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Discuss summer plans and assist with program applications and resume/CV.
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Introduce Association of American Medical Colleges resources.
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Discuss MCAT preparation. MCAT scores are typically valid for three years.
3rd Year of College
In the 3rd year of college (fall) we will start strategizing about the application timeline and a gap year if appropriate. We recommend 1-2 meetings per semester (1 a quarter). If there is no gap year, fall begins the application season.
Topics include and are not limited to:
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Continue to discuss competencies needed to be a strong medical school applicant. Is the student continuing to volunteer, shadow, and create meaningful opportunities?
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Discuss MCAT preparation and registration. MCAT scores are typically valid for three years.
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Discuss letters of evaluation.
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Introduce the Medical School Admission Requirements (medical school database).
Fall (no later than November) of junior year we should decide if a gap year is being taken. In November, we will begin the medical school application process if no gap year is being taken. We recommend moving to the medical school application package.
4th Year of College
The student may move to the Medical School Application Package if one gap year is being taken.
If the student is taking a second gap year, we will remain working with the student on gap year planning, and they may remain on the annual advising package.
Testimonials
Caryn made me feel so confident and supported throughout the challenging medical school application process. I could reach out at any time to make sure I was on track every step of the way. The ability to have someone who took the time to really get to know me and care about me as not just an applicant but a person was so important to me. I still call Caryn to just chat and catch up on life and I think that's a huge reflection on the type of person she is and the quality of relationships she has with her students. Not only did I receive help with picking my school list and navigating the confusing medical school application timeline, I also received help revising essays and even with mock interviews to make me feel totally prepared for every step of the process. I cannot recommend working with Caryn enough, I have already recommended her to countless friends. I am at my dream medical school now and am so grateful to have been able to work with Caryn to help me get here!
Working with Caryn throughout the medical school application process was the best decision I could have made. From the very first time I met her, I could tell she was truly dedicated to my goals and wanted to ensure I ended up at a school that would be the best fit for me. Not only is Caryn the sweetest person, but she is brilliant and will make the application process extremely clear and smooth. From knowing the best MCAT resources to use and how to prepare a personal statement, to understanding the type of environment one learns best in, Caryn will craft an individualized plan tailored to one’s aspirations. I cannot recommend Caryn enough - she will meet you at any point in the application process and ensure you are maximizing your potential. I am now a first-year medical student at my dream medical school in Chicago, and I owe it to Caryn.
I can confidently say that Caryn is the reason that I got into medical school. Caryn was an incredible resource for everything during the medical school process. I was able to go to her with anything from questions about deadlines to how to write my personal statement and how to ace my interviews. She went above and beyond to learn everything about my application and experiences to best help me describe them in my application, creating the most competitive application I could have submitted. Caryn helped me immensely when it came to determining how to write my personal statement and secondary applications. Caryn and her team also gave me instrumental advice to ace all of the different types of interviews and allowed me to complete plenty of practice with them beforehand. I attribute my acceptance to Caryn and her team. As good of an advisor as she is, she is a better person. She is so kind, always willing to chat and learn more about you as a person, and always goes above and beyond for you. She was always so excited to hear about how the process was going and any updates I had. She genuinely cared a lot about getting me accepted. I am so thankful to have worked with Caryn because without her I wouldn't be able to realize my dream of being a doctor!