About David

I am a neurosurgeon at the end of my surgical training. For the past 15 years I have taken great pride in helping pre-med students navigate the complicated and convoluted medical school admissions process. I previously served as a member of The University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine Admissions Committee for 6 years (5 years as a student interviewer and 1 year as a voting member) equipping me with firsthand knowledge of the intricacies of the medical school admissions process. Through various consulting firms, I have mentored 100+ students as they have applied to medical school. I have helped top students obtain acceptances from top schools such as Hopkins and UCSF. I have helped second time applicants with below average GPAs and MCATs successfully obtain medical school admissions. The medical school admissions landscape has changed dramatically over the past 10-20 years. It is no longer enough to have a high GPA, MCAT, and research activities. You have to prove to the committee that you are a well-rounded, non-cookie cutter individual that will excel in and out of the classroom. This is NOT a one-size-fits all type of coaching. I'm here to help you tailor your application to give you the highest rate of success. I go beyond the personal statements, secondaries, letters of rec, and school lists - I'll help bolster your confidence with interviews, thank you letters, navigating scholarships, years-off, and your overall "package" you are trying to convey to the admissions committee. I make myself extremely available, to both applicants and their parents. Every client will have my cell phone and personal email. Lastly, I emphasize real, truthful feedback. You are paying for actual advice and not a cheerleader. If your essay is not up to par, I'll give the appropriate feedback and edits. If your school list is unrealistic, I'll offer advice on a more practical list. I want you to be successful, but I don't want to give false assurance or misleading advice just because you have hired my help! A little bit about my educational background ... For undergrad, I attended The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a full-ride merit based Regent's Scholarship and graduated with high honors with a B.S. in Neuroscience. During my time at UCLA, I was a Chemistry teaching assistant and won multiple awards as a distinguished TA (nominated by the hundreds of students I taught). Following my undergraduate studies I attended The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine on a full-ride merit based Dean's Scholarship. During my time at Pritzker, I was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) research grant, allowing me to spend two years pursuing neurosurgical bench research. Following my six years at The University of Chicago, I entered neurosurgical residency training at Vanderbilt University. While in residency I was awarded a NRSA F32 National Institutes of Health (NIH) two year post-doctoral fellowship to further study brain tumor carcinogenesis at The University of Chicago. Following my final chief residency year at Vanderbilt University, I will be completing a neurosurgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) in New York City. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, traveling, snowboarding, and trying to justify my early departure on Survivor.