- For Med Students
Master Your Shelf Exams with 1:1 Tutoring from Top Scorers
Shelf exams play a major role in your clerkship assessments and residency application. They’re tough, but they also vary from the pre-clinical exams you’ve taken before, testing your ability to apply clinical knowledge in real-world scenarios. With MedSchoolCoach, you’ll work with tutors who can help you excel on your Shelf exams with confidence.
-
Clerkship Grades Are CrucialYour clerkship evaluations set the tone for your ERAS application, and Shelf exam performance often determines those grades. With MedSchoolCoach, you gain the strategic edge needed to excel when it matters most. We offer Shelf Exam Tutoring for Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, OB/Gyn, Pediatrics, Neurology, Family Medicine, Ambulatory, and Psychiatry clerkships.
- Outshine the Competition for Your Desired Residency Spot. Program directors view Shelf scores as a measure of clinical reasoning and readiness. High performance signals you can handle the rigors of residency.
- Consistency Across Specialties. Strong results in every rotation demonstrate both breadth and depth of knowledge, helping you stand out across multiple disciplines. This is helpful whether you plan to apply to positions across just one or any number of specialties.
- The Foundation for Step 2 Success. Excelling on Shelf exams is especially critical since they’re often the first graded exams medical students face. Strong performance builds momentum and confidence for Step 2 CK and COMLEX Level 2 and ensures you’re positioned for long-term success.
-
Every Point Shapes Your OutcomesIn a competitive residency landscape, an Honors on a clerkship can shift your application from the middle of the pack to the top of the list. Focused Shelf exam preparation ensures you maximize every opportunity to stand out.
- Residency Directors Notice Details. Selection committees compare applicants side by side, and higher Shelf exam scores can give you the decisive advantage.
- Elevate Your Overall Academic Profile. Strong Shelf results strengthen your transcript and complement your board scores, essays, and evaluations. This is particularly important as Step 1 is now a Pass/Fail exam.
- Turn Marginal Gains Into Major Outcomes. A two- or three-point difference may be the factor that opens doors to your first-choice specialty or program.
-
Efficient Prep Saves Time & MoneyYour clinical years are demanding, and wasted study time comes at a high cost. With expert Shelf tutoring, you’ll maximize every hour of prep while avoiding the expense of unnecessary retakes or delayed progression.
- Study Smarter, Not Longer. Our tutors focus your attention on the highest-yield material so you’re not buried in endless resources.
- Avoid Costly Setbacks. A failed or low Shelf score can mean remediation, delays, and added tuition. Our guidance keeps you moving forward.
- Maximize Your Investment in Education. Every tutoring session is designed to deliver results quickly, protecting both your time and your financial commitment to becoming a physician.
Trusted by Institutions Worldwide
University of California San Francisco
Stanford Hospital & Clinics
NYU Langone Medical Center
Yale New Haven
Hospital
UNC Health Care
Shelf Success Starts Here
When it comes to the Shelf exams, you need more than a generic prep plan; you need guidance as rigorous and specialized as the exams themselves. MedSchoolCoach pairs you with elite tutors and proven resources so you can maximize your scores, strengthen your residency application, and build lasting clinical confidence.
How It Works
We take a structured, high-touch approach to ensure every student is prepared for their clinical subject exams. From the first step to exam day, here’s what our process looks like:
-
I had an amazing experience with MedSchoolCoach. Coming off a failed application cycle, I felt very lost and confused about how to navigate another one. Then, I met Dr. Nelson, and my outlook completely changed. He has single-handedly been one of the best mentors I have ever met. Always going above and beyond, inspiring me along the way, and genuinely wanting to see me achieve my dream. I know for a fact that my journey into medical school wouldn't be the same without him. I can't recommend him enough!
Zach: "I met Dr. Nelson and my outlook completely changed." -
MedSchoolCoach was amazing. Everyone at the company is very helpful and wants to see their clients succeed. My personal advisor was very responsive and helped me in every stage of the process. I truly feel that if I had not used MedSchoolCoach, I would not have gotten into my top choice for medical school. I sent out 12 secondaries, interviewed at 5 schools, and was accepted to 4 and waitlisted at the other.
Madi: "Interviewed at 5 schools, and was accepted to 4." -
“Dr. Lee is extremely nice and down to earth. She guided my son very patiently for almost 2 years and helped him get into BS/MD program. My son has a full ride for undergrad. This entire process was daunting. But Dr. Lee and Rob Rivas helped us through the extremely stressful application and interview process. We couldn't have done this without their help and guidance. We feel blessed to have found Dr. Lee and MedSchoolCoach. Thanks for everything!"
SA: "My son has a full ride..." -
“I honestly cannot speak highly enough about the experience of working with Michelle, Susan, Darlene, and Ken. Every one of them is extremely knowledgeable, warm, supportive, and excellent at their jobs. Without their guidance and support, I do not know if I would be sitting here writing a review about both of my children achieving their lifelong dreams of going to medical school. I know what a daunting process applying to medical school is, and having a team behind you like MedSchoolCoach can really make the difference between receiving acceptance letters versus denials. If you have a child applying to medical school, I cannot recommend a better service.”
CU: "Extremely knowledgeable, warm, supportive and excellent at their jobs." -
“Dr. Kachiu Lee and Rob Rivas helped me tremendously throughout the college admissions process. From brainstorming my personal statement to refining my supplementals, both Dr. Lee and Rob consistently provided thorough feedback in a short amount of time, ensuring my responses articulated my ideas in the best manner possible. Additionally, Dr. Lee was invaluable in prepping for my BS/MD interviews, giving great feedback on how to optimize my responses while also providing practice through several mock interviews. Overall, I would highly recommend both Dr. Kachiu Lee and Rob Rivas as advisors, especially if you are applying to college and are interested in BS/MD programs.”
David: "Invaluable in prepping for my BS/MD interviews." -
"Dr. Mandalia provided a plethora of good ideas to work into my responses that will help me strengthen my overall narrative and presentation. He noted my strengths and weaknesses and gave me many different ways to address my weaknesses. He is clearly incredibly knowledgeable about what interview committees look for and was able to elaborate on these points in great detail."
Conor O'Dowd: "Incredibly knowledgable [sic] about what interview committees look for." -
I used their services to help me pass the basic science comprehensive exam and now for step 1 prep. I will most definitely continue to use their services for step 2 prep as well.
My tutor, Alexander Merriman, is out of this world! He can get in my head and really help me get to the route of my learning gaps. Alex can and will explain things to me a million ways to guarantee that I understand the concepts and will never get it wrong again. Not only has he helped me with knowledge onboarding and strategies for answering questions but also has helped me gain confidence and get out of any bad habits I built before starting on this journey with MedSchoolCoach.
Christina Tartaglia: "I will most definitely continue to use their services." -
I used MedSchool Coach to help me study for the USMLE Step 1 exam and was so thankful for their help! I highly recommend Abdul was a tutor! I was really nervous about the exam and really at a loss about how to the study before working with him. He provided a personalized approach and we systematically tackled all of my areas of weakness before the exam. After our sessions, I walked into test day feeling infinitely more confident than I would have been without his help!
Emma L: "walked into test day feeling infinitely more confident." -
“The first time I took the MCAT without any preparation, I did not achieve the score I wanted to reach. When I found the resources available by the instructors in MedSchoolCoach, I was able to boost my score from a 500 to 527 in my most recent practice test in just 3 months! I am thrilled with this score, and beyond grateful for MedSchoolCoach <3”
Sabrina Sarwar: "From a 500 to 527 in my most recent practice test."
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet Some of Our Tutors
MedSchoolCoach has assembled the absolute best team of Physician Advisors, Writing Advisors, Research Mentors, and MCAT and Medical School Tutors. The entire coaching team is dedicated to helping you become a physician. Our team consistently goes above and beyond to help students at every step of their medical journey.
-
Adaobi UgochukwuMaster USMLE Tutor
Adaobi UgochukwuMaster USMLE Tutor
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine -
Alex StarksAssociate Director of MCAT
Alex StarksAssociate Director of MCAT
Undergraduate: Central Washington University
-
Allison King MDMaster Advisor
Allison King MDMaster Advisor
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt Pediatrics Residency Program
Fellowship: Vanderbilt Pediatric Emergency Medicine -
Camille VillarMaster Tutor
Camille VillarMaster Tutor
Undergraduate: Rice University
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
-
Charles Farmer MDAdvisor
Charles Farmer MDAdvisor
Undergraduate: BS, Seton Hall University
Medical School: MD, John Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency: New York University -
Jeanie Gribben MDDirector of Medical School Tutoring
Jeanie Gribben MDDirector of Medical School Tutoring
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Residency::New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell -
Jill Miller MDMaster Advisor
Jill Miller MDMaster Advisor
Undergraduate: BS, Cornell University
Medical School: MD, University of Virginia
Residency: Cornell University, Duke University -
Kachiu Lee MDDirector of Direct Med (BS/MD) Advising
Kachiu Lee MDDirector of Direct Med (BS/MD) Advising
Undergraduate: BA, Northwestern University
Medical School: MD, Northwestern University
Internship: Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, University of Arizona
Residency: Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University
Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School -
Laura BaldasareCollege Advisor
Laura BaldasareCollege Advisor
Undergraduate: Pace University
-
Liran Raz MDMaster Advisor
Liran Raz MDMaster Advisor
Undergraduate: BS, Stony Brook University
Medical School: MD, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Residency: Mt. Sinai Health System - New York -
Luke Voytas MDDirector of Admissions Advising
Luke Voytas MDDirector of Admissions Advising
Undergraduate: BS, Duke University
Medical School: MD, Washington University in St. Louis
Residency: Children's Hospital Los Angeles -
Rosalyn Ferguson MD, MSHAMaster Advisor
Rosalyn Ferguson MD, MSHAMaster Advisor
Undergraduate: BS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Medical School: MD, New York University School of Medicine
Residency: Boston University
Fellowship: Texas Heart Institute -
Susan Choo MDAssociate Director of Advising
Susan Choo MDAssociate Director of Advising
Undergraduate: BS, University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: MD, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
Residency: Children’s Hospital of Orange County
