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    • 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.

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    By the Numbers
    100k+
    1-on-1 Tutoring hours provided to our students
    98%
    Student satisfaction rate
    260+
    Step 2 USMLE Scores of MedSchoolCoach tutors

    Why Shelf Exam Tutoring Matters

    Medical school student holding a coffee
    Medical school student holding a clipboard and wearing a stethoscope
    Medical school student holding papers and a pen in her arms
    Clerkship Grades Are Crucial
    Every Point Shapes Your Outcomes
    Efficient Prep Saves Time & Money
    Your 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.
    In 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.
    Your 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.
    • Clerkship Grades Are Crucial
      Your 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.
      Medical school student holding a coffee
      • 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 Outcomes
      In 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.
      Medical school student holding a clipboard and wearing a stethoscope
      • 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 & Money
      Your 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.
      Medical school student holding papers and a pen in her arms
      • 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.

    Our tutors have scored in the very top percentiles on their own board exams and know exactly what it takes to excel. Their combination of elite test performance and teaching expertise ensures you learn not just what to study, but how to think like a top scorer under timed, high-stakes conditions.

    According to a 2024 study, higher shelf scores are strong predictors of higher Step 2 CK scores. Shelf tutoring will not only improve your clerkship evaluations, but it can also dramatically improve the competitiveness of your residency application as a whole — paying dividends well beyond exam day.

    Your tutor pinpoints your strengths and weaknesses using a structured diagnostic approach, then builds a customized plan that fits your clerkship schedule. Each session targets high-yield material and expert test-taking strategies and is recorded for you to playback, so you never miss a moment.

    Shelf exams aren’t just about passing; they’re also about shaping your clinical understanding. From tackling test anxiety to mastering clinical reasoning, we prepare you not just for an exam, but for the next phase of your journey as a physician through mentorship, strategy, and confidence-building.
    Shelf exam tutor giving session using laptop

     

    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:

    Step 1: Intake & Diagnostic Review
    You’ll complete a detailed intake form describing specialty interests, past performance, strengths, and weaknesses. We also review any past Shelf scores or assessments to identify key gaps.
    Step 3: Content & Resource Review
    We cover subject matter specific to your Shelf exam – whether it’s Internal Medicine, Surgery, or Pediatrics. Throughout, your tutor will help to ensure that you're using the right resources for each clerkship to maximize efficiency and success.
    Step 2: Tutor Matching & Plan Creation
    Once we understand your profile, we pair you with a tutor who scored in the top percentiles and whose expertise aligns with your needs. Together, you’ll build a tailored study schedule with milestones and high-yield objectives.
    Step 6: Performance Review & Adjustments
    After full preparation, we conduct a readiness assessment. Your tutor helps you polish weak areas, build confidence, and refine your test-taking strategy. You’ll walk into your Shelf exam feeling ready to excel!
    Step 4: Tutoring Sessions & Feedback
    Through one-on-one sessions, your tutor provides direct instruction, exam strategy, and practice. Every session includes feedback and is recorded for review so you can reinforce lessons in between.
    Step 5: Structured Exam Prep & Practice
    Leading up to your Shelf exam, sessions increasingly replicate exam conditions: timed practice, subject integration, and specialty-focused simulations. Your tutor will adjust the plan dynamically based on performance.
    Step 1: Intake & Diagnostic Review
    You’ll complete a detailed intake form describing specialty interests, past performance, strengths, and weaknesses. We also review any past Shelf scores or assessments to identify key gaps.
    Step 2: Tutor Matching & Plan Creation
    Once we understand your profile, we pair you with a tutor who scored in the top percentiles and whose expertise aligns with your needs. Together, you’ll build a tailored study schedule with milestones and high-yield objectives.
    Step 3: Content & Resource Review
    We cover subject matter specific to your Shelf exam – whether it’s Internal Medicine, Surgery, or Pediatrics. Throughout, your tutor will help to ensure that you're using the right resources for each clerkship to maximize efficiency and success.
    Step 4: Tutoring Sessions & Feedback
    Through one-on-one sessions, your tutor provides direct instruction, exam strategy, and practice. Every session includes feedback and is recorded for review so you can reinforce lessons in between.
    Step 5: Structured Exam Prep & Practice
    Leading up to your Shelf exam, sessions increasingly replicate exam conditions: timed practice, subject integration, and specialty-focused simulations. Your tutor will adjust the plan dynamically based on performance.
    Step 6: Performance Review & Adjustments
    After full preparation, we conduct a readiness assessment. Your tutor helps you polish weak areas, build confidence, and refine your test-taking strategy. You’ll walk into your Shelf exam feeling ready to excel!
    STEP 1: Choose Tutor Level
    Feature
    Who They Are

    Our Standard Tutors are exceptional and equivalent to Master Tutors at most other companies. They have gone through rigorous training and demonstrated elite testing capabilities, with the vast majority scoring 260+ on USMLE Step 2.

    Our Master Tutors are the best in the business. Building on the same foundation of elite scores (260+ on USMLE Step 2.), they bring years more teaching experience than Standard Tutors. They can take any student to a higher score and produce consistently remarkable results.

    Our directors are amongst the best board exam tutors in the country, have the most tutoring experience and receive perfect student reviews.

    Selected
    Selected
    Selected
    Who They Are

    Our Standard Tutors are exceptional and equivalent to Master Tutors at most other companies. They have gone through rigorous training and demonstrated elite testing capabilities, with the vast majority scoring 260+ on USMLE Step 2.

    Our Master Tutors are the best in the business. Building on the same foundation of elite scores (260+ on USMLE Step 2.), they bring years more teaching experience than Standard Tutors. They can take any student to a higher score and produce consistently remarkable results.

    Our directors are amongst the best board exam tutors in the country, have the most tutoring experience and receive perfect student reviews.

    Selected
    Selected
    Selected
    Who They Are

    Our Standard Tutors are exceptional and equivalent to Master Tutors at most other companies. They have gone through rigorous training and demonstrated elite testing capabilities, with the vast majority scoring 260+ on USMLE Step 2.

    Our Master Tutors are the best in the business. Building on the same foundation of elite scores (260+ on USMLE Step 2.), they bring years more teaching experience than Standard Tutors. They can take any student to a higher score and produce consistently remarkable results.

    Our directors are amongst the best board exam tutors in the country, have the most tutoring experience and receive perfect student reviews.

    Selected
    Selected
    Selected
    STEP 2: Choose Plan

    Be one of the thousands of students who raise their Shelf score with MedSchoolCoach.

    Book a Consultation Schedule a Meeting
    Be one of the thousands of students who raise their Shelf score with MedSchoolCoach.
    Book a Consultation Schedule a Meeting
    Be one of the thousands of students who raise their Shelf score with MedSchoolCoach.
    Book a Consultation Schedule a Meeting

    Student Success Stories

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes, you can spend your first session with your Tutor creating a comprehensive study plan that is tailored to your needs.

    Yes, our Tutors are very familiar with Shelf Exam resources and will be able to advise you on the strengths and weaknesses of different third-party materials.

    Yes, many of our Tutors have worked with students who initially struggled with Shelf Exams. These students have gone on to improve their scores, excel in clinical rotations, and ace USMLE Step 2 or COMLEX Level 2.

    Our Master Tutors have worked for MedSchoolCoach for an extended period and their students have an impeccable record of success. Additionally, they have extensive experience working with students in challenging situations or with specific needs.

    Yes! In fact, it's more effective than in-person tutoring. One of the benefits of personalized tutoring is that you will be able to directly coordinate sessions with your Tutor. Sessions can occur during the day or night, depending on what works best for you and your Tutor. Plus, our tutoring sessions can be conducted anywhere in the world with our video conferencing software, and each session and lesson is tailored directly to your individual needs.

    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.

    • Profile picture of Adaobi Ugochukwu
      Adaobi Ugochukwu

      Master USMLE Tutor

      Adaobi Ugochukwu

      Master USMLE Tutor


      Undergraduate:
       University of Florida
      Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

       

    • Profile picture of Alex Starks
      Alex Starks

      Associate Director of MCAT

      Alex Starks

      Associate Director of MCAT

      Undergraduate: Central Washington University

       

    • Profile picture of Allison King MD
      Allison King MD

      Master Advisor

      Allison King MD

      Master 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

    • Profile picture of Camille Villar
      Camille Villar

      Master Tutor

      Camille Villar

      Master Tutor

      Undergraduate: Rice University

      Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine

       

    • Profile picture of Charles Farmer, MD
      Charles Farmer MD

      Advisor

      Charles Farmer MD

      Advisor

      Undergraduate: BS, Seton Hall University

      Medical School: MD, John Hopkins University School of Medicine
      Residency: New York University

       

    • Profile picture of Jeanie Gribben MD
      Jeanie Gribben MD

      Director of Medical School Tutoring

      Jeanie Gribben MD

      Director of Medical School Tutoring

      Undergraduate: Cornell University
      Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
      Residency::New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell

       

    • Profile picture of Jill Miller MD
      Jill Miller MD

      Master Advisor

      Jill Miller MD

      Master Advisor

      Undergraduate: BS, Cornell University
      Medical School: MD, University of Virginia
      Residency: Cornell University, Duke University

       

    • Profile picture of Kachiu Lee MD
      Kachiu Lee MD

      Director of Direct Med (BS/MD) Advising

      Kachiu Lee MD

      Director 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

       

    • Profile picture of Laura Baldasare
      Laura Baldasare

      College Advisor

      Laura Baldasare

      College Advisor

      Undergraduate: Pace University

       

       

    • Profile picture of Liran Raz MD
      Liran Raz MD

      Master Advisor

      Liran Raz MD

      Master Advisor

      Undergraduate: BS, Stony Brook University
      Medical School: MD, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
      Residency: Mt. Sinai Health System - New York

       

    • Profile picture of Luke Voytas MD
      Luke Voytas MD

      Director of Admissions Advising

      Luke Voytas MD

      Director of Admissions Advising


      Undergraduate: BS, Duke University
      Medical School: MD, Washington University in St. Louis
      Residency: Children's Hospital Los Angeles

       

    • Profile picture of Makaya Fofana
      Makaya Fofana

      Tutor

      Makaya Fofana

      Tutor

      Undergraduate: Brown University

    • Profile picture of Rosalyn Ferguson MD, MSHA
      Rosalyn Ferguson MD, MSHA

      Master Advisor

      Rosalyn Ferguson MD, MSHA

      Master Advisor

      Undergraduate: BS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
      Medical School: MD, New York University School of Medicine
      Residency: Boston University
      Fellowship: Texas Heart Institute

    • Profile picture of Susan Choo MD
      Susan Choo MD

      Associate Director of Advising

      Susan Choo MD

      Associate 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

       

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