Medical School Admissions Consulting Services
Get Expert Advice from Medical School Admission Professionals
Kaplan offers the most experienced team of medical school admission consultants available. Most have served on admissions committees—many at the top med schools—and they bring really cogent insight into the admissions decision-making process. They'll work with you to build the best application package possible; one that positions you well for acceptance.
![]() Carleen
Years consulting with Kaplan: 5
Education: MD from UCLA Background: Resident Physician, Kaiser Permanente In the five years that she has been a consultant for Kaplan, she has assisted applicants who have received acceptances to top optometry, medical and dental schools. While many applicants apply upon, or soon after, receiving their undergraduate degrees, others have worked in another profession for some time and are pursuing their deferred dreams of becoming a dentist or physician. As a successful applicant to medical school, Dr. Carleen Eaton understands the concerns that applicants have at the primary, secondary and interview phases of the school application process. As a consultant, Carleen assists applicants in highlighting their strengths and developing a list of schools that fit their backgrounds and interests. Receiving news about acceptances from clients with whom she has worked with is greatly rewarding, and she looks forward to assisting future applicants in achieving their goals. ![]() Houman
Years consulting with Kaplan: 12
Education: MD/PhD from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and California Institute of Technology Background: Former member of a medical school admissions committee While earning his MD/PhD degree Houman researched the role of stem cells in human brain tumors. He holds a degree in biological sciences from Stanford University, where he worked on bone marrow stem cells. Houman is a reviewing editor of the medical school admissions guidebook entitled Get Into Medical School: A Strategic Approach, and has been a regular speaker at schools across the country regarding medical school admissions. ![]() Vairavan
Years consulting with Kaplan: 5
Education: MD from Baylor College of Medicine Background: Former Member on the admissions committee, Baylor College of Medicine Vairavan received his M.D. with honors from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he was a full voting member on the admissions committee for three years; he screened hundreds of applications, conducted numerous student interviews, and participated in selection committee meetings with faculty members. ![]() Claudia
Years consulting with Kaplan: 3
Education: MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine Background: Faculty of the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine Claudia completed residency training in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health at University Hospital, State University of New York at Stony Brook, School of Medicine and was awarded her M.P.H. degree concurrently from Columbia University. She completed a subspecialty NIH fellowship in Medical Genetics at UCLA, where she trained in clinical genetics (prenatal, pediatric, and adult) and researched the genetic epidemiology of chronic diseases.
![]() Ellen
Years consulting with Kaplan: 4
Education: DMD from Harvard Background: Former Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, Harvard School of Dental Medicine With ten years of experience directing the admissions program at the School of Dental Medicine at Harvard, Ellen gained tremendous insight into the application process as well as the ability to identify desirable applicants for admission. Her work in this role included reviewing applications, screening candidates for interview, conducting welcome sessions and interviews, and managing and directing the entire admissions committee process. As a result, Ellen has an insider's understanding of specific attributes that admissions committee members are seeking in their selection of a medical or dental student. ![]() Jack
Years consulting with Kaplan: 3
Education: Master's/PhD from Lehigh University Background: Former chief pre-med advisor, York College After 36 years as a professor of Biology at York College of CUNY, Jack retired in January 2007. For about 30 of those years, he had been the chief pre-med advisor, and is continuing in that role on a P/T basis. In that capacity Professor Schlein: advises students on their courses; works with students on their applications; does interview preparation; coordinates a committee letter of recommendation and runs a premed group with guest speakers and other activities. He has also nominated over a dozen successful applicants for the prestigious Salk Scholarship given to CUNY students accepted to medical school who have shown exceptional promise in research. Working as a Kaplan Admissions Consultant, he has perfected the "wisdom" he has accumulated over these many years. |
![]() Heather — 2007 Medical Consultant of the Year
Years consulting with Kaplan: 3
Education: MD from University of Louisville School of Medicine Background: Former member of the Faculty-Student Liaison Committee, Residency Director, University of Texas - Houston School of Medicine Heather's clients have been accepted to top-tier US News and World Report clinical and research schools including Harvard, Duke, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Vermont. Since joining Kaplan, Heather has helped traditional and nontraditional medical school applicants develop personalized strategic plans for admission. Her professional consulting advice has been sought by reapplicants that can vouch for the difference she makes. Having graduated from an AMCAS school and then having interviewed students for admissions at a TMDSAS school, Heather is able to provide counsel for applying to all US medical schools. She has also helped students gain acceptance to premedical postbaccalaureate programs and to osteopathic schools. Heather's experience as a published creative writer has helped many a client to conquer writer's block. She has given seminars throughout the United States on writing personal statements and interviewing. ![]() Tom
Years consulting with Kaplan: 2
Education: BS from University of Connecticut Background: Former Associate Dean for Student Affairs/Admissions, the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University Tom is one of the most experienced admissions experts in the country. Prior to his retirement from full time admissions work Tom served as the chief admissions officer at four different medical schools. He began his admissions career in 1968 the first admissions officer at the brand new University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He stayed at UCONN for five years and then moved to Philadelphia where he served as Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the Hahnemann Medical College (Now part of Drexel University). Tom was recruited to The University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1975 where he was Director of Admissions and Assistant Director of Student Affairs and Curriculum. Tom left Iowa in 1998 to join Kaplan as Director of Academic Services, Prehealth Sciences and for the next two years he toured the country presenting the popular seminar series "The Inside Scoop on Medical School Admissions" to student groups on over 85 college campuses located in 29 states and Canada. While visiting these locations he held office hours to help individual Kaplan students with questions on the application process. Tom is a co-author of Kaplan's "Medical School Admissions Advisor" and its successor, "Get Into Medical School — A Strategic Approach". Tom returned to the academic world in 2000 when he was named Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, now part of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. ![]() Janani
Years consulting with Kaplan: 1
Education: M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor Background: Former Admissions committee member, University of Michigan Medical School At the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Janani was named a Dean's Scholar and received a four-year, full-tuition merit scholarship. In 2008, she was accepted into her #1 residency program in internal medicine/preventive medicine, located in San Francisco, California. ![]() Yama
Years consulting with Kaplan: 5
Education: MD/PhD from UC Irvine School of Medicine Background: Former admissions committee member, UC Irvine School of Medicine Yama completed a combined dual-degree (MD and PhD) program known as the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of California in Irvine in 2006, and is currently a resident physician at UCLA Medical Center. He received acceptance to many medical schools, including the top ranked medical school in his region, the University of California at San Francisco. He chose to pursue the combined MD and PhD program at the University of California at Irvine, where he received a National Institutes of Health fully-funded fellowship and stipend for the duration of the dual-degree program. He traveled and presented his research at national and international scientific conferences, and achieved various publications in scientific journals. ![]() Kris
Years consulting with Kaplan: 1
Education: Master's from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University Background: Former Admissions committee chair, Sloan Graduate Program in Health Administration Kris is an expert in the field of health care administration, often advising individuals who are interested in the management and policy aspects of health care, either in addition to medical school or as a stand-alone professional interest. Kris serves on the Gateway Council, an affiliate of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). Kris also is an Advisory Board Member for the Center for International Medical Activities, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University. She is a member of the Northeast Association of Advisors to the Health Professions (NEAAHP) and the Northeast Association of PreLaw Advisors (NAPLA). Kris is a board-certified Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE), and is a past member of ACHE's Empire Regent's Advisory Council. |











