Choosing a college
Undergraduate
Build a balanced college list, compare pre-health opportunities, and develop an essay that reflects your interests and experiences.
Ask about undergraduate advisingSouthern California · Admissions Advising
A clearer path
to medicine.
Personal advising for the decisions, essays, and interviews that shape your path to medical school.
How we help
Advising for each
stage of the journey.
Find support for a decision you’re facing now, from choosing an undergraduate program to preparing for your medical school interviews.
Planning ahead
Premed
Map out coursework, explore clinical and service opportunities, and set a realistic MCAT and application timeline.
Ask about premed planningGetting ready to apply
Medical school
Shape your school list, organize your primary and secondary applications, and practice speaking about your experiences.
Ask about medical school advisingEssay coaching
Get feedback on personal statements, activities descriptions, or secondaries. We help you identify what to develop and what to cut while keeping the writing yours.
Ask about essay coachingMock interviews
Practice in a traditional, behavioral, or multiple mini-interview (MMI) format, then debrief your answers and identify what to work on before interview day.
Ask about mock interviewsSessions & packages
Choose the support
you need.
Indicative rates in USD. We confirm the scope and final quote after your consultation.
Advising Session
$180 / session
A 60-minute session focused on your next decision.
- Undergraduate, premed, or med school planning
- Priorities and a practical next-step plan
Application Package
$810 / package
Support across several steps of your medical school application.
- Two advising sessions on strategy and school selection
- Two feedback rounds on one personal statement
- One feedback round on each of up to two secondary essays
Interview Prep
$150 / session
One 60-minute mock interview and debrief.
- Traditional, behavioral, or MMI practice
- Specific feedback and practice priorities
Standalone essay review · Indicative price of $108 for one feedback round on one personal statement. Ask about essay review
Your advisors
Meet the Balboa team.
Both advisors have more than a decade of experience advising undergraduate and medical school applicants. Either can help with undergraduate admissions, premed planning, essays, or interview prep.
Sean Solomon
Fourth-year medical student
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Sean attends UC Irvine on a full-tuition Dean’s Merit Scholarship and previously served as an admissions interviewer for the School of Medicine. He graduated magna cum laude from USC with a B.S. in Mathematics/Economics and a minor in Health Care Studies.
He has earned multiple preclinical and clinical honors and contributed to more than 25 scholarly contributions across peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and posters. As an applicant, he received more than $400,000 in medical school scholarship offers and was admitted to multiple top-20 medical schools.
Michael Oca
Fourth-year medical student
UC San Diego School of Medicine
Michael earned a B.S. in Biology with honors from UC Irvine and a Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research from UC San Diego. He has held multiple NIH-funded research fellowships and was admitted to multiple top-20 medical schools.
He has contributed to more than 100 publications, presentations, and posters, including over 20 peer-reviewed publications and more than 10 national podium presentations.
FAQ
Before we talk.
What happens after I request a consultation?
We review your request and email you a scheduling link for a free 15-minute Zoom consultation. We’ll use the call to talk about your goals and the support that fits your timeline.
Can I get help with just one essay or interview?
Yes. You can ask for a standalone personal statement review, help with a secondary essay, or a single mock interview. Select the relevant service when you reach out.
Can I reach out before I’m ready to apply?
Yes. Undergraduate and premed advising can help you compare college options, think through your course schedule, and decide when an application might make sense.
Can you write my essays or guarantee admission?
We give feedback and help you revise in your own voice. Your work stays yours, and admissions decisions rest with each school.
Should I send my application materials now?
Keep your inquiry to contact details and a general sense of timing. If a service requires application materials, we’ll discuss a suitable way to share them separately.
Free 15-minute Zoom consultation
Request a
consultation.
Tell us where you’d like help. We’ll review your request and email you a scheduling link so you can choose a time.
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