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As a non-traditional pre-med,
I was pretty much on my own.
My dream was to become a doctor... But, I was facing some challenges.
My challenges included a subpar GPA and a low MCAT score.
Not to mention that I was older than most pre-meds.
I wasn't sure how to get medical schools to look past my challenges
and see my passion for medicine.
"Am I making the right moves?"
What did medical schools want to see from me as a non-traditional pre-med?
Should I shadow more doctors? Should I retake the MCAT?
Should I do a post-bac or Masters program?
Pre-med conferences were helpful! But, after they were over,
I kept thinking to myself...
"I really need someone to walk me through this!"
I was doing post-bac work, but applying to medical school was about more than just my GPA.
How should I study for the MCAT the second time around? To what schools should I apply?
Is my personal statement good enough? I needed to do something!
Determined to get into medical school the first time I applied,
I developed a strategy that helped me do just that!
This strategy worked for me and
it can work for you, too!
Make moves that will get you into medical school!
Get your application to the top of the pile.
Change your life. Impact the world.
Become a doctor!
INTRODUCING...
PRE-MED TO PREPARED COACHING
"If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together."
The Pre-med to Prepared Coaching Program (P2P) is the ONLY online group coaching program exclusively for non-traditional pre-meds that gives you 9 months (September through May) of support and strategies for becoming the applicant that medical schools want.
Each month will bring you a different module that will give you the information and resources your need to organize and prioritize your pre-med journey. Plus... You'll get LIVE online sessions with Dr. Darko and her team of doctors, medical students, and other team members who will talk you through your specific goals and give you the inside scoop on what admissions committees want. P2P's goal is to make each student a stronger medical school applicant using solid strategies that will prepare you for the upcoming application cycle.
Here's what you get:
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Well-paced information and resources
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LIVE coaching modules
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LIVE online group strategy sessions
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Access to group forum
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Strategies for academic improvement, MCAT, personal statement, and interviews
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Extracurricular activity strategies
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And more...
HERE'S A SNEAK PREVIEW
Module 1:
Money matters to
pre-meds, too
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Getting your finances in order: debt, savings, and budgets
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Paying for the application process without going broke
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Paying for med school: Financial aid, scholarships, and loans
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 2:
Strategies that work for non-trad pre-meds
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Becoming a strategic non-traditional pre-med
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Making the most from post-bac or Masters program
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What actually matters to the admissions committee
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 3:
Life after rejection from medical school
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Accepted into a pre-matriculation program or rejected
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How to increase your chances next time
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Second thoughts: Should I consider a plan B?
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 4:
Beef up your application while doing what you love
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Shadow like a boss!
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Should I or should I not do research?
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Clinical and volunteering: Is enough enough?
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 5:
Be a prepared test-taker, not an MCAT casualty
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Understand what the MCAT is really testing
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Stop studying… Train for the MCAT!
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The right time and the wrong time to take (or retake) the MCAT
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 6:
How to be a pre-med that people want to help
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Getting strong recommendation letters takes a lot of work
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Networking ain't for the weak
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Make the pitch: Finding a mentor
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 7:
Prepare to state your case
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Confronting your challenges: Accountability is key
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What's your story?
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Personal statement primer
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 8:
Don't just apply... Strategize!
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To apply or not to apply? That is the question
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Which degree do I want?: MD or DO
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Should I apply to Caribbean schools?
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LIVE online group strategy session
Module 9:
Medical school application 101
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Understanding the application timeline
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Intro to the medical school application
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Medical school interview primer
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LIVE online group strategy session
Enroll to get these bonuses!
Bonus : Exclusive access to my network of doctors and medical students. Get the inside scoop on what medical school admissions committees want in a medical school applicant. They'll make guest appearances throughout the program to walk you through everything you want and need to know.
Bonus 2: Get my strategy tools... all of them! My Pre-med Strategy Worksheet Package includes strategy sheets, templates, and worksheets for the personal statement, medical school interview, and more. Know what moves to make, how to make them, and the right time to make them. Develop your strategy for getting into medical school!
Bonus 3: VIP registration discount for my Applied to Accepted (A2A) program. Submit your medical school applications in just 5 days!!! A2A is a 5-day online intensive hands-on course designed to walk you through the medical school application process. Each workshop's objective is to have you complete each step of the application cycle including central applications, personal statement, secondary applications, and interviews. To learn more about A2A, click here.
MENTOR STRATEGIST COACH
Dr. RV Darko
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Founder, Pre-med Strategies, Inc.
I'm Dr. Renée Volny Darko. If you are a non-traditional pre-med wanting to make the right moves towards getting into medical school, you've come to the right place! My programs are designed to prepare you to successfully apply to medical school through support, confidence building, goal-setting, and strategy. I work with you to follow a system that keeps you accountable, helps you make strategic moves, and transforms you into an applicant that medical school want!
BENEFITS OF COACHING
support
Every pre-med needs support and accountability to succeed. We will discuss your challenges, solutions to address them, and workable strategies to keep you accountable.I provide support by phone, email, message board, and group sessions. You will have access to recordings of your phone and video strategy sessions for your use in the future. I help you stay accountable for completing the tasks throughout the program, so that you are nothing short of prepared when the time comes to hit the "submit" button on your medical school applications.
goals
Your goal of getting into medical school will be broken down into smaller objectives that you can achieve along the way. The programs include a module series to help set goals that address academic improvement, MCAT score, shadowing and clinical experiences, as well as the entire application process. You group mates be your accountability partners in assuring that you reach each objective towards your larger goal of getting into medical school. My goal is to take you from pre-med to prepared and then applied to accepted!
Strategy
The best way to avoid making mistakes is to be strategic. Getting into med school, as they say, "This ain't checkers; this is chess." With applications on the rise and with less than 40% of applicants being accepted in some years, only those with a solid strategy will receive a letter starting with "Congratulations..." During the course of the program, you will develop a solid written personalized Pre-med Strategic Plan to follow. Using this plan will help you make the right moves towards an acceptance to medical school!
confidence
When asked what is their biggest challenge about pursuing medical school, most pre-meds that I have encountered say "lack of confidence". My programs are specifically designed to help you build your confidence through a series of exercises. A confident pre-med is a strategic pre-med. A strategic pre-med is a prepared pre-med and a prepared pre-med gets accepted. We will confront your fears and doubts head on and work to knock them down one by one until you gain the confidence you need to become a competitive applicant!
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
You are a non-traditional pre-med
You are making moves, but don't know if you're on the right track
You are on track to apply to medical school in 1-2 years
You want to boost your confidence about getting into medical school
You realize that doing it on your own has not gotten you where you want to be
You are ready to overcome any academic or other challenges holding you back
You are highly motivated and action-oriented
SELECTIVE AND LIMITED
Enrollment into P2P is by invitation only. Space is limited in this intensive program. The program is limited to 12 participants per year. My coaching programs require that participants are actively working towards improving themselves as medical school applicants and plan to apply within 1-2 years. I work with pre-meds who have academic blemishes and other obstacles that make getting into medical school seem daunting. So, you don't have to be perfect, just motivated, and ready to take action!
After completing the application, you will be prompted to make a phone appointment to review your application. During the appointment we will determine if you are a good fit for the program. Selected applicants will be invited to enroll at the time of the call. If you are not selected to enroll into the program, you may be invited to participate in other appropriate webinars and courses.
The key to successful coaching is a motivated and action-oriented participant. My ultimate goal is to transform you into a truly prepared applicant that will successfully apply to medical school!
COACHING WORKS!
A map only tells you it's possible to get there, not how to navigate the bumps in the road.
Studies show that coaching programs are effective in facilitating goal achievement, especially for those seeking to develop their careers. Coaching can even be effective for those who already have mentors. Like a sports coach or personal trainer, a coach pushes you to your fullest potential by helping you to identify your challenges, offering solutions, then holding you accountable for executing actions towards your success.
OK... I'M INTERESTED!
Isn't applying to medical school like applying to college?
Nooooo! That is one of the biggest myths and mistakes that pre-meds make - approaching medical school like college. Chances are that if you apply to enough colleges, you will get in somewhere. This is not the case with medical schools. Less than 40% of applicants have been accepted to medical school in some years, and the number of medical school applications is on the rise. It is becoming more difficult to get into medical school, so having a solid strategy, especially as a non-traditional pre-med, is essential.
Is it affordable?
What's the price of applying to medical school and not getting in? Applying and reapplying to medical school unsuccessfully is both expensive and devastating. I remember being a pre-med with lots of financial responsibilities and a limited income. Applying to medical school can be expensive. An investment in my programs helps you to get it right the first time. I also offer payment plans where possible and have made the investment in my programs comparable to those of an MCAT review course.
Why only non-traditional pre-meds?
I know first-hand that resources for non-traditional students are limited. I wanted to create a program that prioritizes the needs of non-trad pre-meds. Also... My programs are targeted to non-trad pre-meds because this particular method works well to get that subset of students the best results. Simply put... Because it works!
What if I don't get into medical school?
This is a real concern. Just like no MCAT course can guarantee that you will get a perfect score, no program can guarantee you an acceptance into medical school. I can't do the work for you, but you should not have to do this alone. If after successful completion of every part of my program from start to finish, you don't get in, I will meet with you to review your case and formulate a new strategy.
I have a mentor.
I actually encourage all the students that I work with to have mentors and even teach you how to engage a mentor in my programs. I have been and continue to be a mentor, but my mentoring relationships require a set of skills, time commitment, and responsibilities which are very different from my coaching programs. Studies have shown that coaching is beneficial even for people who are already in mentoring relationships.
I'm not sure if I'm ready.
I work with pre-meds who are truly motivated and ready to take action. You must be someone who is proactive in your pursuit of a medical career and willing to get critical, but constructive feedback. If this is you, then you are ready to pursue your dream.
I'm applying to medical school this year.
The Pre-med to Prepared program is designed to help those who are applying to medical school in 1-2 years. If you plan to apply this upcoming cycle, you might be interested in my Applied to Accepted program.
My spouse is not on board.
Spousal support will be incredibly important now and throughout your medical career due to the enormous sacrifice of time and money it takes to become a doctor. It can be difficult for a spouse to see the benefits of this type of program or even an MCAT review course at first. But, when you become a more confident and prepared applicant, it actually increases your chances of getting into medical school.
I'm way too busy!
As a non-traditional pre-med, I worked 4 part-time jobs while taking post-bac courses and studying for the MCAT. I was always busy, so I get it! Being busy made me more conscious of how I spent my time and that's when I developed my strategies to get into medical school. With limited time and resources, I became more efficient. My program will help you to use your time and other resources more wisely.
WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT?
Application fee is just $97
(paid upon scheduling of pre-enrollment session and
applied to the cost of the program upon enrollment)
Upon invitation to enroll:
Early bird enrollment by July 31:
Down payment of $350 will reserve your spot
Then 8 payments of $187/month
or
One discounted payment of $1797
Enrollment after July 31:
Down payment of $500 will reserve your spot
Then 8 payments of $197/month
or
One discounted payment of $1997
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants per year.
Program period: September through May
