Why I Coach–Elijah B.
Elijah B., an expert Leland medical school admissions coach, outlines why he chooses to coach and what it means to him.
By Elijah B.
Posted March 6, 2025
Ah yes. That look you get when you say “I’m applying to medical school.” Very few statements are met with such a unique blend of admiration, incredulity, and that little eyebrow raise that seems to say “good luck with that.”
I know that look all too well. In fact, I often saw it reflected back at me from the mirror when arriving home from information sessions. I saw it when taking a break from pouring through online forums and reddit pages dedicated to application information. I saw it when glancing at the window when pondering my responses during interviews at my dream schools. It's a look that stems from the vagaries of the medical school application process; nothing ever feels certain.
Given the fact that preparing to apply to medical school is an arduous and ever-changing process, I often felt like the landscape of competition was changing. Was I doing the things I needed in order to be a relevant and attractive candidate? Were my passion projects being overshadowed by the boxes that needed to be checked? How would an MCAT score interplay with my service work and research? As one question was answered, another would materialize.
I didn’t know where to turn for good information. I didn’t hail from a rich heritage of medical professionals. Nobody in my immediate circles knew anything about the ins and outs of getting into school. Ultimately, the sources that set me on a path to success were people who had walked that path before. Medical students, residents, attending physicians – each with insight that added to a framework, upon which I could drape my former achievements to better characterize my assets and future goals.
The constructive critiques and precise mentorship of others is what guided me as I combined a spectrum of life experiences to formulate one cohesive narrative that answered these two fundamental questions: why medicine and why me? Now having answered those questions, I feel a responsibility to help other future healers and physicians craft their own narratives.
I coach so that I can provide a guiding voice that cuts through an overload of dubious information. Medicine is both a long and noble road, and I want to help others get started on the best possible foot, just as others helped me to do.
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P.S. Want to work with me on anything related to your medical school application journey? Head to my profile and book a free intro call to get started.
Written by Elijah
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Hey! I'm Elijah, coming to you from UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA! I understand the long road to medicine and the years of preparation it takes to tackle that first big hurdle of getting into medical school. During my own application and interview process, I had the opportunity to interview at (and be accepted to) a high volume of top medical institutions. During the past 3 years, I've been able to analyze my application experiences and I enjoy sharing my insights on the best ways to become a top medical school applicant. In my time at UCLA Med, I've had the opportunity to work as a student reviewer for the admissions committee and to collaborate closely with top admissions personnel, including interviewing prospective students. This has given me a lot insight into the criteria admissions committees use to assess their most competitive applicants. I'm eager to pass this information along, so I have worked to mentor prospective students, advised on application preparation and essay writing/editing, and reviewed applications. I've even been featured on med school prep podcasts (its always embarrassing to hear yourself on tape!). Prior to starting medical schooI, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University, during which time I also worked for Altius Test Prep as an MCAT tutor and applicant advisor. I took a number of additional years to participate in domestic and international humanitarian service work, and then took additional time to conduct clinical research at the Stanford Stroke Center at Stanford University. Due to the breadth of these experiences, I am well-positioned to help applicants understand the value of their individual strengths, and develop cohesive narratives that incorporate their unique clinical and volunteering efforts. I am currently in the thick of my clinical training and will pursue further specialty training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I grew up in South Lake Tahoe, CA, and currently live in LA with my wife, who makes sure that we are consistently trying to one-up our previous day's culinary experience; far too many food options here. If you're like me and need an outlet, I also find the time to surf, ski, camp, or talk English Premier League soccer. I look forward to working together!
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