Who are you, and why should I trust you with my application?
Fair question. I'm Dr. Ahmad Saleh, a practicing physician and two time Ivy League graduate. I did my BA in Biological Sciences at Cornell, my Advanced Master of Public Health at Yale as a Horstmann Scholar, and my MD at SUNY Downstate, where I was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the honor society reserved for the top of each medical school class.
More relevant to you: I've spent years helping students get into Princeton, Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Brown, Duke, and top medical programs. I've walked this road myself, and I've guided hundreds of students down it since.
Who do you work with?
High schoolers aiming for the Ivy League or BS/MD programs, premeds building toward medical school, transfer applicants, and med school applicants. Most of my students start in freshman through junior year, but if you're a senior mid application or you've already applied and want a plan for what's next, I can help there too.
What's a BS/MD program, and why does it need a different strategy?
BS/MD programs admit you to medical school straight out of high school. No MCAT panic, no application cycle senior year of college. The catch: they're among the most selective programs in the country, and they judge 17 year olds on criteria normally applied to college graduates, things like clinical exposure, research, and a convincing answer to "why medicine."
A strong regular college application won't cut it here. This is my specialty, and it's where most students need the most help.
What services do you offer?
Two tiers, depending on how much support you want:
Ongoing coaching packages. My Platinum package (for 3 months, or 6 months, which saves you 20%) covers the full application: monthly live meetings, university list building, unlimited personal statement drafting, supplemental essays, Common App review, activities strategy, letters of recommendation, and waitlist support. Diamond (for 6 months) is my concierge tier: everything in Platinum plus twice monthly calls, monthly parent check ins, personal text access to me, unlimited supplemental essays, and capstone project and research strategy.
One time services. A 60 minute strategy session with me gets you a clear action plan and direct answers to your questions. My Common App Review is a full audit of your application with a detailed written report. An Essay Review gives you line by line feedback on one personal statement or supplemental essay.
I'm not sure which one to pick. What do you recommend?
Here's how I'd think about it:
If you're a freshman, sophomore, or junior with time to build your application, ongoing coaching gives you the biggest advantage, because the strongest applications are built over years. Diamond is for families who want me deeply involved at every step; Platinum covers everything most students need.
If you're a senior with drafts in hand, a Common App Review or Essay Review will sharpen what you have quickly. If you have one specific question or aren't sure where you stand, book a single strategy session and we'll figure it out together.
Still unsure? Book the one hour session for a full plan. Either way, you'll get a straight answer about what your application actually needs.
Is ongoing coaching open to everyone?
Honestly, no. I take on only 10 families each cycle because the work only works if I know your student's application inside and out.
You'll submit a short application telling me about your background, goals, and accomplishments, and I review every single one myself. If I don't think I'm the right fit, I'll tell you.
When should we start?
Earlier than you think. The strongest applications are built over years, not months. Research takes time to produce results, shadowing hours add up slowly, and a real capstone project can't be crammed into one summer.
Freshman or sophomore year is ideal. That said, if you're a junior or senior, don't write yourself off; essays, positioning, and interviews can still move the needle a lot.
My student has great grades and scores. Isn't that enough?
I wish it were. Every year, thousands of students with near perfect academics get rejected from top programs because their applications read exactly like everyone else's. "I love science and want to help people" is the story admissions officers see ten thousand times a season.
What gets students in is positioning: a clear narrative, experiences that back it up, and essays an admissions officer remembers the next day. That's the work we do together.
Do you guarantee admission?
No, and you should run from anyone who does.
What I can offer is a track record: my students consistently get into one of their top choice schools, and I've been doing this for years at the most selective programs in the country.
Good strategy raises your odds dramatically. Nothing removes the uncertainty entirely, and I won't pretend otherwise.
How do I get started?
For coaching packages, fill out the application and I'll personally review it.
For one time services, book directly in the Services section.
Still have questions? Reach out to me at thedoubleivydoc@gmail.com.
