FAQ

No. Moon Prep works with students pursuing a wide range of academic paths. We assist with traditional undergraduate admissions, BS/MD and other direct medical programs, as well as graduate and professional school applications and essays.

While over 90% of our students are interested in BS/MD programs—our core specialty—we typically recommend a balanced college list that includes both BS/MD programs and traditional undergraduate institutions. This strategy is important because many top colleges do not offer BS/MD options (for example, Brown is the only Ivy League school with such a program).

All of our counselors have extensive experience supporting traditional undergraduate and graduate applicants, and they are well-equipped to guide students across multiple admissions pathways.

The typical accepted candidate demonstrates the following profile:

• A strong GPA supported by rigorous coursework, including multiple AP and other advanced-level classes
• Top-percentile standardized test scores, typically above 1500 on the SAT or 34 or higher on the ACT
• Medical-related experience in two key areas:
  • Clinical experience
  • Research-based experience

Student resumes often highlight the following accomplishments and experiences:

• Published research or the ability to showcase completed research work clearly
• Leveraging research projects to compete in science fairs
• Winning or placing at school-level science fairs
• Winning or placing at state-level science fairs
• Competing at regional and national competitions
• Demonstrating meaningful impact within the local community
• Making a broader, global impact and contributing to positive change beyond the local level

We start coaching students (and parents) as early as eighth grade.

The national student-to-counselor ratio is a few hundred to one. According to experts, this proportion has remained virtually unchanged for nearly ten years.

This ratio is not conducive to personalized attention, because when it comes time to apply to college, all of the students need help at once. Most students receive no more than 30 – 60 minutes of the counselor’s time.

Even if you consider your child’s school different and the counselors are more involved, we have yet to meet a counselor who is working nights and weekends to edit your child’s essays. That is exactly what Moon Prep counselors do. We work with your schedule, including nights and weekend appointments.

We believe this individualized attention is a necessity when it comes to gaining a competitive edge in the college admissions process.

Have you heard the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none”? That often describes generic tutoring companies. Seeking a highly specialized service like college or BS/MD admissions from a general tutoring provider is similar to going to a dentist for heart surgery.

BS/MD admissions, in particular, require deep and focused expertise. Moon Prep counselors specialize in this niche area, with the majority of each counselor’s caseload dedicated to BS/MD and medical school–focused students. In contrast, many other tutoring or admissions companies may work with only an occasional BS/MD applicant.

No. We work with all students online using a combination of Zoom video calls, desktop sharing, and emails.

Remote work offers maximum efficiency and effectiveness for busy students while providing the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of schedules and time zones.

Counselors bill for their time with the student: virtual meetings, essay editing, interview prep, etc. Online and offline time is billed at the same rate. 

Every other week, you will receive a detailed invoice with the date, length of meeting (down to the minute), and description of what was covered.

The funds are then withdrawn from the retainer balance.

Clients are required to keep a payment method on file. Once the retainer funds are used, we switch to pay-as-you-go at the same rate and unpaid balances default to the payment method on file.

Clients can login at any time to see their retainer balance, hours used, and details of their account. Clients can also change their payment method on file at any time. All payment methods are securely stored and no team member can see the full credit card or bank account information. It is encrypted. 

No, at this time we do not offer payment plans.

The retainer fee is non-refundable. However, it can be transferred to a sibling or a new client.

We do not allow siblings to share a retainer. Each student must have their own account; however, when a sibling enrolls, they are offered a reduced retainer minimum.

Yes. You are in full control of what areas of the admissions process you need help with.

We guarantee you will receive the highest level of service.

In the past years, 94% of our students have gotten into one of their top 3 schools.

But, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee your child will get accepted to any program or school. In fact, no counselor or company can legally guarantee this.

Each counselor has varied experiences in the admissions process. Some counselors have gone through the medical school application themselves or worked in university admissions offices, while others have worked at elite boarding schools and high schools assisting students with their applications.

The Moon Prep team has regular group calls, run by senior members of the team, where each student benefits from the collective knowledge of the team.

Continual education, visiting universities, meeting with admissions staff, and writing for major publications help keep all the Moon Prep counselors at the top of their game.

Each counselor works with a limited number of students, typically 5-15 seniors at a time. 

Since BS/MD and medical school applications are more intense than traditional applications, we ensure each counselor has an adequate amount of time set aside for each student they work with.

On average, students can expect the following application volumes and counseling time commitments:

• Medical school applicants: Typically complete 20–35 applications and spend approximately 40+ hours working with a counselor.
• BS/MD applicants: Typically complete 20–30 applications and spend approximately 40+ hours with a counselor during senior year.
• Traditional undergraduate applicants (highly competitive colleges, e.g., Ivy League/top-tier): Typically complete 15–20 applications and spend approximately 35+ hours with a counselor during senior year.
• Traditional undergraduate applicants (moderately competitive colleges): Typically complete 8–15 applications and spend approximately 20–25+ hours with a counselor during senior year.
• Students applying in-state or locally: Typically complete 4–7 applications and spend approximately 15–20+ hours with a counselor during senior year.
• Graduate and PhD applicants: Counseling hours vary widely based on the number and type of programs to which the student is applying. Approximately 15–20+ hours.

It is important to note that much of the application work is front-loaded, meaning many essays can be revised and adapted for different schools. As a result, adding additional schools is often less time-consuming than completing the initial set. This is why starting strong—with a well-developed personal statement and a solid baseline of materials—is critical to efficiently support multiple applications.

Yes. Interview preparation is one of Moon Prep’s core specialties. We help students prepare for every type of interview, including traditional interviews, BS/MD and medical school interviews, and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). 

MMIs are particularly unique to medicine and assess qualities such as ethical reasoning, communication skills, professionalism, and critical thinking rather than memorized answers. Because the format is fast-paced and unfamiliar to many students, going in unprepared can be a major disadvantage. Structured preparation is essential to understanding what evaluators are looking for and to performing confidently under pressure.

Yes. Moon Prep counselors can help students prepare for situational judgment tests such as Casper, PREview, or Duet. These assessments evaluate qualities like professionalism, ethical decision-making, and interpersonal skills, which are critical for medical and health-professions programs.

Yes. One of the most important parts of the entire application process is building a well-balanced college list, and this serves as the blueprint for everything that follows. 

Our experienced counselors help you identify schools where you are likely to be a strong and competitive candidate, based on years of experience with students who have successfully gained admission. We also recommend programs and schools you may not have previously considered to ensure your list is both strategic and realistic.

Before signing up, families can schedule a free consultation with one of our Moon Prep counselors. During this video call, you can get a better understanding of the Moon Prep process and ask any questions you may have. 

We do have members of the Moon Prep team who tutor SAT and ACT. Student retainer hours can be used on both test prep or college admissions hours.