I’m Rachel Rizal, MD

Doctor / Admissions Consultant / Author / Entrepreneur

Throughout my life, whether in high school, Princeton, Stanford School of Medicine, or my Residency at Harvard Emergency Medicine, I have been passionately committed to creating excellence in my own life and in the lives of the people I serve – patients, students, peers, friends and family.

Some highlights I'm proud of:

Major Awards I've Won:

Fulbright Scholar
USA Today All-Academic First Team (top 20 students in America)
Fulbright Scholar
Intel Science Talent Search Semi-Finalist
Coca-Cola Scholar
Merck Global Health Scholarship
Tylenol Scholarship
Stanford Medical Research Scholar
Stanford Children’s Health Innovations for Patient Care Grant
TED Med Ambassador
California Medical Association Scholarship
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Scholar

What I Did After College:

With the WHO in the Philippines, I created new partnerships between city governments and public/private health clinics to improve Hepatitis B vaccination rates among newborns
Launched a national HIV Awareness Campaign in the Philippines
Produced an HIV awareness commercial for MTV
Worked full-time at a healthcare consulting firm, advising pharmaceutical companies about marketing strategies and business development
Created a public health program in Stanford’s Emergency Department, using iPads to educate patients about various health topics

What I'm Passionate About Today:

Mentoring and advising students
Integrating ideas from other industries to improve healthcare delivery
Health Education – enabling people with information to improve their health
Business and Medicine: Health technology & entrepreneurship
Design thinking

My students have been accepted into the following schools:

Real Student Testimonials

"I got into Saint Louis Medical school! Thank you so much for your help these last six months. I don't know if I could have gotten this far without your advice and training. I remember how difficult it was pushing out the initial application, going through what felt like a gauntlet of drafts, and appreciate your patience and eye for detail. Both of you spotted things I completely missed and shaped my application in a way that was focused. Then with interviews, I can't tell you how nervous I was. I fell back to the patterns I developed practicing alone and during the mock interviews to really get me through. Again, thank you so much for your help. I will remember what I learned for residency applications years from now."

"I was worried about getting into medical schools because I went to a school that did not have great pre-med advising. With the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s help, I got accepted to Harvard and UPenn. I eventually chose UPenn on a full scholarship."

"I was worried about my personal statement and how I could make myself stand out in my essays and my interviews. The Cracking Med School Admissions team edited endless drafts of my essays and gave extremely valuable and honest advice on med school admissions."

"The Cracking Med School Admissions team is great. Not only did Rachel and Rishi provide excellent essay revisions and interview prep, but they went above and beyond by promptly offering key insights and strategies as my questions arose during the application process. I highly recommend the Cracking Med School Admissions for helping to optimize the application and efficiently manage the intense interview process."

"It’s been two months since my interview at the Medical College of Georgia and I just found out I was accepted! THANK YOU!!!! I have also been accepted to other medical schools in the South. The Cracking Med School Admissions team is the reason I did so well on my med school interviews! You helped me structure my answers and incorporate my internships and passions in bio-engineering. Thanks again!"

"I often think back to our very first premed advising meeting and how you guys have helped me come so far along. I would have never pursued a Fellowship in the U.K. without you. Thank you so much for your help! You advice has been invaluable and has changed my life."

"Thank you for helping both my son and daughter through the medical school application process. Our family was lost and overwhelmed without you." "Both Rishi and Rachel walked us through every part of the medical school application process, and they worked with my children for hours on end to make sure their medical school applications were as strong as possible. Through several mock interviews, my children became much more confident and savvy in answering tough interview questions."