At Application Architect, our students’ success are our successes. We take pride in supporting our students through the BS/MD and medical school application process using a personalized approached. Hear from students that have worked with Dr. Darlene Diep in the past to learn about their experiences her. To see where all of our students have previously been selected, click here.
Premed Testimonials
“It is my utmost pleasure to recommend Dr. Darlene Diep DO to anyone who wishes to do everything they can to get into medical school. As an applicant who worked closely with Darlene from before the beginning of the admissions cycle, and after securing interviews and acceptances to many competitive programs, I can unequivocally state that Darlene’s counsel was instrumental to my success. Before the start of the cycle, she asked me a variety of questions about my resume, personal experiences, and interests, so she could help me craft an argument for why I want to go to medical school that stayed true to my reasons for entering medicine but also appealed to the interests of medical schools. Through this process, we crafted a personal statement, diversity statement, disadvantaged statement, and nearly all of my secondary essays. Throughout the entirety of this past admissions cycle, Darlene was more than willing to read and edit draft after draft of my essays, editing both for content and concision. As a result, many of my interviewers commented on the high quality and impressive writing of my essays.
After helping me sharpen my essays, Darlene also helped me sharpen my interviewing skills. By offering me a formula on how to approach the multiple mini interview system and offering institution-specific advice based on the school I was interviewing at, I was one of the most well-prepared interviewees during each of my interviews.
Although Darlene’s keen grasp of what admissions committees are looking for in applicants and how best to showcase these characteristics in my essays and interviews are impressive, her best quality is her passion for seeing you succeed. When we began my application, Darlene knew how much it meant to me to stay in my home state so that I could be close to family and my community. The medical colleges in my state, however, are incredibly competitive even for the best applicants, and I knew that the only way I could stand a chance of getting in was if Darlene and I worked together to create the best application possible. Darlene was just as committed to getting me into these schools. Throughout the process, she was always by my side, ready to answer any question I had mere hours after I sent her a text or email. Sometimes she would even stay up until 2 or 3 AM editing essays with me so that each paragraph, sentence, and word in each essay was the best it could possibly be. When I got an interview invitation from the most competitive of my state’s colleges, she was even more thrilled than I was!
These interviews and acceptances I have received from some of the most competitive and renowned medical colleges in the country are a direct result of Darlene’s help. Moreover, she has replicated these results with scores of students from different backgrounds with different GPAs, MCAT scores, and resumés. No matter who you are or where you are in your premed journey, I believe Darlene can help you just as she helped me. Without any reservation whatsoever, I recommend Dr. Darlene Diep as a counselor for any and all premedical students.” —U.K.
ACCEPTANCES: NYMC
INTERVIEWS: UCSF, Creighton
“As someone grappling with below-average MCAT and GPA scores, my confidence in applying to medical school was shaky. However, my experience with Darlene completely transformed my journey.
Darlene’s approach was nothing short of exceptional. She dedicated time to truly understanding my background, listening attentively to the challenges I had overcome, and what my passions to medicine were. She then devised a tailored strategy to showcase my strengths and passions in my application that medical school admissions committees could see.
Working closely with Darlene from start to finish was incredibly rewarding. Together, we worked on my personal statement, secondary applications, and my interview skills. In every session, Darlene’s feedback was invaluable, elevating the quality of my application.
One of Darlene’s standout qualities is her accessibility. Throughout the process, she remained approachable and responsive, promptly addressing my questions or concerns. Her support was a constant source of reassurance, guiding me through the intricacies of the admissions journey.
Thanks to Darlene’s meticulous attention to detail and strategic guidance, I received 13 interview invites and secured multiple MD acceptances in my first and only application cycle. Without her expertise and support, this level of success would have seemed unattainable.
I cannot speak highly enough of what Darlene has done for my medical school admissions journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Darlene’s services to anyone navigating the challenges of medical school admissions. She is truly a remarkable mentor.” —R.L.
ACCEPTANCES: Albany Medical College, Wayne State, CHSU-SOM
INTERVIEWS: UCSD, Rush, KCU-COM, TOURO-NY, TOURO- NV, DMU
“Applying to medical school is extremely overwhelming, but with Darlene’s help, I was able to successfully apply to 30+ schools, interview, and ultimately be accepted into 2 top-tier schools. She is extremely organized and efficient, always available, and extremely personable. From our first meeting, she had this way of asking the right questions to get me thinking about my “why” for applying to medical school. She helped me find my own voice in my writing, and her edits challenged me to dig deeper. These are skills that I’ve taken with me beyond the application process! There are a lot of moving pieces, but Darlene kept me on pace so I was not stressed out. I highly recommend Darlene for any application process!“— N.K.
ACCEPTANCES: Dartmouth Medical College, Tufts Medical School, CUSM
INTERVIEWS: UCSD, Rowan University, Western University
BS/MD Testimonials
Working with Darlene was one of the best decisions I made during the BS/MD application process. Throughout the grueling year, she helped me every step of the way, from putting together my application the summer before senior year to refining my essays throughout the year to preparing for all my interviews and their different styles. Her knowledge about a wide range of programs I considered and applied to, especially those suited to my specific goals, was incredibly helpful and made the entire process feel more focused and less overwhelming.
She was also very flexible and considerate regarding scheduling, always working around my fluctuating availability to make sure I met important deadlines for all my applications. What stood out the most to me was Darlene’s commitment to quality; she never settled for anything less than my best work on essays by consistently offering me feedback on my essays, giving me examples and suggestions to develop my own ideas more clearly, and pushing me to revise until every part of my application left an authentic impact.
During interview prep as well, I felt Darlene’s expertise shine as she was able to cover the wide spectrum of topics that are generally asked in a short period of time. I genuinely looked forward to our meetings, not just because they were productive, but because I felt like I was growing and learning with each one. She created a space where my questions were heard, and I was forced to think broader to ensure I understood the depth of the topics I was discussing, all while motivating me to do my best work.
I felt exceptionally supported by Darlene throughout the entire application process. I’m incredibly grateful for her guidance and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone navigating BS/MD college applications! —A.S.
ACCEPTANCES: Hofstra BS/MD, Drexel BS/MD, NSU BS/MD, IUPUI BS/MD
INTERVIEWS: Siena/AMC BS/MD, Stony Brook BS/MD
My daughter has worked with Darlene since summer before freshman year to apply for BSMD schools. Darlene and her team create magic and encourage a lot of creativity for essay writing and resume building. I remember setting up a call with her to specifically narrow down school selection, and she walked us through each school and why a certain school would or would not work well with our goals. My daughter received 6 interviews from top BSMD programs, accepted into 3, waitlisted at 1. We could not have done this without Darlene. She is very knowledgeable, works hard for her students, and most importantly takes ambiguity/ fear out of the process. —S.S.
Dr Diep was an amazing resource for my son in his BSMD application and interview. Her unique perspective as a physician helped my son reflect on how to tell his story in his essays and interviews. She took time to understand who he really was and why he wants to be a physician. She was extremely professional and provided excellent value to our family. I would recommend her to any BSMD or pre med student. We started with Dr Diep at the end of his junior year and were excited to celebrate a BSMD acceptance this spring. —A.P. (Google Review)
ACCEPTANCES: UAB EMSAP BS/MD
Darlene was truly amazing to work with. Although applying to BS/MD programs was stressful, she broke down the process in a way that made it feel much more manageable. She was also the most flexible person I have ever worked with—if I gave her an essay, she would return it fully edited by the next day. I remember one time when she had a meeting with me right after a 16-hour shift and still managed to give me so much useful advice.
Darlene was excellent at pulling together bits and pieces of my experiences to create a powerful, cohesive story. Every essay, she challenged me to go further, and it really helped me share the best version of myself with each BS/MD program and college I applied to.
Her prep sessions genuinely made me feel prepared for every interview. I never felt hesitant or worried that I hadn’t done enough work because she was so thorough in our practice. Honestly, those sessions also helped me learn and grow as a person. The way she explained complex concepts and ideas was so refreshing, and it made me look forward to every session we had. I am so grateful for everything that she has done for me and I truly could not have done it without her. —Google Review
ACCEPTANCES: Union/ Albany BS/MD, George Washington University BS/MD
Among the thousands of seniors applying for BS/MD programs, I struggled to feel like more than another resume, doubting that I had anything unique to offer. Over the last few months, I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Darlene Diep, resident physician at *the* UCSF, as Darlene, mentor and friend. Looking back now after most of my application cycle is done, it’s become clear that Darlene’s contributions to my journey transcend the admissions process. In every brainstorming session, mock interview, and long, deep conversation, she challenged me to further understand the person I was putting forward and how my experiences, values, and dreams form the identity that is distinctly mine. In a hyper-competitive pool of applicants, I think I was lucky enough to be selected for one of my top-choice programs because Darlene helped me put my best foot forward and present an authentic, unadulterated representation of all that I am and all that I have to give. —R.P.
ACCEPTANCES: Penn State PMM BS/MD
Darlene is very patient and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to BS/MD applications. She really transformed my whole application and was incredibly helpful while practicing for both traditional and MMI styled interview questions. I would highly recommend her for interview help—which is often needed when you’re competing with such a high caliber of students at the interview stage. If you need somebody to help fine tune every response, you need Application Architect. It is at a very fair price for the amount of knowledge and help she provides, beyond worth it. I got into REMS and am so thankful for Darlene! —J.W. (Google Review)
ACCEPTANCES: University of Rochester REMS BS/MD, VCU BS/MD, Stony Brook BS/MD, MSU OMSP, Duke, Johns Hopkins
Dr. Diep is amazing at what she does. I booked three sessions with her for BS/MD interview preparation, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From our very first session, it was clear that she has a deep understanding of the MMI format and what medical schools are looking for in candidates. I was honestly a little shaken after the first session, but her constructive feedback was so valuable. I was able to refine my responses as well as improve my delivery. She gave me SO many resources that allowed me to put in a little extra work and then try again in a very similar manner to the real thing. I loved her approach to the questions allowing me to think critically and communicate very well through an MMI question. Overall, I felt so prepared going into interview day, knowing how to work through so many different types of questions and uncomfortable situations. I truly believe that I owe my success to her, and would recommend her to anyone pursuing this path —S.S. (Google Review)
ACCEPTANCES: UMKC BS/MD
I cannot recommend Darlene, Tyler, and Crystal enough for BS/MD application help. Their genuine enthusiasm and dedication to my success made all the difference.
Tyler and Crystal were incredibly prompt when editing my essays. We met to discuss major themes and stories I wanted to convey, which made my application more cohesive. They helped me revise essays to flow better while maintaining my voice. If my first draft of an essay did not fit the prompt well, we would meet to discuss alternative stories. Their essay revisions helped my application get forwarded to numerous medical schools.
Darlene tailored her guidance to my specific needs, helping me refine my timing and storytelling. She educated me in-depth on the healthcare system and different issues in healthcare. Her mock questions prepared me well for the actual interview. Beyond interview prep, she also assisted with my BSMD school list, essay editing, and CASPER prep (where I scored in the highest percentile!).
Thanks to Darlene, Tyler, and Crystal’s support, I received two BS/MD interview invites and felt incredibly confident during both. —A.J. (Google Review)
ACCEPTANCES: Drexel BS/MD
“Before working with Dr. Diep, I had prepared a lot for my interviews and thought that by signing up for a session, I would confirm my answers. However, after my first session, I quickly learned that I had a lot to learn. Dr. Diep was thorough in teaching me how I should interpret interview questions and gave me great advice on how to improve my answers. She always gave very detailed feedback and provided practice problems after our sessions. My interviews felt very similar to our mock interviews. By working with her, I was able to get into my dream BS/MD program!” —M.A.
Acceptances: University of Rochester (REMS) BS/MD
“I think that Darlene was an amazing MMI tutor for me because she put me in uncomfortable situations, so when I did face a question I didn’t know how to answer, I was able to look back to how we practiced and come up with an answer. I think a big misconception surrounding these MMI interviews is that people think that studying for one will be enough for all the different medical schools. However, each MMI for a different med school needs to be prepared for in a different way, and Darlene emphasized this and helped me do this. I think that she is a great choice for a tutor and would definitely recommend!“— S.N. (Google review)”
Acceptances: UMKC BS/MD, Brown University
“Application Architect is a great organization to seek help with the Medical School Application process and Darlene is the best! We engaged her talent to help my son with his medical school interview process.
She is very knowledgeable about the entire process and helped make my son feel confident and comfortable. She takes a methodical approach to training in MMI and Traditional Interviews and provided lots of good resources to practice. She has personally succeeded in this whole process, so it is tried and tested. As parents, we found her to be very pleasant and approachable with our questions as well.
I would recommend her company’s services any day! You will not be disappointed.“— A.C. (Parent)
Acceptances: UMKC BS/MD, NJIT/ NJMS BS/MD, Rutgers-Newark/ NJMS BS/MD
“Darlene Diep is an exceptional tutor who provided me with invaluable guidance in this year’s application process. Darlene worked with me over the course of several months, and I can say without reservation that my success in the interview process is largely attributable to her efforts. From our very first session, I was struck by Darlene’s depth of knowledge about the medical school interview process. Her MMI tips were KEY! She helped me to understand the importance of presenting myself in the best possible light, and provided me with the tools and strategies I needed to make a positive impression on the interviewers.
What impressed me most about Darlene was her ability to tailor her approach to my specific needs. She took the time to get to know me as a person, and to understand my strengths and weaknesses. From there, she were able to provide me with customized feedback and advice that was both insightful and actionable. Darlene was also incredibly responsive and supportive throughout the entire process. She was always available to answer my questions and to provide me with the guidance I needed, whether it was through email, phone calls, or in-person meetings.
Thanks in large part to Darlene, I was accepted to one of my top choice BS/MD programs, the Leadership in Medicine program through Union College and Albany Medical College. I truly believe that her expertise and support played a crucial role in my success, and I cannot recommend her highly enough” —H.C.
Acceptances: Union College/ Albany Medical College, UPenn
Interview Invites: Sophie Davis BSMD, Penn State BS/MD
“Going into my first meeting with Darlene, I thought I had a pretty solid foundation with regard to interview prep and communication. However, as she started asking increasingly difficult questions, I realized I had much to learn. After my first meeting, and every subsequent one thereafter, Darlene sent me a detailed breakdown of areas I was strong in, as well as areas I needed to improve upon. In addition, she sent me resources to look over as well as sample questions to practice between sessions. I never felt that Darlene was wasting my time, and I always felt she generally cared about me and my success. Thanks to Darlene, I had many successful interviews and had the privilege to choose between many different programs.” —K.B.
Acceptances: Case Western BS/MD, VCU BS/MD, UMKC BS/MD, University of Cincinnati BS/MD, University of Alabama- Birmingham BS/MD, University of Oklahoma BS/MD, Brown University, Duke University
“Darlene helped me succeed in my college apps by coaching me through interviews and reviewing my college essays. She is a motivated and talented counselor with a unique approach to applications and great to work with. Darlene’s process involves a few steps that clearly lay out what is necessary to have a good application. Unlike other counselors, Darlene approaches each personal individually to learn about their experiences and help them craft unique statements and essays before refining them until they are perfect. By the time we finished, my essays were polished and I had become a better writer. Additionally, my interviews were as simple as if I were only having a conversation. In the end, Darlene’s excellence as a counselor led to my acceptance in Boston University’s seven year BS/MD.” —A.V.
Acceptances: Boston University BS/MD, UCF BS/MD
T20 Undergraduate Testimonials
“I am incredibly grateful for the support and guidance I received from Darlene during my college application process. While navigating the uncertainty of admissions was very overwhelming, Darlene made everything so much easier and was truly supportive every step of the way. She was always there to answer my questions, offer valuable advice, and check in regularly to ensure I stayed on track. Her dedication, attention to detail, and personalized approach made all the difference. Working with her was one of the best decisions I made, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in this process.” —E.K.
ACCEPTANCES: Rice University Early Decision
“Darlene was extremely helpful in with essay brainstorming and editing, and she always provided impeccable guidance. Even though I finished most of my essays just a few hours before the deadline, Darlene was really flexible and still helped me reshape my essays, and I was accepted to a T20 university, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Thank you!!” —A.S.
ACCEPTANCES: Rice University Early Decision