Dr. Shiv N.

Before graduating magna cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Nadkarni served on the Performing Arts Council Executive Board, was the Music Director of Penn Counterparts A Cappella, and served as Chair of the After School Arts Program. Before medical school, Dr. Nadkarni was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which he used to earn an MA in dance anthropology at the University of Roehampton in London. His research explored gender, queerness, and storytelling within Indian classical dance.

At UCLA, Dr. Nadkarni served as a tutor for the Structural Racism and Health Equity curriculum, helping medical students deepen their understanding of social medicine and systems-based care. He also worked with the Dean’s Office as a student interviewer for prospective applicants, gaining direct insight into what makes a candidate stand out. Dr. Nadkarni also acted as a student liaison for the Hammer Museum and UCLA, working to plan events to increase art education and access for colleagues in healthcare. 

In his role with UCLA’s Global Health Program, Dr. Nadkarni evaluated and recruited students for international clinical rotations, further sharpening his skills in holistic applicant assessment across academic, leadership, and interpersonal domains. He was also awarded the Global Health Clinical Elective Scholarship and Fraser Scholarship. 

Dr. Nadkarni’s greatest strengths as a consultant lie in his ability to distill complex life experiences into cohesive, authentic application themes. He is highly skilled at personal branding, narrative development, and project management, helping students stay on track while crafting unforgettable essays, polished resumes, and confident interview responses. He works with each student individually to identify their core message, elevate their voice, and present a cohesive, mission-driven application. His non-linear path to medicine gives him a special affinity for applicants with diverse passions and untraditional journeys. He offers medical school applicants strategic, tailored support that reflects the evolving demands of admissions and the value of authenticity in the application process.

What sets Dr. Nadkarni apart is his deep belief that every student has a story worth telling, and the tools to tell it well. His coaching sessions are structured but flexible, allowing students to focus on their specific goals while receiving actionable, honest feedback at every stage. Whether it’s identifying the right-fit schools, brainstorming personal statement angles, or rehearsing mock interviews, he approaches the process with a rare mix of rigor and empathy. 

As a professional Kathak dancer and educator, Dr. Nadkarni has led international workshops on movement-based mental health, bringing somatic awareness, cultural literacy, and narrative design into his coaching approach. These interdisciplinary experiences make him particularly skilled at helping applicants articulate unique personal stories and translate diverse backgrounds into powerful assets in the admissions process.

Dr. Nadkarni is excited to support the next generation of physicians in crafting bold, meaningful applications that reflect who they truly are.