Ken Tao PhD

As the Director of MCAT and Research for MedSchoolCoach, Dr. Tao has established himself as a leader in medical test preparation and research mentorship. His academic journey began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a B.S. in bioengineering and a B.A. in molecular and cell biology. Recognized for his academic excellence, he is a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi honor societies and was awarded the Jeffrey A. Winer Memorial Prize, a distinguished honor given to the top graduating senior in the neurobiology emphasis of the molecular and cell biology major.

Dr. Tao completed a PhD in neuroscience at Harvard University, with his research published in respected journals, including Neuron, Cell Metabolism, and Nature Metabolism. His passion for mentoring students extends beyond the MCAT. He has guided numerous students in research, helping them design experiments, analyze data, and publish their findings. Through his mentorship, students have gained hands-on experience in scientific inquiry and developed a deeper understanding of how to approach complex problems methodically.

Nationally recognized as an exceptional MCAT mentor, Dr. Tao has over 10,000 hours of teaching experience, gained through his roles as a graduate teaching assistant, adjunct faculty member, and MCAT instructor/tutor at the Princeton Review and MedSchoolCoach. At the Princeton Review, he was the only tutor certified in all MCAT subjects, one of their highest-rated tutors, and a teacher trainer for their MCAT division. His extensive contributions to MCAT preparation include authoring content for numerous books and guides, as well as fostering the success of his students, many of whom have achieved scores of 40+ on the old MCAT or 520+ on the current exam.