What Premeds Should Be Doing Right Now (December Edition)

For most premed students, December is synonymous with finals, family gatherings, and a frantic countdown to winter break.

And in the world of medical school admissions, December marks an important time in "Med Season". Interview invites accelerate, secondaries trickle in for later applicants, and accepted students start planning their next steps. If you’re applying this cycle, or preparing for the next one, the way you use December can meaningfully boost your path to an offer.

1. If You’re in the Current Cycle: Stay Steady and Responsive
Many students assume that medical schools “shut down” in December because of holidays. Not true. Admissions committees review files continuously through December and January, and schools are still actively releasing interview invitations. Don’t let holiday travel or end-of-semester exhaustion cause you to miss an email: check your portal daily, keep your voicemail clear, and respond to interview requests promptly.

If you have interviews scheduled, block time for structured prep. Medical schools want to see maturity, reflection, and readiness (not rehearsed scripts). Practice aloud, revisit your application and secondary essays, and prepare ethical frameworks rather than memorized answers. Our GradMissions clients are benefiting from mock interviews along with feedback and encouragement. If the emotional load feels heavy, remember that you’re not alone: this is exactly what our team of former deans of admissions is here for - we've got you!

2. If You Submitted Late: Own Your Timeline
October and November submitters often panic in December when peers begin receiving interview invitations. But late is not lost. Many schools intentionally review later files after early waves settle. Stay patient, keep updating your experiences through update letters when appropriate, and notify schools of meaningful achievement, new hours, or recent deadlines you’ve met.

3. If You’re Preparing for Next Cycle: Now Is the Time to Build Your Story
December is also the perfect “quiet month” for pre-applicants to strengthen their profile. Use the break to reflect on what makes you a compelling future physician: What experiences shaped you? What patterns do you see? What gaps should you close before May?

We encourage students to begin building their narrative now, not in April when pressure skyrockets. Whether you’re exploring specialties, shadowing physicians, adding clinical hours, or structuring your activities list, this early introspection pays off. At GradMissions, our Admissions Accelerator helps students clarify their path and map out what the next four months should look like so they’re not scrambling when AMCAS opens.

4. Protect Your Energy
This cycle is competitive, and burnout is real. December can tempt you to “push through” and ignore what your body needs. Give yourself rest, use time with family to recharge, and enter January with intention. Med Season is here—and you deserve support that allows you to show up confidently.

Are you ready to gain real strategy for your med school journey? Book a FREE 20-minute call with us today! Parents and partners of future doctors are always welcome to join a call as well. We look forward to working with you!