Getting Ready to Apply to Medical School: Your December Checklist
If you’re aiming to apply to medical school in the upcoming cycle, December is the month to get organized, focused, and intentional. A strong application is built long before the cycle opens—and the most successful students are the ones who prepare early, leave themselves breathing room, and follow a clear plan. Below are the essential steps every applicant should be taking now to maximize their chances of acceptance.
Plan Your MCAT Timeline (and Don’t Get Cocky!)
If you haven’t taken your MCAT yet, schedule it no later than January. This timeline gives you two critical advantages:
(1) enough uninterrupted study time through winter break, and
(2) enough buffer to retake the exam in the spring if your score isn’t what you hoped for.
The MCAT is notoriously challenging—even excellent students often need more than one attempt. Unless you are a consistently strong standardized test taker and scoring above 505 on official practice exams, don’t assume one attempt will be enough.
You’ll need a minimum score of around 500 to apply to most MD schools. A few may accept slightly lower, but this is rare. Many DO schools are more flexible, but even then, stronger scores expand your options. Give yourself the best chance by building in time for a retake.
Build a Well-Rounded Experiences Portfolio
A competitive application includes at least 15 meaningful activities across the major domains:
Volunteering
Clinical experience (paid or volunteer)
Shadowing
Leadership roles
Work experience
Research
Extracurriculars
Hobbies or personal interests
Admissions committees can quickly spot “check-the-box” experiences, and activities with fewer than 20 hours generally don’t count for much. Most strong applicants have 50–100+ hours per activity, and many of the most competitive have thousands of hours in work experiences such as medical assisting, EMT, scribing, tutoring, or mentoring.
What matters most is depth, consistency, impact, and reflection—not just filling space. Show growth over time and a clear commitment to serving others.
Protect January–May for Writing (Your Voice Matters)
From January through May, you should be planning dedicated time each week to work on:
Your personal statement
Your activity descriptions
Your Most Meaningful essays
Your school list and mission fit
Secondary essay templates
A beautifully crafted application can elevate a candidate with average stats—and a poorly written one can sink even an academically stellar applicant. Storytelling, clarity, and authenticity matter more than students realize.
To stay competitive, submit your primary application no later than June. Submitting later puts you at a significant disadvantage because medical school admissions are rolling.
Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation Early
You should have at least three very strong letters, including:
Two from science professors
One from another professor, mentor, physician, or supervisor
You may submit more than three, but more than five is rarely helpful and can sometimes dilute the strength of your file. Begin reaching out now so your letter writers have plenty of time.
Budget for the Process (Don’t Skip This Step!)
By the time you apply, you should have at least $2,000 saved, and ideally more. Costs can include:
Primary application fees
Secondary application fees
CASPer and/or PREview registration fees
MCAT rescheduling, if needed
Interview travel (if applicable)
Professional clothing
Transcript fees
Students who run out of money mid-cycle often delay submitting secondaries—which can be fatal for an otherwise competitive application. Budget early so finances don’t slow you down.
Additional Essentials Students Often Forget
Here are a few more things that can make or break a cycle:
Start building relationships now.
Mentorship, community support, and guidance throughout this process really matter. Surround yourself with people who can help you stay accountable, review your writing, and keep you grounded during the stressful parts.
Clean up your social media.
Professionalism matters, and admissions committees do check.
Create a realistic school list.
Use your GPA and MCAT score (or practice score trajectory) to make a balanced list of MD and DO schools that align with your mission, stats, and story.
Track every experience in one place.
A single running document makes the writing process infinitely easier.
Don’t underestimate self-care and rest.
Burnout before applications open is real. Protect your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Final Thoughts
Applying to medical school is one of the biggest steps of your life—but you don’t have to do it alone. With thoughtful preparation, realistic planning, and a clear timeline, you can walk into this cycle confident and ready.
December is the perfect time to lay the groundwork. Your future medical career starts now—one intentional step at a time.
If you’d like help reviewing your readiness to apply or want a personalized application strategy, our team at Future Minority Doctor is here to support you every step of the way.
