February Admissions News
February 2026 Preview –
What’s Coming This Month
📅 Mark Your Calendars – Key February 2026 Dates
🔬 Rising Researchers – Make the Most of your Summer Researching Cardiovascular Health or Astronomy/Biology
🎓Seniors: Application to Conversation: Mastering Interview Season
📚Underclassmen News: Building Your Narrative Starting in High School
⚕️Med School Applicants: Waiting Season Survival Tips
📷In the News – Moon Prep Featured Articles
📊 University Updates – What You Need to Know
🎙 White Coat Club Podcast – SAT and ACT Prep
✏️SAT/ACT Prep – Ace Your Exams With Expert Test Prep
Mark Your Calendar!
✅ February 14, 2026: ACT National Test date. Good luck to all students sitting for this important exam!
✅ February 27, 2026: March SAT Registration deadline. We encourage all current juniors to have a final test score before the end of summer.
✅ March 3, 2026: March SAT Late Registration Deadline
✅ March 3, 2026: February ACT Score Release
✅ March 6, 2026: April ACT Registration Deadline
Summer break is right around the corner — and it’s the perfect time to get ahead while your peers are taking time off. Use some time to add research and even a publication to your resume.
Join one of our Summer 2026 Research Camps:
Camp 1: Cardiovascular Health – The Medical and Social Factors Behind Disease, led by Loren B..
Schedule: Every Monday & Thursday (7/6/26 – 8/6/26) from 7:00p – 8:30p ET/ 4:00p – 5:30p PT
Investment: $3500 (Early Bird Discount: Register by June 1 to save $200)
Why You’ll Love This Camp:
This camp introduces students to the social determinants of health, including socioeconomic status and environment, and their impact on cardiovascular disease. Students will review the anatomy and physiology of the heart and apply cardiology knowledge to real-world case study scenarios. They will explore common cardiology pathologies, learn to interpret clinical data and findings, and gain experience performing literature reviews. By combining medical knowledge with public health perspectives, students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of how social factors influence heart health.
This course is tailored to accommodate various skill levels and is suitable for beginners.
View the syllabus and secure your spot now.
Learn more and sign up here.
Camp 2: Searching for Life in the Universe: The Intersection of Astronomy & Biology, led by Dr. Ryan.
Schedule: Every Tuesday and Friday (6/30/26 – 7/30/26) from 7:00p – 8:30p ET / 4:00p – 5:30p PT
Investment: $3500 (Early Bird Discount: Register by June 1 to save $200)
Why You’ll Love This Camp:
This camp brings astrobiology and space science to life by immersing students in the most compelling questions scientists are exploring today. Students will learn how exoplanets are discovered and examine statistical patterns that reveal their existence. They will explore the three essential criteria for life and apply that knowledge to evaluate the most promising places to search for life within our solar system and beyond.
Students gain authentic research and scientific writing experience. They will learn how to develop a compelling research question, locate and analyze scholarly literature, and understand the critical difference between objectively reporting results and interpreting scientific findings.
This course is tailored to accommodate various skill levels and is suitable for beginners.
View the syllabus
Sign up now
From Application to Conversation: Mastering Interview Season
Interview season for BS/MD programs is officially underway, This is an important part of the very competitive application process. You’ve made it this far, don’t lose momentum now.
At this stage, your experiences and motivation have already earned you a seat at the table. Interviews are about fit: how you think, communicate, and respond under pressure. Preparation matters; you do not want to sound too scripted, but you do want to present yourself as confident.
Applicants may encounter traditional interviews, which focus on your journey, motivations, and reflections, as well as Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), which assess ethical reasoning, teamwork, and adaptability through timed scenarios. Understanding the format ahead of time can significantly reduce anxiety and help you perform at your best.
Strong preparation includes reflecting honestly on your experiences, practicing clear, concise responses, staying current on healthcare topics, and learning to think out loud, especially for MMIs. Admissions committees aren’t looking for perfection; they’re looking for self-awareness, empathy, and professionalism.
As interview season unfolds, remember that this is also your opportunity to evaluate programs. Ask thoughtful questions, observe the campus community, and trust that preparation paired with authenticity will carry you far. You’ve done the work, now it’s time to show who you are!
Underclassmen: Building Your Narrative Starting in High School
When students hear the word “narrative” in the context of BS/MD or premed pathways, it often sounds intimidating. The truth is much simpler: a strong medical narrative is not about having everything figured out early. It’s about showing growth, consistency, and reflection over time.
Think of your journey not as a checklist, but as a story that unfolds.
What Is a “Narrative,” Really?
A narrative is the through-line of your experiences. Admissions committees aren’t looking for perfection or nonstop medicine-related work. They’re looking for students who:
- Explore interests intentionally
- Learn from experiences
- Show increasing responsibility and maturity
- Can explain why they chose medicine
Your narrative answers the question:
“Why medicine—and why does this student’s path logically lead there?”
🌟Phase 1: Exploration (Freshman–Sophomore Year)
This stage is about curiosity, not commitment. In early high school, it’s okay (and expected) to try different things. Your goal isn’t to prove you’re “premed material,” but to start noticing what draws you in.
What this might look like:
- Try out for a sports team or consider auditioning for band
- Volunteering in hospitals, clinics, or community organizations
- Shadowing a physician for the first time
- Joining clubs, debate, art, athletics, advocacy—anything meaningful
- Asking questions about healthcare, ethics, access, or public health
Admissions committees don’t penalize exploration. In fact, they value students who can later articulate why certain paths didn’t fit.
🌟Phase 2: Commitment (Late Sophomore–Junior Year)
This is when your story begins to narrow, not because you’re forced to, but because you’ve learned more about your interests to choose more intentionally. Instead of adding more activities, focus on depth.
What this might look like:
- Continuing with 1–2 core activities over multiple years
- Taking on leadership or mentorship roles
- Pursuing research, EMT training, medical internships, or long-term service
- Connecting academic interests (biology, public health, ethics, CS, policy) to medicine
At this stage, admissions committees start to see patterns: consistency, follow-through, and responsibility. Remember that depth doesn’t mean “medicine only.” A student who sticks with advocacy, athletics, music, or debate and connects it thoughtfully to medicine often stands out more than someone with scattered clinical experiences.
🌟Phase 3: Articulation (Junior–Senior Year)
By now, your experiences aren’t just things you did, they’re lessons you’ve absorbed. This is where your narrative becomes clear.Strong applicants can:
- Explain how early exposure evolved into sustained interest
- Describe moments of doubt or challenge honestly
- Show readiness for a long and demanding path
- Reflect on medicine as a service, not a status
Your story doesn’t need a dramatic moment. It needs coherence. A strong narrative can move from early volunteering, which sparked curiosity → sustained service that revealed disparities → research or leadership deepened understanding → reflection solidified motivation.
🌟What a Strong Narrative Is Not
- ❌ Not a résumé of impressive titles
- ❌ Not a forced “I knew at age 7” story
- ❌ Not nonstop clinical work with no reflection
- ❌ Not copying what you think admissions wants
Admissions committees can tell when a story is manufactured. They respond far better to honesty, maturity, and self-awareness. No matter where you are in high school, you can start building your narrative today:
- Keep a simple reflection journal (monthly is enough)
- Stay with activities that genuinely matter to you
- Ask why after every experience
- Choose growth over quantity
Remember: medicine is a long road. The students who succeed aren’t the ones who rushed the fastest; they’re the ones who learned how to reflect, adapt, and stay grounded.
Your story doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.
Med School Application Fatigue and Waiting Season Survival Tips
By February, most medical school applicants aren’t burned out from doing; they’re exhausted from waiting.
Every email notification triggers a spike of adrenaline, followed by disappointment when it’s just another mailing list or spam alert. This in-between space after effort but before resolution is one of the hardest parts of the medical school application process.
Anxiety during the waiting season isn’t a personal weakness; it’s a rational response to uncertainty after months (or years) of sustained effort. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety, but to prevent it from consuming your days.
One helpful strategy is by containing uncertainty. Instead of letting application thoughts spill into every hour, designate a short, intentional window each day to check email and portals. Outside of that time, remind yourself that nothing about your status changes minute by minute. Admissions decisions move slowly, even when our minds do not.
It’s also important to notice when your thoughts shift from reflection to rumination. Asking “What could I improve if I reapply?” can be productive. Replaying every interview answer or obsessively interpreting silence is not. When you catch yourself spiraling, redirect toward actions that restore a sense of agency, like exercise, creative outlets, volunteering, or learning something unrelated to medicine.
Silence feels personal, but it rarely is.
Admissions committees review thousands of applications, coordinate interviews across busy faculty schedules, and balance class composition over months. A lack of communication usually reflects logistics, not a hidden verdict on your worth or potential.
It’s also worth remembering that February is still early for many schools. Offers continue into the spring, and waitlists often move more than applicants expect. Silence does not mean rejection, just as an acceptance does not mean the process is over.
Reframing silence as neutral information rather than negative feedback can significantly reduce stress. You are not being ignored; you are still being considered within a system that moves carefully by design.
Productivity during the waiting season looks different from productivity during application season. You don’t need to prove anything right now—but you can use this time intentionally.
Focus on activities that benefit you regardless of outcome:
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Deepening clinical or community involvement
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Continuing research or skill-building
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Strengthening personal relationships neglected during the application season
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Reflecting honestly on growth areas without judgment
Some applicants find it helpful to begin a low-pressure plan B; updating a CV, identifying gap-year opportunities, or outlining possible improvements. Done thoughtfully, this can reduce fear rather than fuel it. Planning does not mean expecting the worst; it means trusting yourself to adapt.
Finally, give yourself permission to rest. Medicine is a career defined by delayed gratification, and this season is an early test of that reality. Learning to pause without guilt is not a distraction from becoming a physician, it’s preparation for it.
Waiting does not erase your effort. Silence does not negate your readiness. And uncertainty does not define your future in medicine. February is not a verdict—it’s a holding space. How you care for yourself matters.
Check out our latest article:
3 Key Factors to Consider Before Enrolling in a Special Masters Program (SMP)
University Updates and Numbers You Need to Know
📊 Tufts University received a record-breaking number of undergraduate applications for the Class of 2030, with more than 36,000 students applying, reflecting an 8% increase over last year and the highest total in the university’s history. The university reported strong participation from students nationwide and across more than 150 countries.
📊The University of Southern California has accepted about 3,800 students to the Class of 2030 through its early action round, marking a 9.5% acceptance rate from more than 40,000 early applicants. USC’s Office of Admissions indicated it expects to admit roughly 5,000 more
White Coat Club Episode:
ACT & SAT Prep
When should students start SAT or ACT prep—and how do they decide which test is right for them? In this episode, Nicole and Muskan break down the strategy behind smart testing, not just more testing.
They walk through an ideal testing timeline, how SAT/ACT dates fit into college list planning and essay writing, and what students should consider before signing up for another exam. From choosing between the SAT and ACT to understanding superscoring and test-optional strategies, this episode offers practical guidance to help families plan with confidence and avoid unnecessary stress.
Whether you’re a sophomore planning ahead or a junior deep in testing season, this episode will help you make informed, intentional decisions about standardized testing.
Check out this episode to learn more!
SAT/ACT Prep
Even though college applications are a year away, it’s important to start SAT/ACT prep NOW.
The earlier you prep, the better the score!
We’re thrilled to introduce our Moon Prep expert tutor to support you on your SAT/ACT test prep journey:
🔹 Melissa: With a strong background in education and years of experience helping students raise their scores, Melissa offers strategic guidance and supportive coaching in every session. Her goal is to build confidence and help students master the logic behind the test.
Moon Prep students can use their current retainers. Getting started is easier than ever!
📝 Test prep is no longer optional – it’s essential. Let us help you make it count.
Ready to work Melissa? Contact your Moon Prep counselor today to get started!
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