It’s the most stressful time of year for med and law school applicants—and no, the silence in your inbox is not personal. In this episode of GradMissions Office Hours, Autumn, Lizanne, and Logan talk applicants off the ledge during peak admissions anxiety season.

We break down why waiting is not a failure, what admissions offices are actually doing right now, and how record-breaking application numbers, staffing shortages, and academic calendars impact timelines for interviews and decisions. You’ll hear candid guidance on when to stay calm, when to take action, and when it’s truly time to worry (spoiler: for most of you, it’s not yet).

From managing family pressure over the holidays to resisting Reddit doom spirals, this episode reframes anxiety as a sign that you care—and offers practical ways to channel that energy into healthier habits, perspective, and preparation for the long road ahead. Because admissions is just the beginning of a career full of “hurry up and wait.”

If you’ve applied and are refreshing your tracker every five minutes, this one’s for you.