After you submit your list in February, the focus of medical school changes. Priorities morph to gaining clinical skills that will be needed as an intern and increasing your knowledge-base. If possible, tailor your M4 schedule to include late electives that will enhance your ability to mature into a thoughtful, capable, and independent intern before graduation. Many medical schools prescribe particular rotations such as a general surgery, medicine or critical care sub-I, each of which has additional merits to the future neurosurgery intern even if not explicitly required. Other adjacent ancillary fields that many new residents find helpful include neuroradiology, neuropathology, anesthesia, plastic surgery, and ENT, among others. It is also an ideal time for travel, to wrap up outstanding research projects, and to enjoy your friends, family, and classmates as you transition from the 4 years of medical school to your 7 years of neurosurgery residency and beyond.