I applied to 6 US PhD programs in biological sciences (biochemistry) with early December deadlines. I haven’t received any updates - no interviews or rejections. Is it common to hear back later in the application cycle? Are January interview invites typical?
Yes, it’s not uncommon to hear back from PhD programs later in the application cycle, even with early December deadlines. Some programs have rolling admissions and may continue to review applications throughout the year. January interview invites are certainly possible, and you should continue to be patient and wait for updates from the programs you applied to.