Am I behind?

[t0más]

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I'm currently a freshman in undergrad starting my second quarter and I'm feeling behind because I haven't begun any extracurriculars. First quarter I just focused on studying but still managed a 4.0. Am I behind for not already being in a research lab and having hundreds of hours in clinical and volunteer experience? Is my best course of action right now to try to join a lab within the next 2-3 months, start getting some clinical hours and some service hours while maintaining my 4.0? Or what should I do?

 

[premed123321]

You aren't behind. I had zero activites my freshman year (no research/clinical/volunteering). I did take one gap year and graduate a semester early, but I received IIs to some top programs and got into a good medical school as well.

With a gap year or two, you have plenty of time to catch up as making sure your GPA and MCAT are solid is a bigger priority than ECs early on. I have friends who have needed to spend thousands on post-bacs for GPA repair.

If you slack on ECs, the worst case scenario is you have a bit of time off and make some money working a job in a gap year.

My advice: keep studying hard and try to get 2-3 hours of volunteering in a week (commit to an organization serving underserved populations for the long run). Use the summer to find some sort of clinical work/lots of shadowing. And then try to find a lab that does something you enjoy next school year

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you met your prehealth advisors or been involved with prehealth clubs?

 

[Goro]

I'm currently a freshman in undergrad starting my second quarter and I'm feeling behind because I haven't begun any extracurriculars. First quarter I just focused on studying but still managed a 4.0. Am I behind for not already being in a research lab and having hundreds of hours in clinical and volunteer experience? Is my best course of action right now to try to join a lab within the next 2-3 months, start getting some clinical hours and some service hours while maintaining my 4.0? Or what should I do?

You have four plus years to create an application for medical school. So no, you're not behind and you do need to get rid of the unrealistic belief that somehow you should have already completed all of your extracurricular hours after one semester.

Chill out and enjoy life

 

[AJS59]

No such thing as behind in this process. It's a marathon, not a sprint

 

[aloegarten]

You aren't behind. I had zero activites my freshman year (no research/clinical/volunteering). I did take one gap year and graduate a semester early, but I received IIs to some top programs and got into a good medical school as well.

With a gap year or two, you have plenty of time to catch up as making sure your GPA and MCAT are solid is a bigger priority than ECs early on. I have friends who have needed to spend thousands on post-bacs for GPA repair.

If you slack on ECs, the worst case scenario is you have a bit of time off and make some money working a job in a gap year.

My advice: keep studying hard and try to get 2-3 hours of volunteering in a week (commit to an organization serving underserved populations for the long run). Use the summer to find some sort of clinical work/lots of shadowing. And then try to find a lab that does something you enjoy next school year

This is a very, very comforting thing to hear.

 

[LindaAccepted]

I'm currently a freshman in undergrad starting my second quarter and I'm feeling behind because I haven't begun any extracurriculars. First quarter I just focused on studying but still managed a 4.0. Am I behind for not already being in a research lab and having hundreds of hours in clinical and volunteer experience? Is my best course of action right now to try to join a lab within the next 2-3 months, start getting some clinical hours and some service hours while maintaining my 4.0? Or what should I do?

You are not behind. This isn't a race.

You wisely focused in your freshman year on your studies. (Congrats on the 4.0, but the occasional B won't hurt you. That's just an FYI to avoid paranoia.)

You can try to do come clinical and non-clinical volunteering over the summer. Then during the school year, cut back on those activities and if you are interested in research, involve yourself in a research project or lab. Gradually add the other activities. But keep in mind that "I was so busy with extra-curriculars that my grades took a hit" doesn't fly. And if necessary, take a gap year.

 

[Moko]

I'm currently a freshman in undergrad starting my second quarter and I'm feeling behind because I haven't begun any extracurriculars. First quarter I just focused on studying but still managed a 4.0. Am I behind for not already being in a research lab and having hundreds of hours in clinical and volunteer experience? Is my best course of action right now to try to join a lab within the next 2-3 months, start getting some clinical hours and some service hours while maintaining my 4.0? Or what should I do?

I didn't start any of my science pre-requisites or do any extracurriculars until after I graduated from college. So, from my standpoint, you seem to be way ahead of the game. 😉

You are smart to have focused on your GPA - too often people overload their first semester and end up doing everything poorly. Your plan to gain additional extracurricular experiences over the next year is a good one. Just my thoughts and best of luck.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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