Feeling lost

[deleted1229218]

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I am a junior psychology major taking the MCAT in March 2026 and plan to apply to medical school in the summer of 2026, so I will not be taking a gap year.
The only problem is I’m very behind. I will have completed two semesters of physics, two semesters of biology, and one semester of chemistry by the end of the semester. I will have two semesters of chemistry after the spring 2026 semester. I will take orgo and biochemistry in the summer. Yes, I will have to self-study biochemistry and organic chemistry while preparing for the MCAT.
I plan to prepare for the MCAT after finals and up until my test date in March, so I will have about 14 weeks of studying. I don't have the money to spend on UWorld, and I have seen many students receive excellent scores without it. I will utilize free resources such as Khan Academy, YouTube, and Anki (if I can figure out how to use it) & I have purchased the complete AAMC bundle. I am aiming for a score of at least 510 on the MCAT.
I am also struggling to find clinical work. I have no certifications, and my only work experience consists of two summers as a camp counselor and a couple of years working in a daycare.
For volunteering, I have 34 volunteer hours at a pediatric hospital, but I had to take a break from that due to the long commute, and 15 hours of serving in the kids' ministry at my church. I shadowed a pediatrician one day this past summer for about 6 hours, but unfortunately, her schedule in the foreseeable future doesn’t allow her to make time for me.
I feel as though I wasted many years thinking about what I needed to do rather than actually doing it.
For me, a gap year isn’t an option, so I really need to get my act together and find opportunities within the next five or six months.
HELP. Please & thank you!
(I am in Maryland, by the way.)

 

[nobadwaves]

Why, exactly, is a gap year not an option for you? Unless you will turn into a pumpkin prior to 2027 or are harboring an IED that will go off should you not apply this year, why the rush? If either or both of those possibilities are true, disregard the remaining text of this message.

Why, exactly, are you dead set on pursuing medicine? I am genuinely curious. I feel that if the reason 'why' was actually strong enough you would take the time, which is a resource you still have as a young person, to do what is necessary to be successful on your application attempt versus slapping duct tape on a fractured femur and trying to finish the race.

There is nothing wrong with the position you are currently in. In fact, you are right on pace - just not for the arbitrary deadline you have given yourself.

Because you stated you "wasted years"... If I were an adcom, which would be an absolute HR nightmare, I would ask applicants two questions that I would expect very good answers to:

1. What have you done to enjoy the precious gift of life thus far?
2. Tell me about your experiences in occupations or careers that you have pursued which led you to believe that medicine was a superior option to these other pursuits?

Nothing about mission statement fit or similar nonsense - which anyone can read and craft a 30 second pitch they think committee members will want to hear. If there isn't a sufficient understanding of the gift of life, there isn't an understanding about the purpose of being a physician - which aims to protect life and the quality of life. It must be stated that just because someone has seen death they do not necessarily understand what a gift life is or can be. Additionally, if folks haven't tried other things aside from academia, then how do you know you wouldn't enjoy or enjoy more being a (fill in the blank).

In terms of academics and the MCAT, you haven't finished the Chem 1 and 2 yet and will have a March test date - without finishing the basic chemistry series. Biochemistry and organic chemistry are this process's weed out courses - additionally, they are weed out topics on the MCAT. Biochemistry is not a stand alone topic - as it is dependent on the knowledge of organic chemistry. The material is notoriously difficult and much care must be given to digesting the material to be able to perform well on the MCAT. Technically, anything is possible but if the goal is a 510 (the 80th percentile) are you doing yourself a disservice in rushing through it?

I really hope you consider the position you are putting yourself in and the likely result of these choices. Taking a gap year, or a few gap years, or being a fully nontraditional student like myself only allows you to be a stronger applicant when you do apply if you take advantage of your time.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

OP: Take the stat with a grain of salt, but at least 60% of matriculating students took at least 1 growth year. I don't get the "med school or bust" mentality when you know you are already behind the curve. It just seems you believe in magical thinking and not the long run.

Besides, how are you going to pay for your education?

Read

Finding Your Purpose as a Health Professional | Student Doctor Network | SDN

In the 2004 Tony-award-winning musical Avenue Q, Princeton, a recent college graduate (with an English degree from a prestigious university), searches to

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Med Ed]

1. Precarious MCAT strategy
2. Scant clinical exposure
3. No meaningful non-clinical experience

You will take at least one gap year, it just won't be voluntary.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Also, if you don't want a gap year, what's the plan? Are you applying to graduate schools? Are you applying for internships to get a job after graduation (or do you look forward to the months of ghosting while applying for jobs after you graduate?) Hopefully your desired locations aren't shutting down their graduate admissions offices and not taking students...

we just posted this article. Here's the forum link

E

Thread 'SDN Article: Dr. Varnel Antoine: Navigating the Challenges on the Path to Medicine'

Nov 13, 2025

The Student Doctor Network publishes articles weekly. Check out this article or other pre-medical articles at Student Doctor Network.

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Abstract: Dr. Varnel Antoine, the 2025 Advisor of the Year (Private Institution), talks about his career journey and role as a urologist. A urologist and Harvard resident tutor, Dr. Antoine discusses his early exposure to medicine through a high school program and his pre-med studies at Harvard, where he benefited from a robust advising system. He emphasizes the importance of personability and collaboration in...

• Emil Chuck, PhD
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

 

[polymerization]

I'm not going to pile on, because I suspect the next year is going to be humbling in ways you probably cannot appreciate now, but...

You need at least three semesters because of prerequisites. I'm not aware of any school that will let you take organic I, II, and biochemistry in the same semester. I'm not sure how that didn't occur to you, you've taken other contingent series like biology and general chemistry already.

Also, just one small piece of friendly advice... leave the full-length AAMC exams until you're really ready. You can only meaningfully take them once, and those scores are going to be your best guess as to how you'll do on the real thing. Try a free diagnostic from Kaplan or Blueprint just to get a taste of what you're really going to be putting yourself through.

I totally understand where you're coming from... but there are no shortcuts. The fewer resources and opportunities you have (i.e., the more you need this to work, like yesterday), the higher the barrier will seem.

 

[Goro]

The MCAT is a high stakes, career deciding exam. It's also an assessment of the ability to make wise choices.

Do not take it until you are 100% ready.

And med schools aren't going anywhere.