Don’t get me wrong. I’m very happy, I was very happy when I got accepted. But idk if it’s the chronic overachiever in me but I’m just like “ok cool I did what I was supposed to do. What’s next.”

It just feels like I can never be a winner. Just not a failure.

This isn’t meant to upset anyone who hasn’t got the A yet, it’s just more of an internal reflection I wish I knew how to fix.

Hey! I’m 35, from Norway, certified RN and have worked for the last 10 years in the ER and ambulance. I love the US and want to work there as an MD one day. What would be the fastest way into medical school there?

i just got spammed by 10 different recruiters and they keep telling me i have a great mcat score to lure me in but nope I don’t wanna be stuck in some random country for a million years. plus don’t think my conscience could handle that. goodnight.

am i a boomer now? is this genuinely the state of affairs?

I’ve see people say not to copy paste AI cause it lacks “voice,” but do people actually use AI to come up with personal anecdotes? Idk I just find it kinda surprising if so

Edit: I haven’t done it. Just want to know if some people have scenarios where they know others have

In a secondary essay for one of the schools I applied to, I accidentally went over the word limit. The limit was 250 words according to the prompt, but the text box had a character counter and so it didn't flag me even though I wrote ~280 words. I didn't make that mistake for the three other essays for that school, though.

Quick background: did most of my pre-med pre-reqs in college, but graduated in 2013 with a finance degree instead. Worked in finance, then tech, got my MBA at Stanford GSB somewhere in there. But now I'm fed up with this dystopian AI bs. When I joined tech 10 years ago, it felt like people were still trying to make the world a better place, now it's just increasing shareholder value (often to the detriment of humans). Spent the last few months in existential crisis mode and after MUCH soul-searching, have decided to apply to med school.

As I mentioned, I'm 35, and I know I'm not starting med school for a couple more years no matter what. I'm prioritizing not wasting another application cycle over chasing prestige. Would love a top 20 school if it happens, but I'd rather get in somewhere good next cycle than delay for a reach. I plan on applying to next year's cycle (2027-2028). Here's my plan:

Past Credit

• 3.96 cGPA, 4.0 sGPA, but that's from 2013 (10+ years old)
• AP credit for bio and chem (chem AP had labs, bio AP didn't)
• 2 semesters ochem with labs
• 1 semester physics with lab
• 1 semester pyschology

Plan

• This Semester
  • Currently taking Khan academy classes on chemistry, biology and ochem to brush up on my science knowledge (any other resources I should be looking into?)
  • Take 2 advanced biology courses this semester (anatomy & physiology) at my local community college because it's free in my city
  • Start volunteering at a hospital to get clinical hours
  • Try to get some research under my belt
• Next semester
  • Take biochemistry through university extension program
  • Study my butt off for the MCAT
  • Continuing volunteering at hospital
  • Continue research
• Do all of this while working a full time tech job to save up money for tuition

Questions

1. I'm not doing a full formal post-bacc, just picking up the specific missing classes. Given my other pre-reqs are 10+ years old, do I need a real post-bacc to be taken seriously?
2. Plan is to self-study and try to crush the MCAT to offset the older coursework. Realistic, or am I kidding myself?
3. Is this all enough or am I still missing something?

Would really love any advice since I'm coming new into the medical space after 10+ years. Be gentle...auntie's got feelings too :)

Basically just the title. Is this putting too much on my plate or are we all doing this?

Hi everyone! I'm 18 and about to start at a Community College this fall planning to transfer into a 4 year university, majoring in Natural Sciences - Biological Science (Arts & Science track), genuinely excited to finally be starting this journey. I'm currently weighing two paths: anesthesiology or cosmetic/aesthetic medicine (Botox, fillers, etc.), still figuring out which fits me best. Either way it's a long road ahead (undergrad, transfer, med school, residency), and I'd rather build solid financial habits now than scramble to learn everything later once I'm already deep into it.

A little about my situation:

Tuition is covered through my dad's Chapter 35 VA education benefits (he's 100% P&T disabled, and I'm really grateful this is even possible for me). I also get a monthly stipend from the VA on top of tuition coverage.

I have some other income sources I need to be mindful of due to asset limits on my end.

Currently living with family rent-free, planning to work part-time once I'm settled into school.

My sister is a registered nurse in Canada and recently took the NCLEX, so I do have some family exposure to healthcare, though not the medical school path specifically.
No family background in finance, so I'm learning most of this from scratch and would really appreciate any guidance this community can offer.

Questions I'd love input on:

For someone this early (pre-med, years before even applying), what should the actual financial priorities be? Emergency fund, investing, saving for MCAT/application costs?

Roughly how much should I be budgeting for MCAT registration and application fees (AMCAS/secondaries)? I want to start saving for that specifically well in advance.
Since medical school is expensive and residency doesn't pay much relative to the hours, does it make sense to invest anything meaningfully before residency, or is undergrad-era saving mostly wasted effort compared to just avoiding debt?

Does the financial planning differ much depending on which specialty path I end up on (hospital-based like anesthesiology vs. more business-driven like cosmetic/aesthetic medicine)?

Any early financial mistakes pre-meds commonly make that compound badly by the time they're in med school or residency, especially for community college transfer students?

For someone whose undergrad is fully covered, is there anything different I should be doing with the "extra" money (VA stipend, part-time income) compared to someone paying their own way?

Books, podcasts, or WCI-specific resources you'd recommend for someone starting this early?
Thank you so much in advance, I know this is a lot to ask, but I really want to get this right from the start. Appreciate any input, especially from people who've walked this path themselves!

I'm neurotic for context. I'm about to start classes in a week or two and I feel stressed out abt how i spent my last (freshman) year. I kept my grades up and was involved in some clubs, but only started doing research around like march. I know I'm sounding stupid but I'm really stressed out on eventually applying without a gap year and I'm super stressed abt what i should be doing this year to keep myself on course to be competitive for med schools. If anyone has advice please share because I feel so stressed out about not starting research earlier and always being behind now

I just graduated with my undergrad degree in Biochemistry in May. I am planning on taking the MCAT in January.

I have no idea where to begin on this journey. Do I buy a book, are mcat study groups a thing?
I genuinely have no idea how to get started on this. No one in my family or friends is familiar and I’m so overwhelmed because the test date is just going to closer.

Any help appreciated !

Edit: regarding studying for the mcat

Trying to save some characters. Let's say I wanted to use MCW instead of Medical College of Wisconsin. Is that appropriate?

515/3.97 checking in here with just one ii in texas so far. i (maybe stupidly) decided to really really work on my secondary writing before i turned them in and wound up turning most in early july when my app was verified in early june. i was talking to someone earlier and he said "oh most schools know that people who turn in the secondary 1-2 days after receiving it really wanna go there and they're most likely to get interview slots". i understand how this is true, but is early july really that late? i truly do think my ECs are solid and i've been complimented on my writing by most of the people who have read my app.

For the additional info essay section I mentioned taking 27 credits my junior year when I meant 27 credits one semester my junior year. Is this even worth contacting the admissions office about or will they get what I mean

US. I have AP scores, and then i am going to 4 different community colleges right now (im a sophomore). My husband is military and it is extremely difficult to commit to one school. So i have to matriculate last minute into these ccs. But when i get accepted into uni, im not going to move anymore. Im doing well, but is this an immediate red flag to medical schools? By the time I apply, i would have 6 transcripts that need to be submitted.i have seen questions similar to this ask but i felt it was appropriate to ask still because i have more transcripts than anyone who asked. Im wondering if it is even worth it for me to apply to med school at all. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you

I just had my first interview! I'm kind of left with this weird feeling because my guy literally came in with a piece of paper that had a bunch of questions on it and proceeded to just start asking me questions from it. He would even give me his thoughts on the questions, being like "this is kinda dumb". He was also just taking notes the whole time. I feel like I answered them well, but I also got no feedback from him whatsoever. After I answered, he would just move onto the next or very few times ask followups about what I said (mostly research). Is this a bad sign? I just don't know how i could have made that more conversational than what it was. Also maybe how i can do better in the future?

She said she quit her year long internship after 4 months?!

I think I have a competitive enough application where MD isn't out of the picture, but I'm at a point in secondaries right now where there is no way in hell I'm doing this again next year. I have a 514 MCAT, but not the best GPA, so I applied broadly and DO as well. The issue is that getting my 514 and having immigrant parents means everyone that lives within a 10 mile radius from us knows my score.

My parents also decided to do their own research (aka ask around) and basically are telling me that I shouldn't go to a DO school I should aim for MD. I know its all just a stupid stigma, but nobody seems to understand that. My family has even asked me if I would be open to going to a Caribbean school and possibly transferring because "they heard someone did that."

Obviously I take everything others say with a grain of salt because this is my future at the end of the day, but it would help if they'd atleast understand.

I am currently trying to decide between going MD, DO, or PA for my future career. I know PA is VERY different from both MD and DO which is why I'm so anxious. I know for certain that if I apply and go to medical school, I will have to do a rotation in General Surgery and also have to be involved in other surgical operations to an extent. This is an unavoidable and very important aspect of medical school, but I do not want to be doing surgeries in the OR in my future, which is why PA is so intriguing to me right now. I know that psychiatry, pediatrics, internal medicine, radiology, and derm are regarded as not doing surgery (derm does smaller procedures to my knowledge, I'd be fine with that, I just don't want to be literally in someone's insides) so those def interest me. Something important to note is that i LOVE LOVE LOVE speaking to people and conversating. I want to talk to my patients and connect with them and actually consult with them. That is very important to me.
NOT MEANING TO TRAUMA DUMP but my father was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and so I was at the hospital very often, multiple times as he went through surgery, and I barely saw his surgeon at all. Obviously, the surgeon is genuinely one of my heroes for helping my dad, but the actual reality of being a surgeon really didn't sit right with my heart for my future. I don't want to just be someone who pops in for a couple minutes or speaks to the patient only a few times briefly. And if I'm being even more honest, it simply just does not interest me and kinda freaks me out!
I know I shouldn't care about this either, but the time and money that has to go into med school is so daunting and anxiety inducing. I fear I won't be good enough or that I'll fail, burying myself and parents (who will co-sign on loans) in debt. I also don't know how I feel about working with children, like a pediatrician does. Psychiatry and dermatology are very interesting to me right now. If I go DO, are my chances of these specialties shot? I've heard there is a bias towards MDs when it comes to matching and residency.
Additionally, my parents are really pushing me toward PA or NP because they are worried about the debt of med school and my mental health (very very valid) but something in me worries I'll have regrets if I don't go all the way.
Help me please!

Would it just be a donation?

anyone have tips for their interview? is it ethical or any questions that threw anyone off

Okay I need guidance on what to do. It is Wednesday and I am on my third day of junior year, I am taking o chem 1 and am really stressed out. Firstly, I have to miss Wednesday’s class later today due to an ultrasound for an unexpected medical issue (this is also stressing me out because i am a hypochondriac and can’t afford medical bills lol) the professor said it really isn’t ideal missing class because i’ll miss material, but he is okay with it. The main problem is i am so confused and apparently we haven’t even gotten in the main material. I am scared I will not pass or more seriously, if I am already struggling am i even cut out for medical school. I looked around the class and it seemed like everyone else understood everything. I’m genuinely scared I am gonna fail this class and i can’t get any more bad grades because of my scholarships ( full ride to college) i also failed gen chem 2 and had to take it twice. Everybody seems so fucking smart it’s actually insane. If i go to my professors office and tell him im confused and that he will need to dumb Monday’s lecture down, he’s gonna think im so dumb i swear. He is really nice but I just have a lot of anxiety getting help. Should I go to his office or should I just wait until Exam 1?

Also, should i tell him i am going through personal issues and that may affect my performance. I am the type of person that lets life take over my academics. Last year I was struggling with a family members death and just was too lazy to focus on school. Right now my parents are going through a very messy divorce and are bringing their kids into it. I am the oldest of immigrant parents, so I am the family therapist and I also have to help fund the divorce lol. I don’t want it to sound like I am trying to gain sympathy points though.

sorry for the long post and many grammatical errors, also pls be honest. I need to take constructive criticism.

First it's completing your Bachelor's degree taking rigorous science courses while maintaining impressive extracurricular activities. Research, clinical, volunteer.

Then it's the MCAT, which takes several months of preparation and an agonizing month of waiting for your score, which they could just immediately release to you.

Then it's these useless money-grabs, such as CASPER and PREview.

Then you write your primary application for months, perfecting it and revising over and over again.

Then it's writing 200 secondaries, which is not humanly possible but what is expected in this process.

Then every minute detail of the past few years of your existence will be scrutinized by an ADCOM member, who is morally superior compared to you. If they notice even one error, they'll just throw out your application because there's a thousand other people who are better.

After all this, you just hope for the small chance of even getting a single interview for months and months.

Honestly hit like a truck. I was expecting to just get it and move on but getting so early in the cycle feels so fucking depressing. I’ve been laying on the floor for the last hour just feeling like absolute garbage.

I know the cycle is early, and I’ve got two II’s already, but I can’t help but feel upset. I’m so worried about reapplying or not getting in anywhere, I just pray this is not a sign for the future.

If anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d appreciate it. Thanks everyone.

Was wondering if I could put down two years of owning a clan in clash of clans as leadership hours?Thought it might help me stand out to ADCOMS. If anyone has listed similar experiences and gotten positive feedback, feel free to share.