What does Med School NOT care about?? How am I looking as of now..?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>I am a pre-med student and I have just finished my 1st year (yeah yeah it’s early haha) as a Human Biology major. Obviously I have been thinking of ways to build my resume for Medical school ever since I declared this major in the fall. I finished my first quarter in college with a 3.2 only because I got a C in my English/Literature/Writing class… yes yes it’s embarrasing. However I was able to pull a 4.0 the last quarter (including that last part of that writing sequence) so that my overall GPA doesn’t take such a hit. </p>

<p>It may be kind of early to do this but… am I at LEAST on the right track? Medical School seems so impossible and discouraging nowadays.
-Undergrad: UC San Diego
-Overall GPA deeply still in the works.
-Science GPA is a 4.0… that is until i hit Ochem and we may see… I loved General Chem.
-As a freshman I was able to get involved with plenty of on-campus organizations and get on the exec board for a few. I was able to complete a mission to a developing country and help out with medical units while conducting research over the breaks.
-I also am a part of a competitive athletic sport club…yes NOT the varsity team.
-I will plan on MAYBE double majoring in Economics since the subject seems intriguing to me.</p>

<p>My question is… Am I really putting on more than that is required? I also am a current labrat who is being paid in a lab only because I lack the knowledge gained from upper division courses. I feel that if I don’t try to get into a better lab position that I may miss the chance to get published… Is this really necessary to look competitive for Medical School??</p>

<p>I just feel that I may be putting too much on my plate but I LOVE what I do and I absolutely love chemistry, biology, physics, all of the subjects I am taking and I actually look forward to the pre-med path throughout college. Am I still able to stay balanced throughout college with all the activities, yet keep around a 3.6 overall?? What exactly would Medical school think is a waste of time or a waste of effort… I wouldn’t like just throwing my life into the GPA since, although I’m confident enough I could throw it as high as it could go, I just want to be all around and unique.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for reading and answering my questions.</p>

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<p>Nothing is a waste of time if you’re in it because you love doing it, and if you’re able to keep it up, keep it up. You don’t need to get published for what you did in the lab (I don’t know of anyone who was), and for that matter you don’t even need research to get into med school, although it won’t hurt. Just remember that less EC’s that you are very involved in and dedicated to is much better than 20 where you do something once every 2 months (not saying you are). I guess only you will be able to tell whether you’ll be able to stay balanced throughout college, and remember that one (not so severe) mistake won’t destroy your chances of med school.</p>