<p>Like cwryan1 said, do not do anything because it’s a big thing for medical school. You shouldn’t enter college with this mindset that “I’ll do whatever it takes to get into medical school.” You need to do things you truly enjoy, or you might end up part of that groups of doctors who absolutely hate their jobs, provided you’re able to even find the motivation to do well in undergrad when you start forcing yourself to do things just to fill some “requirement.” </p>
<p>The reason I asked for your school was so I could look some stuff up for you. “State university” is not sufficient information to do that. I understand if you would prefer your school to remain confidential, but I can’t help you if it does.</p>
<p>As a freshman take time to explore all your possible interests, especially outside of medicine. Keep on track as a pre-med and do well/start getting involved and looking for potential research, internships, shadowing experiences, etc… but do NOT lock yourself into a one-career track mindset. If you haven’t already had some sort of experience with medicine through shadowing etc you might want to do something early on too to help you see if medicine is really what you want to do. You would be surprised how many decide it is not even though the have what it takes to make it.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, make sure it is for you, not money, prestige, parental pressure, peer pressure, or anything else. Becoming a doctor is a lifestyle as much as a career and you need to not only make sure that you will love what you do enough to stick it out and still be happy, but that their are not other fields that you find more appealing. Don’t fall into the illusion that medicine is some nice cushy life with big pay, respect, and prestige and enter it for those reasons; you will regret it. And just wanting to help people isn’t a very good reason other. Many professions help people. You need to make sure medicine is your passion.</p>
<p>Note: I am not insinuating that you are going along your path for the wrong reasons as I do not really know you. I am simply letting you know that many people decide to be pre-med for less than “good” reasons and when those people get accepted into med school they become miserable doctors. Don’t become a miserable doctor.</p>