<p>How do people do "scientific research" outside of school and use that on their college apps? What counts as research? Do you have to have published a paper? Worked with a professor? Done it for half your life? </p>
<p>As a future bio major I think it would be cool to intern at a hospital or lab (like at a university?) but I don't know how that works. I've heard people on CC say "I have X amounts of scientific research" - what does that imply? I am seriously clueless. Is it too late for me to do anything worthwhile considering I'm a junior and really don't have any connections or easily-accessible opportunities?</p>
<p>edited for typo</p>
<p>(unnecessary background info below/why you should help me and tolerate my incessant complaining) (I'm sorry and you are all amazing for putting up with me)
I'm seriously breaking down because I'm a junior and nobody in my life has ever pushed me to achieve, and yeah yeah, I should have pushed myself, but really. How can I push myself when I've literally never been motivated by anyone? I am the only one who cares this much about my future and it's very hard to build a stellar college application in my situation. Up until a month ago I didn't even know high school students could get internships, or shadow doctors, or publish papers... </p>
<p>Even my school tells us "don't even think about college until you're a junior, just get alright grades so we can maintain a somewhat decent reputation for a Florida high school." Well, I'm a junior now. And guess what? I have been horribly under-prepared. I feel like a failure every day because I will never get into schools that I know I could be GREAT at. Compared to the EC's of people who get into my dream school, I'm a failure. The admissions committee will take one look at my application and toss it aside.</p>
<p>It is easy to infer from this post that I've been lazy. That is not the case - freshmen year I had extenuating circumstances and as a sophomore I was still mentally recovering from that year, focusing on my grades and not on my interests and activities outside of school. Now I'm a junior and I'm ready to be the person I know I can be and it's too late. I'm heartbroken tbh.</p>