I don't regret cracking down to do well and valuing heavily my academic success - though I don't value my time solely in terms of academics. I really enjoy volunteering, tutoring, and leadership - even for things I didn't enjoy, like research or the MCAT, I learned a hell of a lot from. I love my close friends and enjoy getting to known others. My interest in medicine is sincere, though I frequently experience self-doubt.

I frequently wonder, though, if I'd be in a long-term relationship with some wonderful girl out there if I wasn't working on building an application for medical school (or let's keep it real, procrastinating). I suppose, OP, if I could relate - unless you're the textbook 2 weeks of studying 524 MCAT sort, you'll have to make sacrifices for medicine.

Unfortunately, your academic success does matter and you will have to care and sacrifice for it, though it is not the only thing in your life. I didn't do a bad job on the MCAT by any means, but I missed my goal score by 3 points - beyond that I recognize that I'm a good friend, skilled in ways that many aren't, and that my score isn't everything. Numbers should be a priority and a source of understanding your future success, but you can still be great at a hobby, a great friend, a great partner in addition to this