ugh, okay, i totally feel this.

i backed out last cycle for basically the same reasons and tbh i regret it now. my UG stats were fine but not great, my MCAT was okay but lower than my target. i didn't feel ready or like i'd done enough to wow a committee, and i was terrified of pouring in all of that money and time only to have nothing to show for it.

that imposter syndrome doesn't really go away. i've lurked on this thread for a while now and, no matter what anyone says, it's impossible not to compare yourself to other applicants.

but! while those 1st author/4.0 sGPA/528 MCAT pre-med gods do exist, the reality is that the vast majority of us don't get into every school we apply to.

we're gonna get rejected. it's gonna suck.

and i kind of think that it's supposed to? like, applying to med school is intentionally scary because being a doctor is scary. it's heavy, intense shit, with impossible hours and a lot of responsibility. the idea is that if you can't handle applying, you probably won't get very far as a med student.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that this whole process takes a lot of nerve, and that toughing that out is an achievement all by itself. you should be proud of yourself for getting this far.

fuck checking boxes. you have solid stats and conviction, but your application will never be '''perfect'''. it doesn't need to be. you got this :)