Would love input from @pinky or @mrmacrophage as well....

regardless of where you end up at med school, when are you supposed to start looking/doing research if you're interested in a competitive specialty (im personally interested in ENT)? I was late to pre-med in college, and I'm having horror flashbacks scrambling to find opportunities when i made the switch. I don't want to be caught off guard/would love input from other people on what they think is the norm. I am first in my family and friends to be doing this tbh so I had to really figure it out.

i don't mean this to sound obnoxious at all. Like if the norm is to chill and learn how "to study" m1, then i'm all for it and I see that sentiment. I'm genuinely trying to figure out how to go about it.

follow up, is it crazy to be reaching out to people early? i just don't know.

Thank you in advance for any and all advice :)

EDIT: if anyone has been given advice themselves from peers or mentors, please share!! would be very helpful for many people im sure!!