Who's decision was medical school?

One thing I have found that can greatly detriment your application and your chances of getting in is: Who's decision was medical school?
For many (or most) applicants, medical school was a decision collectively made by ourselves, our parents and societies preconceived notion that smart students should pursue medicine.
Well sorry to break it to you but the decision to go to medical school NEEDS to become your decision 100%. Think of those nights when you are studying and thinking to yourself, why am I doing all this. This is when you know you are not cognitively mature or ready for medicine. A successful applicant, I view, is one who does not question the requirements, but rather completes them with grace and a cool, calm and collected attitude. Think of it this way. You will stress MUCH LESS if you realize that your are a competitive applicant because you have the right mindset to complete the requirements for medical school, and have fun at it at the same time.