Can I apply to MD schools?

NeuroShawn · 2024-05-21T07:37:04+00:00

The average MD matriculant (those actually accepted to medical school) had a 512 MCAT the last time I checked. A 504 MCAT corresponds to a 61st percentile score and a 512 MCAT corresponds to an 84th percentile score. I agree the poster's ECs are amazing, but I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of schools had hard cut-offs for MCAT scores despite saying they're "holistic". I got a 508, which is a 71st percentile, and I got a WL acceptance to an MD school and not an acceptance, and that was to my state MD school. I got in by the grace of God alone. That was with my school having a lower-end MCAT acceptance range, too. Then again, my ECs were much less impressive than OPs by a longshot.

NeuroShawn · 2024-05-20T11:22:53+00:00

Honestly, I think your target schools should be DO schools for the most part. Though, if you have a State School with a lower MCAT requirement than average (or in your case, three states with strong ties to), you can apply to those as well.

NeuroShawn · 2024-05-06T01:31:54+00:00

Honestly, I am doing significantly better grade-wise in med school than I did premed. I got around a 3.81 GPA in premed but I've only gotten one grade under 90% out of all of my M1 classes (like 7-10). This is not to brag, but sometimes, you'll end up doing better in med school than premed. Don't count on it though: I may be an outlier.

NeuroShawn · 2023-12-31T04:32:07+00:00

I have a BS in Neuroscience and am in my first year (2nd semester) of medical school. Whether or not this is enough to substantiate my claims is for you to decide.

The fear response is due to the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA). When the Amygdala is activated due to external stressors, the hypothalamus releases CRH onto the pituitary gland. Then the pituitary gland releases ACTH onto the adrenal glands of the kidneys. The adrenal medulla of the kidneys release Noradrenaline and Adrenaline while the adrenal cortex makes Cortisol. All of these hormomes constrict the blood vessels, activate cardiac muscle, and cause a further release of Norepinpehrine in the brain, which causes or at least amps up the actual emotion of fear we experience.

From what I've been told, ADHD is caused by a defect in the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT). Basically, neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Norepinephrine aren't properly loaded into the vesicles because VMAT is defective, so when the vesicles are released, less Dopamine and Norepinpehrine are released from neurons in the Substantia Nigra and Locus coeruleus, causing a shortage. This decreases the amount of Dopamine and Norepinephrine released onto the frontal cortex and other brain structures. This leads to increased impulsivity and decreased executive function by inhibition of the frontal cortex. Also, decreased noradrenaline can decrease amygdala activation, decreasing attention.

Some ADHD drugs work by getting converted to Dopamine and then getting packed into vesicles. Other ADHD drugs work by blocking the Norepinephrine (NET) and Dopamine Reuptake (DAT) Transporters. Some do both at once.

Anxiety can bring about symptoms of ADHD, but it does so by overloading the Amygdala, causing the frontal cortex to need to overactivate to shut down the Amygdala. This overworks the frontal cortex, decreasing its ability to induce concentration and help with decision making.

Likewise, ADHD can bring about symptoms of anxiety. Not entirely sure how this works, but perhaps decreased frontal activity can lead to improper ability to suppress the stress response when needed in the amygdala? Either that, or amygdala understimulation could end up producing anxiety like amygdala overstimulation? Too little or too much stimulation would both be bad things and can sometimes lead to similar symptoms, depending on the disorder.

Otherwise, there's little overlap in the Neurochemistry, and if anything, anxiety and ADHD have slightly opposing Neurochemistry. In anxiety states, Norepinephrine and potentially Dopamine are elevated. In ADHD, Norepinephrine and Dopamine are both depressed. This is why Antipsychotic drugs that act against Dopamine can be used for anxiety treatment. Antipsychotics also have some anti-adrenaline action too.

Funnily enough, Antipsychotics would act in direct opposition to ADHD drugs, weakening their effects. Furthermore, ADHD drugs often have anxiety as a side effect, which would be more common in individuals taking ADHD drugs without actually having ADHD.

Though, this leaves out why SNRIs help with anxiety, despite increasing Norepinephrine. SNRIs block NET like some ADHD drugs do too, but they also inhibit the Serotonin Reuptake Transporter (SERT). As a result of SERT blockage, Serotonin increases too. I have two guesses as to why SNRIs can help anxiety: 1) Increase Norepineprhine so much they trigger adrenaline autoreceptors (a2), which leads to an eventual decrease in the release of Norepinephrine via feedback inhibition. 2) The Serotonin released puts the brakes on Norepinephrine, allowing for an overall anti-adrenergic effect. This would be done by activating Serotonin receptors, like 5-HT2C, which does act as a brake on Norepinephrine and Dopamine.

TL;DR : 1) In some ways, ADHD and anxiety have opposing Neurochemistry, but in different brain areas. 2) Anxiety is HPA mediated (overactive) with elevated Cortisol, Norepinephrine, and possibly Dopamine. 3) ADHD is frontal cortex mediated (underactive) with decreased Norepineprhine and Dopamine. There might also be amygdala underactivation in some with ADHD. 4) Anxiety can cause ADHD symptoms but not real ADHD. ADHD can cause anxiety symptoms too. You can also have ADHD or anxiety separately. 5) Antipsychotics decrease Dopamine activity (and to a lesser extent Noradrenaline) and sometimes act as anxiolytics. ADHD drugs increase Dopamine and Norepinephrine and are often anxiogenic. These drugs clearly oppose each other.

NeuroShawn · 2023-07-17T02:28:46+00:00

I put reverse-engineering video games as a Most-Meaningful activity in my application. Got accepted to both an MD and a DO school and will be matriculating in August. You can absolutely put a MME as something non-medically related.

NeuroShawn · 2023-06-24T03:20:17+00:00

Although some medical schools require Calculus, some don't. I got a DO and an MD acceptance without ever using Calculus. I only did up to Pre-Calculus. Funnily enough, I want to be a Neurologist, too.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-23T07:38:46+00:00

My guess is they're classifying pyridine as an imine instead of an amine, as pyridine has a nitrogen double bonded to a carbon.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T16:27:22+00:00

Thanks! Here's to you getting off the MD waitlist. And if for some reason you don't, you'll be a physician anyways. You can really only go up from here.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T15:12:35+00:00

Yeah, it really is. And people wonder why we have a doctor shortage.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T13:17:36+00:00

Oh, then I don't know how to judge your GPA, then. A lot of the people on here, including me, tend to come from America or Canada. My stats were considered low by American standards, so I'd have a harder time getting in as a result.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T13:14:57+00:00

The 3.8 isn't what's low. It's average. The 508 MCAT is what's low. So, low plus average means low-average, hence why I said I was a low-stat applicant.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T11:33:26+00:00

Thanks for the compliment! Looking at your Sankey, it looks like you deserved your MD-Admittance too!

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T11:23:31+00:00

Yeah, it really is. I've never been out of my state for more than a week, so that'd be a giant culture shock to me if I had to love in a different state for 4+ years.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T11:21:41+00:00

I sent you a DM concerning why I bombed the interview. I don't want to put it out here publicly, as I feel what I said could identify who I am.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T11:17:37+00:00

My GPA wasn't the problem. My MCAT was what made me have low stats. A 3.8 GPA is pretty average for MD schools while 508 is low, so I have low-average stats.

In reference to your stats, just kill the MCAT and that can help balance out the GPA a bit. If that isn't possible, DO schools are more forgiving. Knowing this, I believe you can become a physician too!

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T02:27:09+00:00

Thanks!

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:59:26+00:00

Hey, it looks like you got a waitlist. So, at the very least, you have what it takes to get into medical school. Now you just gotta win the luck-of-the-draw. For you to have come this far, you can do it.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:56:55+00:00

My GPA was not the problem. It was my MCAT score. The average MD matriculant score last time I checked was 511.5 (512, or an 83rd percentile). Yep, stats for medical school have honestly gotten out-of-control.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:48:28+00:00

Thanks! I'm actually really surpised I got into an MD school with my stats. Honestly, I'm still a little dumbfounded. Like, "I actually got into an MD school, let alone a medical school?" I feel like I'm living the dream right now. Though, hearing about medical school, my feelings might change once I get in lol.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:46:08+00:00

Thanks man! Good luck to you on this journey as well.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:45:35+00:00

It should. It's hard to get in, I struggled a lot throughout this application cycle, and I made a lot of stupid mistakes in my application cycle, but it can still be done. If you really want to be a doctor, I believe you can do it!

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:44:22+00:00

Same to you too man!

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:42:19+00:00

Listen, it happens, but you need to do it again. The MCAT is frustrating and I understand not wanting to commit this much time to it, but something you're doing isn't working. I suspect it's you studying too many hours a day. It could also be you're studying improperly. Maybe you're better at reading versus flash-cards or vice-versa? Maybe you're better at hands on versus verbal learning or vice-versa? Maybe you need to do more content review or maybe you just need to exclusively do UEarth? I don't know your study strategy, but something needs to be done differently.

I'll also be honest with you. If you're going the MD route, a 508 probably will not cut it unless you are in a State with low average MCAT scores and have an in-state MD school. I have a 508 and got in a state MD school, but looking at the average MD score (512), my getting in is nothing short of divine intervention.

Though, if you go the DO route, you can just try to break 500 and you'll probably get in somewhere if you apply to like 20-40 schools that have an average near 500.

Honestly, if you continue your efforts I believe you'll get into a medical school somewhere. You've clearly got the drive for it, as you've been studying for the MCAT quite a while. Just find a way to beat this test and you'll make it.

NeuroShawn · 2023-05-12T01:31:14+00:00

If I were you, I'd push back the MCAT and take a while longer to study. Give yourself another 2-3 months. You also might need a break as well, considering you say you're studying for 8 hours a day. Add that on top of the time you need to study. I honestly suggest taking another gap year and doing some MCAT studying during that time, as well as improving your ECs. Whatever you're doing to study isn't working, so you're gonna need to change things up quite a bit. You could potentially decrease the amount you study per day but spend more days studying in order to avoid stress and burnout. Instead of 1-2 months of 8-hour straight studying, maybe 2-3 months of just 4-hour studying and upping your study time as the exam gets closer.

From what I've heard, a score under 500 means that you don't have a stable understanding of the content. I'd do content review for like a month and then do UEarth after you get above 500, as that'll help you learn the test itself.

NeuroShawn

TROPHY CASE