I was wondering what my chances were.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

FyodorKaramazov

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
State: New York
3.22 cGPA
3.92 sGPA
44 MCAT
3 Published Papers
Worked 3 years part time at a major chemical manufacturer.
1 Paper Published on me.

I've spent 2 years in therapy trying to get over my aversion to people. I skipped over 3 grades in school. I skipped 4th grade, 7th grade, and 12th grade. Now I know it might seem strange for someone who wasn't able to speak to people for most of his life, to want to go to medical school. However, medicine is something that has always fascinated me. And I have gotten better at talking with people.

My GPA is low because of my low attendance to class. My first day of college, I began hyperventilating in my first lecture class. I studied for most tests on my own, and did very well test-wise. My GPA took a hit, mostly from classes where attendance and participation was required. I have an A or A- in all my science classes. I failed English, Philosophy, and Sociology.

Special Skills:
I can recite all the information on the periodic table from memory
I can recite the value of Pi to 1000 places.
I am able to do quick mathematical calculations in my head.
I can recite all the values of sin cos and tan from 0 to 2PI to the first 4 decimal places.

Members don't see this ad.
 
Oh, you'll get in if you can actually survive the interview and have volunteering with people directly in your resume.
 
My therapist is helping me arrange getting some volunteer hours. I've made some progress in the past year when it comes to talking with people. The interview is what I am most scared about. When I am put in a room with new person for the first time, I freeze up. After a few meetings with that person, I feel more comfortable.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Agreed, if you can survive the interview you'll get accepted.

However, a large part of me thinks we're getting trolled.
 
medicine fascinates many people, but most of them don't go into practicing medicine.

you should really ask yourself if you want to work with people? Would you feel comfortable talking to complete strangers and working with new colleagues? If you are okay with doing so, do you want to be doing that every day for 80 hours/week during residency? Would practicing medicine and being around people all the time make you happy or just give you unnecessary anxiety which you will then have to deal with?

If you still want to pursue medicine, I have no doubt you can succeed academically. First, get clinical exposure. Practice talking to strangers til you can be reasonable comfortable.

To be honest, at the end of the day, if I'm going in to see a specialist, I rather my doctor be intelligent than personable as long as we can communicate on some level. If this is truly what you want, go for it.
 
I'd like to assure you that I am not "trolling". But I understand that my assurance is nothing without proof, and short of posting my name and transcript, I don't know how to prove that I am not trolling. Certain doctors have considered me to be autistic.
 
It's not that I want to freeze up when I talk to people. I want to be able to communicate with people like a normal human being. I just haven't been able to do so, ever since I was a kid. My interest is in neurology and chemistry. I've always been fascinated how my brain works, and every one a while I find myself thinking about why I feel so closed up.
 
It's not that I want to freeze up when I talk to people. I want to be able to communicate with people like a normal human being. I just haven't been able to do so, ever since I was a kid. My interest is in neurology and chemistry. I've always been fascinated how my brain works, and every one a while I find myself thinking about why I feel so closed up.

Don't take this as an insult but have you been diagnosed with anything? Asperger's in particular?

Nevermind, read the comment above it the one I quoted.

You wouldn't be the first doctor with a related disorder. Look into a physician named Mike Burry
 
to be honest, i'm not sure medicine is the right career for you. but it is DEFINITELY NOT because you can't make it academically. the whole reason that medical school admissions are so holistic is because doctors need to be excellent people in addition to excellent scientists. you can't become a great physician without the combination of the two. Part of me hopes that you can get over your fear or anxiety around people--as communicating with others is an essential part of most jobs. However, I feel that in medicine it is especially important to be comfortable working with others. Instilling confidence in your patients is one of the most prized skills a physician can have, in my opinion. And this is almost solely a interpersonal skill.

Also, you should try to consider what the medical school education will be like for you. You will no doubt excel at the academic side of it, but remember that the "books" part is pretty much only 2 years. The other two years are going to be full of clinical experiences and rotations. These are where fledgling physicians learn how to interact with patients. Even for the most outgoing individuals, this can be difficult. You're 25 years old and treating someone who is old enough to be your father or grandfather--it's really intimidating. If you're inherently uncomfortable with people, this might be incapacitating. Also, as a resident, you'll have to be able to receive criticism. A lot of times, this criticism is constructive, but a lot of times it isn't. Sometimes your attending will just yell at you in front of others to establish his dominance, or maybe he is just having a bad day. Either way, you'll have to be able to roll with the punches. If you were afraid of going to classes in college, I foresee that learning how to do this will be difficult.

This isn't meant to irk you, but I just wanted to add my 2cents as to what I think about someone who is in your shoes. Man, I'd faint if I checked MCAT THx and found that I got a 44 on my MCAT. If you think that you can confidently get over your fear of people (not just get over your fear, but to go beyond that and become comfortable with people), then you have a great future in medicine. Otherwise, it will be tough. What would be awful is if you get through your first 2 years of med school and then can't finish because your fear comes back. Now you're like 100K in debt without anything to show for it.

Just something to think about.
 
Because MD/PhD is not something I'm interested in, I'm not that familiar with its curriculum or about what they do on the outside... Nor with the selection process for it... I imagine, though, that MD/PhDs spend more of their time in labs than they do with patients? (Sorry, as I said, I'm totally ignorant with the MD/PhD stuff because I really have no interest in that.)

Would the OP be better going that route? Would the OP be a bit more suitable, I mean, going in that direction?

Man, I'd hate to see someone that bright not be able to do something they wanted to do just because of some aversion they can't help.
 
I just wanted to commend you on your username. Best of luck!
 
am I the only one that thinks this whole thread sounds highly suspicious? 44 mcat and the ability to recite pi to the 1000 decimal place?
 
am I the only one that thinks this whole thread sounds highly suspicious? 44 mcat and the ability to recite pi to the 1000 decimal place?

Not the only one, I cited my concerns earlier but beyond that, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
 
am I the only one that thinks this whole thread sounds highly suspicious? 44 mcat and the ability to recite pi to the 1000 decimal place?
Suspicious indeed, but have you heard of Savant Syndrome? At least his issues are consistent with that kind of person.
 
Lol i only have 75% of your MCAT score :(
 
Top