u/Massive-Insect-3709

I'm a junior at a large competitive public school in a non-competitive state. I'm wondering whether it's worth even considering applying to BS/MD as well as what I can do with a year left until applications. I feel like I'm not super competitive so I'm not sure whether it's worth applying or not. I also have very little shadowing.

STATS:

GPA: 4.0 UW

SAT: Just took for the first time, will retake until 1520+

Coursework: Max rigor for my school + CC classes (vector calc 1)

EXTRACURRICULARS (keeping sorta vauge):

• Neuroscience summer research internship (10th summer)
  • Presenting a poster + presentation at a scientific conference soon with the research
• First Tech Challenge (9th, 10th)
  • Went to states twice, won inspire at states + went to worlds once
• Hospital Volunteering (11th)
  • Starting this soon, still getting through orientation and all
• Youth branch of well known nationwide healthcare-related nonprofit (10th, 11th)
  • Executive board for my state
  • Helped found the youth branch in my state
• NASA TechRise (9th)
• Schoolwide Neurodivergent Awareness Club (10th, 11th)
  • Vice president
• Model UN (9th, 10th, 11th)

AWARDS

• National History Day (9th, 10th, hopefully 11th?)
  • Won at school and states, advanced to nationals both years
• Model UN Best Consensus award (9th)
• AP Scholar

For context, I wanted to do engineering in 9th so thats why I have all the engineering related ECs. Is there anything I can realistically do in the next year to make myself competitive enough to attempt BS/MD?

I've been using JBL Vibe Beams that I got for free for years at this point, and they're due for an upgrade.

I want to get earbuds that I can use both day-to-day and for working out/bouldering. I'm not an audiophile so I'm not picky about sound quality but I'd like ANC and a transparency mode. I'm worried an ear hook may be uncomfortable. I'd like something that can handle rain and sweat.

I'm currently considering the Sony WF-C710N (mostly for the aesthetic) and the Beats Fit Pro. Any other recommendations?

I started taking abilify, the first psych med I've ever taken. I was very hesitant to start meds for a long time but the voices became unbearable so I kind of had to do something.

The voices have lessened after a week of being on meds and I kind of hate it. I hate that they work because it means that I'm actually sick, that I'm not being dramatic or making it up, that there's something actually wrong. It means that the voices aren't real and it means that the voices aren't something that I'm being dramatic about. IDK how to feel about this.

I feel like there's a default assumption that everyone who had a psychotic episode was hospitalized. I started therapy through an early psychosis program I was referred to and even my therapist there assumed I was hospitalized. When in my episode I begged my parents to not take me to the ER when they were trying to get me to go so I just never got hospitalized (and never got medicated as a result). Sometimes my experiences feel invalid because they weren't "that bad" and I was still high functioning. I was just wondering if anyone else also never got hospitalized during their first episode.

Also, there's somewhat of a gulit I have for having to wait so long to get any type of help. I wish I had just gotten help earlier instead of spending 10 months stuck between reality and my own mind. Having Asian parents who care more about academic performance than mental health didn't help either.

I'm a rising junior. For classes next year, I'm taking 4 APs (Phys C, Lang, Gov, Bio) as well as one dual credit (Spanish 4), and I plan on signing up for one dual enrollment at my local cc (Vector Calculus 2). I signed up for my school courses back in early spring.

I struggled a lot with mental health during (namely a depressive & psychotic episode) during sophomore year, only taking Calc BC, dual credit Anatomy/Physio, and self-studying Psych. Still got all As, but at a massive cost to my own sanity.

I really hope this isn't enough to doxx me. If you know me IRL, no you don't.

I'm really worried that I'm not going to be able to handle 4 APs as a junior. Should I drop or switch out of some of my classes? Any advice from people who have taken this combination of AP classes or people who have struggled with mental health issues in HS is welcome.

I'm a sperm cell. I've already published a paper and started a nonprofit, but I'm still worried about college admissions in 19 years. Can we reduce the birth rate so less people apply to college? Thank you!

I had internal auditory hallucinations and it could get pretty loud in my head sometimes. It just suddenly stopped one day. It's so quiet now. I miss the constant commentary about me, my surroundings, what I was doing, or just random subjects. Sometimes they were positive things, sometimes it was more negative. Does anyone else who doesn't hear voices anymore miss it?

Is there any place in the US where getting top surgery as a minor is possible, currently? I'm not sure how the current administration has changed things. Are there any states, clinics, etc. that allow it? I'm asking out of curiosity.