Help choosing between Clinical psychology and MD (Psychiatry)

[yoggle77]

Hi there. I'm currently finishing my BSc in Psychology. I'm just thinking about the next step and I'm utterly confused. I've always had an interest in medicine but for some reason I chose psychology. I like psychology but I also like medicine. I don't know which to go into. should I choose clinical psychology or should I go into MBBS /MD and specialize in psychiatry. I've interned in a psychiatric hospital under a team of psychiatrists and I really like it. I just feel that psychology wont be as satisfying and I'm just really confused. would really like some help from someone who's had to make this decision. thank you

 

[Doctor Eliza]

You've worked with psychiatrists and liked it, you don't know why you majored in psychology, and you think psychology won't be as satisfying. I can't imagine why you'd go into psychology over psychiatry in this scenario!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I agree with Dr. E--from your post, I really don't see anything that's actually driving you toward psychology other than that you've majored in it. If you've shadowed/interned in psychiatric settings and have enjoyed the types of things you've seen psychiatrists doing, then that sounds like the appropriate career path to me.

For me personally, it was the opposite--medical knowledge is inherently interesting to me, and I continue to shore up on it when I can, but there's just no way I could see myself enjoying doing what physicians do everyday (regardless of specialty). Except maybe neuroradiologists; that seems like a pretty sweet gig.

 

[Diddy30]

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[erg923]

You can get what you want out of being a psychologist while practicing as a psychiatrist.

This statement doesn't make any sense.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

You can get what you want out of being a psychologist while practicing as a psychiatrist, but you can't reverse that. Needless to say it's generally harder to get into medical school and more expensive but I would argue better job security/opportunities, better pay, prescribing abilities. If I could've cut it as a pre-med and it wouldn't have been such a gamble w/ my future, I definitely would've pursued that route.

Not to entirely re-hash old threads/arguments, but I'd personally disagree with the bolded statement. Depends on the basis of comparison, though--all psychology programs vs. only US medical (allo and osteo) programs or vs. all (Caribbean included) med programs? Or only funded psychology programs vs. one of those med school groupings? Etc.

Also, getting what you want out of psychology as a psychiatrist is going to depend on what it is the OP wants. Although in this case, I'd agree that psychiatry seems to be the better choice, given that they (the OP) has worked with psychiatrists and enjoys what they do, and is already having doubts about psychology.