How bad is it to apply psych but only became interested last year (as M3)?

[NeedAdvicelol]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I had no clue what I wanted to go into until I did my psych rotation last year and looovvveeed it. However, the only thing psych related I’ve done since were two electives and currently working on a psych research project (prolly no pub or anything by the time ERAS is filed). Needless to say, I dont have a long term “commitment” because of my late decision and was wondering how much it would hurt my apps. Scores are slightly below avg, usmd.

 

[theduderino]

I suppose it depends what you mean by "bad" - if you don't have any red flags you will almost certainly match, and most likely at a middle to upper middle tier academic place if that is your desire. Top tier places are highly selective like any other specialty (though probably less rigid about step scores). You can get your commitment to the field across in your PS and interview - I would suggest you reflect on why you came to love psychiatry, what areas within psychiatry are of most interest, how you felt when interacting with other psychiatrists and mentally ill patients etc.

tldr: this the trajectory of most psych applicants and I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Bartelby]

It is absolutely fine. Many (if not most) people don't go into medical school knowing exactly what they want to specialize in, and of those who think they know it often changes.

 

[NickNaylor]

I didn't decide on psychiatry until the second half of MS3, and I had no pertinent psychiatry electives, research, or anything else included in my ERAS app.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Not an issue.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

Admitting to your parents that you are going into psychiatry late in your MS3 year is probably modal. MS2s generally are not individuated enough to do something selfish like "waste" all of that education to become not a real doctor after all. Two electives and some research work is plenty, no one will question your intentions.

 

[Oedipa Maas]

If it helps, USMD student in the same boat, psych was one of my last rotations of 3rd year and I fell in love with it. All of the faculty I've talked to at my institution have told me it's fine and just to make sure my personal statement expresses a strong interest and to keep up with the psych extracurriculars I am in.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

splik is right, psychiatry has changed over the last 5 or 6 matches, but like I have said before, don't freak out. We have gone from the bottom three and are now about tenth from the bottom as far as competitiveness. Psychiatry is still fairly available to most graduates but less marginal applicants are using psychiatry as something they are likely to get into because they can't get into anything else. This is a good thing for both the applicants and the training programs really. You really don't want to train with a bunch of accidental psychiatrists. Psychiatry has always had some super stars, I'm thinking that raising up the bottom is having more impact than increasing rare super stars. This still isn't the enormous sea change some describe it as. Try not to fail things, try not to remediate, you don't have to be the best student, just try not to stick out in bad ways. Most of you will be fine.

 

[MBBSMOM]

splik is right, psychiatry has changed over the last 5 or 6 matches, but like I have said before, don't freak out. We have gone from the bottom three and are now about tenth from the bottom as far as competitiveness. Psychiatry is still fairly available to most graduates but less marginal applicants are using psychiatry as something they are likely to get into because they can't get into anything else. This is a good thing for both the applicants and the training programs really. You really don't want to train with a bunch of accidental psychiatrists. Psychiatry has always had some super stars, I'm thinking that raising up the bottom is having more impact than increasing rare super stars. This still isn't the enormous sea change some describe it as. Try not to fail things, try not to remediate, you don't have to be the best student, just try not to stick out in bad ways. Most of you will be fine.

I agree with some of your points but in the end, are the students truly interested in psych? Or do they just see it as a" lifestyle specialty"? I don't think we need any more psychiatrists treating the worried well.

 

[Orgone]

I had no intention of applying to psychiatry until I did my rotation- in 4th year the month before residency applications were due.

I'd like to think I did a good job of hyping up the experience of immediately, but unexpectedly, falling in love with psychiatry. Probably made for a less boring personal statement and interview.

Matched at my #1. Learn how to sell yourself and this shouldn't be an issue.