interested in pediatric psychiatry, simple questions

[lifeasweknowit]

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I am interested in being a pediatric psychiatrist, and yes I know the difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist.

I do have a few questions, I am still in high school, and
i was wondering for entrance to med school if the college I go to after high school matters that much?
also, does my major matter? or as long as i get a good mcat score, high gpa, and i take all the required courses to get into med school, then I'm set?
how much math does a pediatric psychiatrist actually use ON THE JOB? I know you need to know a lot for school, but when you actually start your job for real, what kind of math do you need to know on a regular basis? besides conversions/ dosing for meds.

I know pediatric psychiatry is one of the worst, but i am still interested in it.

also, i have also heard that there is a shortage of pediatric psychiatrists and that it is not that competitive. does that means it's "easier" to become one, then another medical profession?

 

[softballtennis]

First of all it's not a pediatric psychiatrist it's a child/adolescent psychiatrist. It doesn't matter what college you go to just do your required courses for med school and you will get in. Your major doesn't matter at all . I don't think you would use that much match but you still need a basic knowledge of math. Psychiatry is one of the least competitive specialties mostly because the pay isn't as good as other specialties, you barely use any medical knowledge and you don't do medical interventions. So technically yes it is easier to match in psych as opposed to derm or ortho surgery.

 

[QuizzicalApe]

i was wondering for entrance to med school if the college I go to after high school matters that much?

Generally not, as long as you aren't going to Uncle Jake's Backyard School o' Learnin'.

also, does my major matter?

Nope. People in my class had majored in dance, in philosophy, etc.

or as long as i get a good mcat score, high gpa, and i take all the required courses to get into med school, then I'm set?

Yup!

how much math does a pediatric psychiatrist actually use ON THE JOB? I know you need to know a lot for school, but when you actually start your job for real, what kind of math do you need to know on a regular basis? besides conversions/ dosing for meds.

Relatively basic math for most medicine. You don't really get much more intense than somewhat simple algebra. Your prime uses will probably be dosing for meds and maybe checking random statistical crap relating to studies.

I know pediatric psychiatry is one of the worst, but i am still interested in it.

also, i have also heard that there is a shortage of pediatric psychiatrists and that it is not that competitive. does that means it's "easier" to become one, then another medical profession?

Psychiatry is not very competitive. Long story short, unless your residency application consists of the sentence "hello I do not want to do psychiatry" you can do psychiatry. You'll still need to be an impressive applicant if you want to go to a top program, but if you aren't incredibly picky with location you can get into a decent residency somewhere.

You'll need to complete a psych residency (which means being board-certified as an adult psychiatrist) before you can pursue a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Last I checked, Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists were in fair demand and not everybody wants to pursue that specialty because it can be a difficult and often depressing population to work with.

 

[BioBeaver]

I think it's worth telling the OP that while you don't need much math for actually being a psychiatrist, you do have to be fairly smart in math to become a doctor in general. Most medical schools require calculus as a Pre-req, and Chemistry is also fairly math heavy.

 

[QuizzicalApe]

I think it's worth telling the OP that while you don't need much math for actually being a psychiatrist, you do have to be fairly smart in math to become a doctor in general. Most medical schools require calculus as a Pre-req, and Chemistry is also fairly math heavy.

true

 

[lifeasweknowit]

thanks for all the replies!

also, i thought so about the math thing, kind of a little worthless taking all these maths and sciences that are strong in math but don't really use them while on the job... oh well.

also a residency, is that like ... an internship at your med school? I'm still very confused about residency and etc.
all i know is that there's high school, college of choice, take the mcat junior year, apply to med schools, and then you go to med school for 4 years - and i heard 2 years is classroom work while the other 2 years are like actual hands on practice?
also what is a fellowship? I've heard about them before, but the first thing that comes to my mind is a fellowship group at church, which I'm sure is not even close.

also, i heard psychiatry pay IS lower than others, but i mean i also heard the average is around eh 150-170 according to different websites, and the pay is a little more for c/a due to the shortage? not sure if this is still true now though.

 

[QuizzicalApe]

also a residency, is that like ... an internship at your med school? I'm still very confused about residency and etc.
all i know is that there's high school, college of choice, take the mcat junior year, apply to med schools, and then you go to med school for 4 years - and i heard 2 years is classroom work while the other 2 years are like actual hands on practice?

So, in your fourth year of medical school you will be applying to residency programs. You start in your residency program after you graduate medical school. You will have your MD at that point and be a doctor, but you are required to complete a residency before you can be board certified and are licensed for independent practice. You work in the field that you want to be an attending physician in and learn and learn and learn until everyone is comfortable you probably won't be responsible for too many deaths and you try to pass your specialty's board exam and then you graduate. Hopefully in that order. The length of residency varies based on specialty. I'm Internal Medicine, which is 3 years.

also what is a fellowship? I've heard about them before, but the first thing that comes to my mind is a fellowship group at church, which I'm sure is not even close.

A fellowship program is additional training in a subspecialty or focused area after residency.

Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine, and requires a fellowship program after residency if you want to do that. Same with GI, heme/onc, pulmonology/critical care, etc.

Child and adolescent psychiatry is, I think, a 2 year fellowship? And a psych residency is 4 years. For those of you playing the home game, that means you will be a certified child and adolescent psychiatrist 6 years after you graduate medical school.

I think there are some combined residency/fellowship programs that shave it down to 5 years total, but don't quote me on that. It's been a while since I've considered child and adolescent psych as a career path.

also, i heard psychiatry pay IS lower than others, but i mean i also heard the average is around eh 150-170 according to different websites, and the pay is a little more for c/a due to the shortage? not sure if this is still true now though.

Psych pay is lower than some other docs, higher than others. These are all averages, though. It'll depend on where you work, how much you work, and what you bang out in your contract. Child and adolescent is a definite pay bump up from adult psych, though.

As a general rule, though, if you want to make big money, go to less populated and less popular parts of the country. They will be desperate for qualified professionals and shell out the big bucks. If you want to live in a cool place like a major city or a beautiful climate, well, so does everyone else. Be willing to take a lower salary because of the competition.

 

[lifeasweknowit]

It all makes so much more sense now, thank you so much, I appreciate it! I am now much more knowledgable about all of this, which certainly does relieve some of the stress/ worries about all of this.

also, one last question(more like a making-sure type of question), since it doesn't matter what college you go to, what are ways to be "impressive"? obviously, high gpa, mcat, and the necessary pre med courses, what else can i do during college to make myself more impressive and a better applicant? try to volunteer at hospitals even though it might not be related to psychiatry in any way? community service hours? anything specific or is all that matters just the grades and scores?

 

[QuizzicalApe]

It all makes so much more sense now, thank you so much, I appreciate it! I am now much more knowledgable about all of this, which certainly does relieve some of the stress/ worries about all of this.

You're very welcome. Happy to help, it helps me to pass the time on my ICU shift.

also, one last question(more like a making-sure type of question), since it doesn't matter what college you go to, what are ways to be "impressive"? obviously, high gpa, mcat, and the necessary pre med courses, what else can i do during college to make myself more impressive and a better applicant? try to volunteer at hospitals even though it might not be related to psychiatry in any way? community service hours? anything specific or is all that matters just the grades and scores?

GPA/MCAT/doing well in prereqs are, like you thought, key elements.

Other important things:
1. Clinical exposure in college: This means find your way into some medical volunteering or shadowing where you get to interact with or be near patients. It gets you exposed to the realities of the medical environment and lets to sneak a peak into what you're doing. It will be effectively impossible to get this exposure in psychiatry given the delicate nature of the field, but that's fine. It 100% does not matter what field it is in. Med schools just want to get a sense that you know what you're getting into. How appealing you are to psych programs has effectively nothing to do with anything you accomplish in college, so no worries.

2. Research: Again, it doesn't matter what kind of research. You don't have to do it at all if you have no interest in research, but it does help you to look a bit more competitive.

3. Leadership: Worm your way into a leadership position of an honor society, or a club, or start a non-prophet organization, become god-king of a small european nation, etc. Another non-necessary thing that would help you to stand out. Absolutely can get into med school without this, but it's an extra piece of decorative parsley on the steak of your application.

4. Be an interesting person: Have a well-rounded life. At a certain point, interviewers get tired of asking about boring school crap and want to know what you do for fun. You should be able to tell them about your hobbies and your interests that you legitimately enjoy.

 

[JPodel]

You're very welcome. Happy to help, it helps me to pass the time on my ICU shift.



GPA/MCAT/doing well in prereqs are, like you thought, key elements.

Other important things:
1. Clinical exposure in college: This means find your way into some medical volunteering or shadowing where you get to interact with or be near patients. It gets you exposed to the realities of the medical environment and lets to sneak a peak into what you're doing. It will be effectively impossible to get this exposure in psychiatry given the delicate nature of the field, but that's fine. It 100% does not matter what field it is in. Med schools just want to get a sense that you know what you're getting into. How appealing you are to psych programs has effectively nothing to do with anything you accomplish in college, so no worries.

2. Research: Again, it doesn't matter what kind of research. You don't have to do it at all if you have no interest in research, but it does help you to look a bit more competitive.

3. Leadership: Worm your way into a leadership position of an honor society, or a club, or start a non-prophet organization, become god-king of a small european nation, etc. Another non-necessary thing that would help you to stand out. Absolutely can get into med school without this, but it's an extra piece of decorative parsley on the steak of your application.

4. Be an interesting person: Have a well-rounded life. At a certain point, interviewers get tired of asking about boring school crap and want to know what you do for fun. You should be able to tell them about your hobbies and your interests that you legitimately enjoy.

I was just stalking this thread and I wanted to say thanks QuizzicalApe for all the information! You rock! 🙂

 

[lifeasweknowit]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it so much, such helpful info that I will definitely refer back to when needed

 

[QuizzicalApe]

Please ignore my typographical errors when you refer back to it.

k thx

 

[Doudline]

First of all it's not a pediatric psychiatrist it's a child/adolescent psychiatrist. It doesn't matter what college you go to just do your required courses for med school and you will get in. Your major doesn't matter at all . I don't think you would use that much match but you still need a basic knowledge of math. Psychiatry is one of the least competitive specialties mostly because the pay isn't as good as other specialties, you barely use any medical knowledge and you don't do medical interventions. So technically yes it is easier to match in psych as opposed to derm or ortho surgery.

😕

 

[QuizzicalApe]

you barely use any medical knowledge and you don't do medical interventions.

rofl how did I not see this

Psych is less competitive because of pay and nobody wants to spend their day working with a patient population that is, well, psychiatric.

You use plenty of medical knowledge because, by virtue of being a medical field, psychiatric knowledge is medical knowledge. You'll rotate through it eventually and even take tests on it, scout's honor.

You'll even do medical interventions, using things called drugs. They're the latest craze sweeping the nation. Seem to be more effective than trepanation and exorcism combined.

 

[Cipher9422]

Man you are wayyyyyy too young to start picking specialties.

 

[Cipher9422]

also, i heard psychiatry pay IS lower than others, but i mean i also heard the average is around eh 150-170 according to different websites, and the pay is a little more for c/a due to the shortage? not sure if this is still true now though.

Again, you're putting the cart way before the horse. These are the sort of questions to ask yourself after hours and hours of experience in medical school. You can't gain a full appreciation for a field by just reading forums. Like I said before though you are too young to be thinking about this. Focus more on taking science classes in high school so you can prepare better for college. Trust me, the first year is one hell of a hard time.

 

[drcollete]

The best advice I can give you is to shadow a psychiatrist. It's easier to shadow physicians in fields such as pathology and primary care, as a lot of patients don't want a student sitting in their private sessions. However, if you get the opportunity, do it. You'll learn a lot more by seeing psychiatry in practice.