Med school vs. Grad school program

[MedChic]

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Hey there,
I'm currently applying to med schools, but recently I have been having doubts continuing to pursue medicine. I was a Psych major in college and really loved my classes, but I always saw myself attending medical school following undergrad.

Recently, however, I'm starting to realize that I'm not sure I want to continue with med school - some of these doubts include a grueling work schedule during residency, lawsuits, insurance issues, hands on clinical skills etc. I've always wanted to work with kids and I know I can become a child psychiatrist with the path I am now on, but I'm beginning to feel that child or school psychology may be a better option. I want to focus on relating to kids in therapy and not just in medicating them and I feel that the more I learn about the field of medicine the less I want to be in it.

Was anyone out there pre-med before pursuing a graduate degree in psych; what path did you take? And what finalized your decision to do so?
Are you happy you changed your mind?

 

[paramour]

Recently, however, I'm starting to realize that I'm not sure I want to continue with med school - some of these doubts include a grueling work schedule during residency, lawsuits, insurance issues, hands on clinical skills etc.

You are highly likely to run into the same concerns w/ grad school, so I would not make your decision based upon the assumption that you will have a less grueling work schedule, fewer lawsuits, fewer problems w/ insurance, clinical skills, etc. And, some advice: Don't tell grad schools that you're applying there b/c med school seemed like too much work. You'll screw yourself over before you even get started.

Was anyone out there pre-med before pursuing a graduate degree in psych; what path did you take? And what finalized your decision to do so? Are you happy you changed your mind?

There are a number of us who considered med school or completed pre-med courses before pursuing graduate study. However, only you can determine whether grad school is the right pathway for yourself. I am perfectly happy where I am for the time being, but that also doesn't prevent me (or others) from going back to pursue medical school if we so desire at some later point. Of course, we could simply be gluttons for punishment, er, mass amounts of education. 😀

 

[pingouin]

I am perfectly happy where I am for the time being, but that also doesn't prevent me (or others) from going back to pursue medical school if we so desire at some later point.

omg, who the hell would do something as stupid at THAT?

Hey there,

Recently, however, I'm starting to realize that I'm not sure I want to continue with med school - some of these doubts include a grueling work schedule during residency, lawsuits, insurance issues, hands on clinical skills etc. I've always wanted to work with kids and I know I can become a child psychiatrist with the path I am now on, but I'm beginning to feel that child or school psychology may be a better option. I want to focus on relating to kids in therapy and not just in medicating them and I feel that the more I learn about the field of medicine the less I want to be in it.

Agree with paramour- minus the residency schedule, you could still be liable to lawsuits and lots of insurance issues in psychology or social work/counseling. I'm required to maintain my own malpractice insurance policy for my private practice. Also, I work with several child/adol-trained psychiatrists, and the trend I'm seeing is that they ARE doing more therapy with their patients. They've told me that they refuse to see a patient for less than 30 minutes, b/c of the time needed to get info from the parents, the kids, assess behaviors and medications, etc etc. Somewhat different than the adult psychiatrists I work with, who are much more likely to do 15-minute med checks. You may want to do some asking around on that- it could vary by area.

Was anyone out there pre-med before pursuing a graduate degree in psych; what path did you take? And what finalized your decision to do so?
Are you happy you changed your mind?

I was premed my freshman year in college, got out and into SW, got my BSSW, my MSW, have practiced for almost 10 years, and just got accepted to med school this week. I'll turn 34 about a month after I start next year. There are too many factors to my decision to name here, but I'm very excited (and happy, and petrified, etc etc). What I can tell you is that I in no way regret the path that I took to get here, and look forward to integrating all the skills and knowledge that I've built up into my medical practice.

 

[MedChic]

omg, who the hell would do something as stupid at THAT?



Agree with paramour- minus the residency schedule, you could still be liable to lawsuits and lots of insurance issues in psychology or social work/counseling. I'm required to maintain my own malpractice insurance policy for my private practice. Also, I work with several child/adol-trained psychiatrists, and the trend I'm seeing is that they ARE doing more therapy with their patients. They've told me that they refuse to see a patient for less than 30 minutes, b/c of the time needed to get info from the parents, the kids, assess behaviors and medications, etc etc. Somewhat different than the adult psychiatrists I work with, who are much more likely to do 15-minute med checks. You may want to do some asking around on that- it could vary by area.



I was premed my freshman year in college, got out and into SW, got my BSSW, my MSW, have practiced for almost 10 years, and just got accepted to med school this week. I'll turn 34 about a month after I start next year. There are too many factors to my decision to name here, but I'm very excited (and happy, and petrified, etc etc). What I can tell you is that I in no way regret the path that I took to get here, and look forward to integrating all the skills and knowledge that I've built up into my medical practice.

wow, congrats on med school and all your accomplishments!

I have to say that I love medicine and my science classes; I'm just concerned with the condition of healthcare and all the problems associated with it here in the US, but looking at it from a different angle, I would very much like to be involved in attempting to somehow better it. I guess I just worry about making a choice that is not perfect for me, but at the same time no choice of a career is really perfect since everything has down sides.

I feel like I'm going in the right direction, but sometimes fear gets in my way and I begin to wonder if there is an easier path to the goal.

thanks for your responses guys, they were helpful

 

[michalita]

Congrats, pingouin!!!! Wow!!!

 

[michalita]

I feel like I'm going in the right direction, but sometimes fear gets in my way and I begin to wonder if there is an easier path to the goal.

Anything worth doing is difficult. Follow your passion!!

 

[pingouin]

I guess I just worry about making a choice that is not perfect for me, but at the same time no choice of a career is really perfect since everything has down sides.

I feel like I'm going in the right direction, but sometimes fear gets in my way and I begin to wonder if there is an easier path to the goal.

Very true.

I certainly understand what a emotion-sucking, time-consuming, and costly event applying to medical school is. Had you not applied yet, I might suggest taking a few years to figure out if that's really where your passion lies. With the average age of matriculants trending higher (is it at 25 now?), I doubt you'd be at any disadvantage doing that. However, I also know that if you have any acceptances this year, it would be hard to turn away from that and say "maybe in a few years" given the competitive nature of med admissions.

I also just want to throw out there- perhaps there are "easier paths to the goal", but will you be satisfied with a route you find to be less challenging?


and by the way- thanks for the congrats, guys! I'm pretty excited! 😀

 

[foreverLaur]

Hey there,
I'm currently applying to med schools, but recently I have been having doubts continuing to pursue medicine. I was a Psych major in college and really loved my classes, but I always saw myself attending medical school following undergrad.

Recently, however, I'm starting to realize that I'm not sure I want to continue with med school - some of these doubts include a grueling work schedule during residency, lawsuits, insurance issues, hands on clinical skills etc. I've always wanted to work with kids and I know I can become a child psychiatrist with the path I am now on, but I'm beginning to feel that child or school psychology may be a better option. I want to focus on relating to kids in therapy and not just in medicating them and I feel that the more I learn about the field of medicine the less I want to be in it.

Was anyone out there pre-med before pursuing a graduate degree in psych; what path did you take? And what finalized your decision to do so?
Are you happy you changed your mind?

seems to me like you have already answered your own question about which route to choose...

 

[laggunnawa]

You are highly likely to run into the same concerns w/ grad school, so I would not make your decision based upon the assumption that you will have a less grueling work schedule, fewer lawsuits, fewer problems w/ insurance, clinical skills, etc. And, some advice: Don't tell grad schools that you're applying there b/c med school seemed like too much work. You'll screw yourself over before you even get started.



There are a number of us who considered med school or completed pre-med courses before pursuing graduate study. However, only you can determine whether grad school is the right pathway for yourself. I am perfectly happy where I am for the time being, but that also doesn't prevent me (or others) from going back to pursue medical school if we so desire at some later point. Of course, we could simply be gluttons for punishment, er, mass amounts of education. 😀

i was at the same dilemna actually before i had my volunteer work as a clinical psychologist in a public hospital. i always saw myself to be working in a hospital as a general medical practitioner. but that was before.it really helps a lot to actually have works like this to atleast get a feel on it and eventually, assess what you really wanted to pursue...now, i am not yet taking my MA but hoping to start it this year but i am currently working in a rehabilitation program...

 

[zird00]

OP - this is an understandable dilemma. You will need to seek pragmatic advice beyond your computer screen to help you make a final decision. I am finishing up my MSW and have decided to pursue med school. I enjoy the flexibility of the MD more than a stricly clinical degree can offer.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Hey there,
I'm currently applying to med schools, but recently I have been having doubts continuing to pursue medicine. I was a Psych major in college and really loved my classes, but I always saw myself attending medical school following undergrad.

Recently, however, I'm starting to realize that I'm not sure I want to continue with med school - some of these doubts include a grueling work schedule during residency, lawsuits, insurance issues, hands on clinical skills etc. I've always wanted to work with kids and I know I can become a child psychiatrist with the path I am now on, but I'm beginning to feel that child or school psychology may be a better option. I want to focus on relating to kids in therapy and not just in medicating them and I feel that the more I learn about the field of medicine the less I want to be in it.

Was anyone out there pre-med before pursuing a graduate degree in psych; what path did you take? And what finalized your decision to do so?
Are you happy you changed your mind?

i think that no matter what path you take after undergrad --its gonna be difficult. I dont want to try to balance the levels of difficulty for medicine vs a Psych grad program...but im sure there will be plenty of things you end up loving and hating in each and will wish you did the other (grass is always greener right?).
i am going into medicine because i feel it is a bit more dynamic. Dynamic in the sense that you can prescribe medicine when needed. It doesnt have to be understood and doping up a child! It is just having one more tool in your tool box to help a child.
and if youre not big into clinicals, imagine everyone you encounter as a really big kid =] that may help lol
good luck