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[Maeloryne]

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Good evening everyone and Happy Thanksgiving. I am currently a Psychology major at Rowan University and had originally planned on Psychiatry. I decided, however, that medical school would be too much and therefore I am just focusing on Psychology and what I can do with it.

I cannot shake my desire to become a physician. I would love nothing more than to go onto medical school (Preferrably Rowan's "Cooper Medical School"). I am currently a Sophomore, so I'm kind of stressed thinking I have a lot to make up to catch up for medical school. I plan to keep my paychology degree because it is unique and biology is so typical; however im open to opinions. Here are a few things about me:

-Currently a Sophomore at Rowan University
-3.7 GPA
-Psychology major, would be open to changing to biology if declaring a pre-med concentration isn't enough.
-I'm on my colleges tournament tennis team.
-I work in marketing/some customer service for a highly recognized food company.
-I am part of my university's pre-med club
-I volunteered a lot my freshman year when I was looking into med school their St time, however stopped. Will be starting up again.
-Am willing to and will try to do research over summers.

Do you guys have any recommendations for me thus far? Things that maybe would boost my chances at medical school? Also any tips on how life is in medical school would be great too..

Sorry for the long post, just looking for some guidance as I'm truly thinking medical school is the path for me.

Thanks everyone and Happy Holidays!

 

[Lost in Translation]

paychology

This typo made me chuckle.

You can finish your pre reqs while doing a psych major, no problem. There's no need to switch to bio if the only reason is to try and get more overlap between requirements for the major and pre med courses. One thing I would tell my old self prior to entering UG is to major in something you're passionate about. Not that I didn't enjoy my major, but I likely would have enjoyed a different one altogether. Based on your stats and [intended] ECs, you'll be fine as long as you score above a 510 on the MCAT. Get to know your (favorite) professors intimately and they'll be able to give you great LORs.

 

[Maeloryne]

Hahahah I guess i missed that typo when I reread it!

I hope that you're right because everyone makes it seem like medical school is borderline impossible to get into if you aren't absolutely brilliant. I will never be perfect and I hope that what I am is enough.

 

[Lost in Translation]

I know an EM resident that got a B- in one of her 2 orgo classes. As long as you don't make a habit to getting B's, especially not in science courses, you'll be fine.

 

[Maeloryne]

Excellent. Thank you

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I think you'll be fine! You already have a strong GPA. No need to be a bio major unless you want to. Start working on your prereqs and getting some clinical exposure. There are lots of ways to do this: volunteering at a hospital/doctor's office/hospice/nursing home, etc. Shadow some doctors in different specialties. Maybe being a psych major will lead you to some connections with practicing psychiatrists? Perhaps your professors have connections or your school's pre-med advisor. And of course, once you've completed all of your science prereqs, make sure to devote a good chunk of time to MCAT prep.

Also, don't feel like you're running behind too much. You might even consider taking a gap year after graduation before you apply. This has become really common and is a great way to beef up your application with work/volunteering/shadowing/research.

 

[raiderette]

I am a psych major intending to specialize in psychiatry or neurology. Make sure your MCAT is stellar. Of course, you might find med management unbearable.

 

[Maeloryne]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I considered psychiatry but dont know if i could handle it emotionally.

 

[raiderette]

I worry about the same things since I love the pediatric population. Do I want a population that is broken on the molecular level (epilepsy ) or broken by people ( 5 year old raped by step father ). My mom hopes I will learn to love ENT or anesthesiology because I am so soft hearted.

 

[Maeloryne]

I worry about the cost more than anything else. Is the cost really worth it?

 

[raiderette]

The difference in academic medicine could be the same. The best patients willbe referred to the hospital.

 

[image187]

former psychology major, current psychiatry resident here. You can do anything you put your mind to, and medical school is pretty worth it. You're going to be given much advice from many different people along the way, but take everything you hear with a grain of lithium (psychiatry joke!). Psychiatry is an amazing field with a fantastic lifestyle, and if you end up going this route you'll thank yourself later, i promise.

 

[Maeloryne]

Are you confident about finding a job and paying off your debt?

 

[Maeloryne]

Also, how is life as a resident?

 

[image187]

the debt is a lot, though I am completely confident about being able to pay if off. You need to figure out what it is that you love, and that's the bottom line. Life as a resident is ok, but it's good. But life as a resident really isn't real "life" as it only lasts a finite amount of time (4-5 yrs), and being an attending is the goal