New Member: Interested In Psychiatry

[louied91]

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As of right now I am 20. I'm almost done with my AA because I messed around for a year and some. Currently going through Pre-Med for AA and Biology for BS, then med school. If anyone has any advice for me as I go through school and pursuing a career down this path, I would love to hear it.
I got some time to figure it out right now and I do not mind going out of state. Are there any school recommendations you would give for this career?

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Just focus on what you need to do to get into medical school.
There's really not a whole lot of significant difference between medical schools when it comes to getting you into a psychiatry residency.

 

[firedoor]

I got some time to figure it out right now and I do not mind going out of state. Are there any school recommendations you would give for this career?

Politely, sharpen your grammar. A skillful use of English will help to propel you in any profession which you choose.

 

[Bartelby]

Just focus on what you need to do to get into medical school.
There's really not a whole lot of significant difference between medical schools when it comes to getting you into a psychiatry residency.

Yep, you have to take it one step at a time. Your job right now is to plan when you will take your prereqs (for instance, orgo will need to come after general chemistry so gen chem should be in your immediate future in order to take the MCAT at the end of third year). With that barebones outline in mind, your next job is to get good grades in college (As and Bs with more As than Bs, especially in prereqs, science, and math). That will be the upcoming semester. Other things like doing well on the MCAT and applying to medical school will all be easier if you focus on the step in front of you right now.

It's a cliche but it's true: this is a marathon, not a sprint! Don't burn yourself out, do well, and importantly have fun, college rocks!

For study advice I find a lot of what I have seen here to be pretty insightful: http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/03/27/what-the-hell-is-study-hacks/. This guy will probably leave you less stressed and doing better than many of the highly neurotic people in pre-allo.

 

[louied91]

I have some time to figure it out right now and I do not mind going out of state. Are there any school recommendations you would give for this career?

There you go, fire.

Yep, you have to take it one step at a time. Your job right now is to plan when you will take your prereqs (for instance, orgo will need to come after general chemistry so gen chem should be in your immediate future in order to take the MCAT at the end of third year). With that barebones outline in mind, your next job is to get good grades in college (As and Bs with more As than Bs, especially in prereqs, science, and math). That will be the upcoming semester. Other things like doing well on the MCAT and applying to medical school will all be easier if you focus on the step in front of you right now.

It's a cliche but it's true: this is a marathon, not a sprint! Don't burn yourself out, do well, and importantly have fun, college rocks!

For study advice I find a lot of what I have seen here to be pretty insightful: http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/03/27/what-the-hell-is-study-hacks/. This guy will probably leave you less stressed and doing better than many of the highly neurotic people in pre-allo.

Thanks, Bart. Appreciate the advice. I'm taking general chemistry this fall with the lab.

 

[digitlnoize]

As of right now I am 20. I'm almost done with my AA because I messed around for a year and some. Currently going through Pre-Med for AA and Biology for BS, then med school. If anyone has any advice for me as I go through school and pursuing a career down this path, I would love to hear it.
I got some time to figure it out right now and I do not mind going out of state. Are there any school recommendations you would give for this career?

Agree with all the above advice. Don't worry about "messing around" for a year...I messed around for about 10 years, so you're not behind by a long shot.

Keep in mind that most med students change their field of interest (sometimes many times) before the end of this process.

Get great grades, prep very well for the MCAT (love exam crackers audio), and start volunteering and getting tons of medical experience now. If you can get a job as a scribe in an ER, I'd highly recommend it. Devour SDN, especially the forums at your level (Pre-Med) and the level above (Allo, Osteo Students).

Good Luck!

 

[louied91]

Agree with all the above advice. Don't worry about "messing around" for a year...I messed around for about 10 years, so you're not behind by a long shot.

Keep in mind that most med students change their field of interest (sometimes many times) before the end of this process.

Get great grades, prep very well for the MCAT (love exam crackers audio), and start volunteering and getting tons of medical experience now. If you can get a job as a scribe in an ER, I'd highly recommend it. Devour SDN, especially the forums at your level (Pre-Med) and the level above (Allo, Osteo Students).

Good Luck!

Thank You! I would actually love to get a job as a scribe. It's very hard to leave the current job I have, though. It is part of the reason I'm staying in the state college I attend, rather a university, until I get my bachelor's degree.