New Student Advice

[DebbieNicole]

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Hello all. I'm a 27 yr old that's closed her business to return to school and pursue a career as.... a doctor? LOL. I'm laughing because the task of such seems rediculous to do at 27. However, I'm doing it. I begin my first year of college Jan. 12 2009! I made my major Biology and I know that I want to go into psychiatry...

I've read through some of the forum postings in various threads and found that many students begin to prepare themselves for this path in high school. Well, I have no more time than now to begin and I hate the thought of being 4 years away from now, thinking, "If only I did______" fill in the blank.

If you could offer advice to new undergraduates who want to persue a medical career in psychiatry, what would it be.

Quotes, study tips, reading, suggested schools... all welcomed. 🙂

 

[Doc Samson]

Hello all. I'm a 27 yr old that's closed her business to return to school and pursue a career as.... a doctor? LOL. I'm laughing because the task of such seems rediculous to do at 27. However, I'm doing it. I begin my first year of college Jan. 12 2009! I made my major Biology and I know that I want to go into psychiatry...

I've read through some of the forum postings in various threads and found that many students begin to prepare themselves for this path in high school. Well, I have no more time than now to begin and I hate the thought of being 4 years away from now, thinking, "If only I did______" fill in the blank.

If you could offer advice to new undergraduates who want to persue a medical career in psychiatry, what would it be.

Quotes, study tips, reading, suggested schools... all welcomed. 🙂

Don't just limit yourself to science classes (or psychology classes). My English lit classes probably prepared me as well for psychiatry as much as anything else.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Don't just limit yourself to science classes (or psychology classes). My English lit classes probably prepared me as well for psychiatry as much as anythign else.

haven't started psychiatry yet but I concur. Lit, history, philosophy, and history of science were probably the most important courses I took in helping to differentiate me from the masses. Introduction to psych was pretty helpful, but a lot of my psychology coursework was actually cognitive psych, which isn't helpful. I majored in neuroscience, which didn't help as much as you think it would school wise, but it helps make you sound smart.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

Life is what prepared me for psychiatry. I know many residents that just have not lived much beyond books and that just seem to miss the nuances of a good interview, knowing that sometimes the stuff that is not said is more informative than the words a patient is saying.

Your focus, at this point, needs to be about doing well and preparing to get into medical school. Do well in the sciences, get a strong GPA and gain some exposure to medical profession.

Good luck.

 

[ogrady72]

i was in a pretty similar situation as you. i started taking my prerequisites at 27 and started med school at 28. it's not at all ridiculous, and i wasn't even the oldest person in my class.

having been out of school for awhile it was tough for me adjusting to the volume of material. but then again everybody was stressed out so this probably isn't specific to "older" students. med school is incredibly demanding, its hard to explain or understand until you've been through it. i've always felt that if i had started any younger i wouldn't have been committed enough to make it through and if i were any older i wouldn't have had the strength.

 

[notdeadyet]

I'm a 27 yr old that's closed her business to return to school and pursue a career as.... a doctor? LOL. I'm laughing because the task of such seems rediculous to do at 27. However, I'm doing it. I begin my first year of college Jan. 12 2009! I made my major Biology and I know that I want to go into psychiatry...

You'll graduate at 31-32 and start medical school at 33 or 34. There will be people older than you at any medical school you go to. I'll be 39 when I graduate and won't be the oldest at mine.

I agree with the others about majors. Study what you love. Take the basic core of science classes needed to do well on the MCAT but major in something that interests you. I'm biased, but I think a broad, liberal arts education with a focus in a subject that you are passionate about better prepares you medicine than a particular single major.

Only advice regarding schools: go to the cheapest nationally respected school you can. If going to a top 50 public school instead of a top 30 private school will save you $150K, do it.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

You'll graduate at 31-32 and start medical school at 33 or 34. There will be people older than you at any medical school you go to. I'll be 39 when I graduate and won't be the oldest at mine.

I agree with the others about majors. Study what you love. Take the basic core of science classes needed to do well on the MCAT but major in something that interests you. I'm biased, but I think a broad, liberal arts education with a focus in a subject that you are passionate about better prepares you medicine than a particular single major.

Only advice regarding schools: go to the cheapest nationally respected school you can. If going to a top 50 public school instead of a top 30 private school will save you $150K, do it.

Words to live by.

I was 28 starting grad school, 33 as an MS1, and 37 as a PGY1.
I also started the whole process with ZERO undergraduate debt, because I went to my state's public university instead of a "top 10" private school (though in all sincerity I could have gone anywhere I wanted).

Presitige is way overrated, fiscal solvency way underrated.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Words to live by.

I was 28 starting grad school, 33 as an MS1, and 37 as a PGY1.
I also started the whole process with ZERO undergraduate debt, because I went to my state's public university instead of a "top 10" private school (though in all sincerity I could have gone anywhere I wanted).

Presitige is way overrated, fiscal solvency way underrated.

Or you can have your parents pay for your fancy big name undergrad instead.

Granted wtih tuition inflation far outstripping everything else I am cringing at the prospect of doing the same for my children. My lil bro is 4 years younger than me and my parents are pretty much being raped by hi tuition. *blech*

 

[notdeadyet]

Presitige is way overrated, fiscal solvency way underrated.

Amen to that. Obsession with where to go to undergrad is healthy before you go. But a few years in the workforce and no one will care. In fact, anyone who does should be viewed with suspicion.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Other benefits to going to the nearest public BCS school:

1) No one will ever resent you for where you went to school, unless its for something that actually matters, like college basketball or football.

2) People will eternally be surprised that you're as smart/interesting as they are. And all without a trust fund!

3) Classes will be infinitely easier. There are a lot of stupid people at major state universities that think they are going to med school. It's awesome. And, because it's so big, there are a lot of really smart people too. So you'll have good peers, but plenty of dead weight to pull down the curve. Best of all possible worlds!

 

[DebbieNicole]

Other benefits to going to the nearest public BCS school:

1) No one will ever resent you for where you went to school, unless its for something that actually matters, like college basketball or football.

2) People will eternally be surprised that you're as smart/interesting as they are. And all without a trust fund!

3) Classes will be infinitely easier. There are a lot of stupid people at major state universities that think they are going to med school. It's awesome. And, because it's so big, there are a lot of really smart people too. So you'll have good peers, but plenty of dead weight to pull down the curve. Best of all possible worlds!

I currently attend a small private university in a poor neighborhood... LOL. It's not very fancy, but I do like my school. I don't know what else I would major in aside if not biology....psychology maybe...? I'm kinda interested in that. Are there many psychology majors in med school studying psychiatry???