Pre-med looking for psych experience

[craigkutgolf]

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Hey all,

I applied to med school this year and was not accepted. I applied late in the cycle but my scores were decent (3.75 GPA and ~90th percentile MCAT). One of the schools I interviewed at told me they like to see students that show a strong interest in a particular field of medicine. I know that this is unusual as most schools know that students will change their aims once they go through rotations. However, I really like this school and when I applied I tried to show them my interest in psychiatry. I have family members with mental health issues and that was what originally sparked my interest in the field which is what I spoke about in my secondaries and interview. They told me that I would be a good reapplicant if I could show my interest in psych through experience.

So I am looking for ways to gain experience in psych. I am certified as a nursing assistant and I have worked on a med-surg floor as a "patient care tech" before. Are there similar positions on psych floors? I am finding it really difficult to find psych PCT jobs postings. Do you guys have any advice on how I can get psych experience?

Could I somehow follow group therapy sessions? Could I somehow volunteer in a psych setting? Any advice would be appreciated!

One of the options I am thinking of is being a "home health aid" to an elderly person. Many of these patients have multiple health issues which often includes things like anxiety. Perhaps that's a good idea?

Also, I will obviously be applying to multiple schools in the upcoming cycle but since I need something to do during my gap year I thought that gaining experience in psych would be gratifying and allow me to strengthen my app.

 

[docksan]

That will be extremely hard, you might have better luck volunteering for a psych ED or working as an intake specialist.

The sheer nature of mental health care makes shadowing a little harder than other specialties.

You can always call around.

 

[Taddy Mason]

Finding a job as Psych tech/mental health counselor/behavioral health tech/psych nurse aid or in a group home setting or volunteering are likely your best options. Harder to come by, but you could also look for jobs administering psych and neuropsych testing. If you’re in area that does psych related clinical research trials you could look for research coordinator jobs as well. Depending on your background and state you could also look for jobs at state/regional community mental health centers or in correctional facilities. Detox and inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment centers are also places to consider.

 

[craigkutgolf]

That will be extremely hard, you might have better luck volunteering for a psych ED or working as an intake specialist.

The sheer nature of mental health care makes shadowing a little harder than other specialties.

You can always call around.

That's what I was worried about. I know it's going to be difficult and if all else fails I can just go back to my PCT job. 🙁

Is there like anything at all that you think I could do?

 

[hebel]

I think it's silly for a medical school to put much weight on a student having a particular specialty of interest.

Medical school seems so disconnected from reality at times.

 

[Mass Effect]

Your best bet is to shadow in an outpatient clinic if they take med students, perhaps at a clinic affiliated with your undergrad.

I would also say now is not the time to be looking for these opportunities. Clinics and hospitals are trying to limit the number of people and are likely not going to be helpful in answering shadowing/volunteering questions right now.

Getting a paying job on a psych unit is likely not worth it in the long run. Maybe do some research instead.