psychiatry acceptance...

[squeakyuk]

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I was wondering if you're planning on becoming a psychiatrist, if adcoms know that first of all, and if they're more likely to accept you since there's a pretty high demand for them?

 

[atsai3]

I was wondering if you're planning on becoming a psychiatrist, if adcoms know that first of all, and if they're more likely to accept you since there's a pretty high demand for them?

FWIW, given that I've never sat on an adcom before, I'd say there's probably very little chance that expressing a specialty interest in your medical school application will sway an adcom's decision. Too many things change in medical school, especially during 3rd year, for any upfront stated preference to make it through unmodified.

Cheers
-AT.

 

[nortomaso]

FWIW, given that I've never sat on an adcom before, I'd say there's probably very little chance that expressing a specialty interest in your medical school application will sway an adcom's decision. Too many things change in medical school, especially during 3rd year, for any upfront stated preference to make it through unmodified.

Cheers
-AT.

Anecdotally, I announced my intention to pursue psych in both my personal statement and at my med school interview. I think it only helped me, especially since I had pursued experiences (work and voluntary) related to psychiatry. There are few students who know they want to do psych before med school, so they are likely to find you interesting and think of you as a contribution to the diversity of the student body.

 

[Antigone]

There are few students who know they want to do psych before med school, so they are likely to find you interesting and think of you as a contribution to the diversity of the student body.

I agree with nortomaso. Psychiatry is not what most people think they will pursue off the bat (myself included) and admission committees will probably be curious why you have this interest. It won't guarantee you admission by any means, but if you have insightful reasons, it could make you interesting, memorable, and a possible contributor to school diversity.

That being said, I think if you have insightful reasons why you are passionate about any field of medicine, it can only help. Go with your heart on your application!

 

[zen76]

I do sit on my medical school's admission committee, and have interviewed >200 applicants over the last 6 years. I don't care what you want to do when you're a premed, because most likely your interests will change. For example, this year I have a preponderance of female applicants who want to become orthopedic surgeons. Now, just because orthopedics is in need of more women, doesn't mean it gives these young women any extra leg up on acceptance. If psychiatry is something that interests you, talk about it. But don't be under the illusion that any interest in this, or any other specialty hinders or helps your chances at acceptance.

My 2 cents,
Zen76

 

[cleareyedguy]

I agree with zen.

While medical schools look for passion and commitment, they realize that your choice will likely change in 4 years.

One caveat. Adcom members aren't neutral. Some have a tendency to like psych, and others a tendency to either dislike it or not understand it. If you say you're going to med school to become a psychiatrist,you'd better have a good answer as to why you don't just go to psychology grad school. Further, you'd better be able to show that you are a solid student who will do the work and not be a flake or someone who plans to spend medical school trying to figure out his/her own problems.