Psychiatry: Interview Suicide?

[pageantry]

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Hey guys, I just need an opinion. I really love psychiatry and I'm afraid to let it show.

My application is packed with hours and LORs from people at a top psychiatric residency program (where I did research in neuropsych), and psych-related volunteering, including in underserved communities. I even have a big chunk of psych leadership. Hell, I volunteer in this field for fun even when I know better than to count the hours (looking at you, Horizons: Medicine and Psychedelics conference). And the mind/BODY aspect of psych is what most excites me--I don't want to be a psychologist. Hospice was what initially made me sure I wanted to pursue medicine.

But I was told early on that saying you're interested in psych in interviews is a massive alarm bell. So I have sort of downplayed it, focusing instead on my interest in rural primary care (also legitimate, but not my true heart.)

What do you guys think? Given all the time I've put into it and the obvious slant of my app, is psych still a potential red flag? And is it worth the risk of being marginalized if talking psych lets me show my passion?

 

[DocWinter]

Who gave you take advice? Not sure how alarming an interest in psych is...it's a high-demand field that is underserved.
Anyway, it's fine to have interests and goals when applying and talking to schools in interviews. It's totally fine to have any singular medical specialty (that I can think of) be your motivating force; just keep it all in context that you will probably/maybe change your mind in 3rd/4th year or find something that stimulates you even more.

Share your interest, but keep it low-key. Admissions will probably fault you more for being all-out about a specialty before getting in than they will on any single specialty. Expressing an interest is totally fine.

 

[futuremdforme]

I've heard that too. I did downplay it but I emphasized an interest in mental and physical health through primary care. It worked. 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

Psych is an important field.
An interest in it is a plus.

 

[pageantry]

Thanks for your responses, guys. I'm definitely still open and excited about learning about lots of fields. This will help me relax a bit more in interviews tho.

 

[wagonwheel23]

An admissions dean at an interview explicitly asked me if I had any thoughts about specialities, which he acknowledged could change but was curious to know any thoughts I've had. I said psychiatry and explained why (close friend is attending psychiatrist, mental health is stigmatized, close work w/ people). His eyes lit up and he spoke passionately about how people don't fully understand the importance of mental health for total body health.

I'd say it went over well.

 

[pageantry]

An admissions dean at an interview explicitly asked me if I had any thoughts about specialities, which he acknowledged could change but was curious to know any thoughts I've had. I said psychiatry and explained why (close friend is attending psychiatrist, mental health is stigmatized, close work w/ people). His eyes lit up and he spoke passionately about how people don't fully understand the importance of mental health for total body health.

I'd say it went over well.

Yes!

And there's so much cool stuff to think about and study in mind/body medicine. I have been drinking red wine and am realizing just in time that this is an anecdote you are telling and not an opportunity for us to bond. BUT IT'S STILL SO GOOD.

(Also a sociopolitical issue! Okay I'll stop!)

 

[wagonwheel23]

You and I both interviewed at this school so perhaps if we marticulate we can totally geek out about it!

 

[pageantry]

Man, here's to that.