The path for psychiatry
4 January 2010 - 1:03pm
Since coming to BYU I have developed an interest and growing love for the field of psychology. However I feel that I want to apply to medical school and become a psychiatrist instead of a clinical psychologist, mainly because I feel I would have a better ability to treat my future patients with both psychotherapy as well as with medications if necessary. Is the psychology major the best major for me to choose if I want to become a psychiatrist? It seems most people applying to med school are chemistry or biology majors, and I don't want to be left behind in med school or while taking the MCAT because I didn't major in one of the more conventional sciences. At the same time, I have a major problem with psychiatrists going through medical school and not getting a good education or substantial experience in the practice of psychotherapy, which is why I am trying so hard to get into medical school as a psychology major.
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As long as you have a solid background in the sciences you need for the MCAT (organic chemistry, general chemistry, biology, and physics), your applications will not be affected by your undergraduate major. In fact, most medical schools like to see applicants who major in something other than the usual chemistry or biology. In medical school, not everyone will have had exactly the same coursework - some will have taken anatomy or biochemistry, while others will not - so you will not be at a big disadvantage if you haven't devoted your whole life to the natural sciences. The coursework in medical school is designed such that both science and non-science majors can handle it. If you want to be able to combine psychotherapeutical approaches with psychiatric care, I absolutely recommend studying psychology during your undergraduate years.