emilsinclair9

Before I post regarding my confusion, I'm going to point out that I know very little about grad school and upper division work. Currently I'm at a CC in California, and I am going to be a Junior at a UC (either Davis, SD, or LA) in Fall 2010.

Basically if I were to get in to all 3 schools (I have TAG for Davis and SD), I would be:

Davis - Psych major
UCSD - Human Development major
UCLA - Psych major/phil alt. major

Personally, between Davis and SD, I prefer San Diego. However, I wouldn't be a Psych Major, I would be a Human Development Major due to the pre'reqs I have and haven't completed. Thus, essentially my question boils down to this:

I intend to become a psychiatrist as a career, does my major (Psych or Human Dev.) matter all that much? My counselor told me that I could major in Human Dev, and then get my Master's in Psychology, but I've learned to be skeptical with advice from my school's counselors by now. Does anyone know if this is true?

Also, when applying to Grad School, does the prestige of the university factor in very much? For example, if I received a 3.8 at UCLA or if I received a 3.8 at UCD, would UCLA be looked upon much more favorably? What about if I were to get a 3.6 at UCLA and a 3.8 at UCD?

I'm just trying to understand how the grad school process works, and what I need to do to become a clinical psychiatrist. I intend to eventually get my ph.D. Does this mean I need to go pre-med? Sorry for all the questions, I am just very confused.

If anyone could help me out that would be fantastic! Thanks.

Ramhammer

If you want to be a psychiatrist you need an MD, not a Phd. Your major doesn't matter if you're going to med school.

iambeowulf710

psychiatrists need a medical degree... i think ur talking about a psychologist (they generally make significantly less money than psychiatrists)

iTransfer

Yes you have to fulfill the same pre-med requirements as anyone else going to medical school if you want to become a psychiatrist. I would get a start on it now if you haven't so.

emilsinclair9

How could I get a start on it now? By that, I mean is there any website where I could see the requirements and/or classes I could take to get a start on medical school requirements now?

I've taken: Human Biology, General Principles of Biology, and Elementary Chemistry (all of which are UC transferrable) what else should I take in the future to get ahead?

In response to iambeowulf, I am actually trying to become a psychiatrist, however, I was so confused with the process and requirements that it probably seemed as if I was gearing towards becoming a psychologist. I'm sorry for the confusion.

Also, sorry for all the questions, but I have one more. I'm wondering what GPA is competitive to get in to some of the top grad schools for an MD (Stanford/Harvard/Yale)? If I had a 3.8 after 4 years of college would that be low or solid? What can I do to improve my chances and make myself as competitive as possible.

Thanks for the help guys, and please let me know what I can do to get a head start on my MD.

CCCpremed

As another pre-med person let me try to enlighten you.

If you want to get into the very tops schools, a 3.8 probably won't cut it. However, you will be competitive at all but the most elite institutions.

Here are the medical school pre-reqs (major does not matter at all):
1 year college math (must include 1 semester calc), some schools also require stats.
1- general bio w/ lab
1 year general chem w/ lab
1 year physics w/ lab
1 year ochem (unsure if there is a lab with this)
1 year English.

If you are wanting to get into a top md school, you need to do research. Also, for any md school you need 100+ hours of hospital volunteer ad quite a few hours of shadowing a physician.

emilsinclair9

CCC thanks so much. I intend to do alot of independent research and have already completed the math, general bio, and english requirements.

This advice actually came at the perfect time because I am selecting my classes for next semester tonight. Thanks again.

CCCpremed

Glad I could be of service . Just to forewarn you, some med schools look down at prereqs taken at the CC. There is really no way of knowing how much it effects emissions, and if it really does. So you may want to look into taking some of them after you transfer.

If you go to almost any hospital's website, they will have information about how to get involved in volunteering. Doing some sooner rather than later might be a good idea for you, seeing as you don't seem to know a whole lot about the process and I'm guessing possibly the profession?

emilsinclair9

No, I think I understand a fair amount about the profession. Psychiatrists administer prescription drugs to patients with psychological disorders. I would gear toward child and adolescent psychiatry. << However, that is always subject to change over time.

Anyways, I've done over 100 hours of community service at an Elderly Assisted Living Center, but I'm not sure if that is worth anything if they are looking for specific hospital service. Regardless, I'll do my best to get started on some volunteer work at a hospital right away.

So essentially, I think what I am planning on doing is fulfilling my premed requirements to get in to med school, having completed them primarily at a university, and I intend to major in Psychology. Now let's say that I complete my premed requirements and apply to med school, can I also apply for Master's Programs in Psychology for Grad School in case I decide to not go to med school? I'm just trying to give myself the most options. I initially wanted my ph.D in Psychology, but after realizing how much more money and options psychiatrists have, this seems like a more appropriate path.

So can I apply to Med School and Grad School? And then pending if/where I get in select which route I want to go? Thanks again for all the help!

CCCpremed

I see no reason why you couldn't apply to both. However, I don't know the first thing about psych grad school pre-reqs. For Child & Adolescent psychiatrist you will need to do 4 years of md schools, followed by 3 years of psych residency, followed by 3 year years of fellowship. Just so you understand what your getting yourself into.

emilsinclair9

So, if I am understanding you correctly, after I receive my Bachelor's I am going to have to take another 10 years of school? 4 at med school, 3 psych residency, and 3 fellowship. Wow, to be honest, I wasn't expecting that heavy a schedule. However, I do enjoy school and I especially enjoy learning about psychology and the Social Sciences. My interest in the Life Sciences is significantly less, but still fairly notable.

Just so I'm clear, what is the distinction between the psych residency and fellowship? Sorry again for being so clueless, I just don't know who to ask these questions to. My counselors are....well let's not go there. Anyways, any information on the residency would be great. Is it paid or unpaid? What does it typically entail? And the same questions go for the fellowship.

Also, does anyone know if it is easier to get in to Harvard med school or as a grad student gearing for a Master's in Psychology? I figure this will probably be a ridiculous reach, but I'm curious to know anyways just so that I'll know where I stand and what my best options are after graduating with my Bachelor's.

CCCpremed

No worries, asking questions is good.

Residency is more hands on training in your specialty of choice ( psychiatry, in your case), the majority of your time will be spent treating patients and you will rotate between various hospitals associated with your university as well as clinics. Residency in general in notorious for long hours. Luckily for you, psych has a fairly easy residency ( only 50-60 hours per week), compared to something like surgery that routinely has 100+ hours per week. It is paid, though the average res. salary is in the 40ks.

After residency one becomes a fully licensed psychiatrist and one ca either choose to begin practicing medicine or gain additional training by entering into a fellowship. There are various fellowships in psychiatry: child adolescent, addiction medicine, forensics, to name a few. Fellowships are generally 3 years (at least child adolescent is) and is similar to residency with a bit higher pay (around 60 g's a year).

Luckily, psychiatry is one of the easiest residencies to get into. Also, the starting salary of a child & ad. specialist is about 150k, and they are in very high demand so you won't have any trouble landing a job you like.
It is important to keep in mind that alot of people enter medical school sure they are going to do one thing, and end up doing something completely different.

As far as grad school goes, I honestly don't really know anything, but here is a link:Psychology - The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Hope that answers your questions, if you have anymore, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them!

Little_Duck

sorry to hi jack

Does it matter when you completed your volunteering? I did like 100+ hours in the emergency room but that was back in like 2007 when I was still in high school. Does that not count anymore?

BPkid101

in california are the averages the same? because if you're seriously telling me a resident only makes 40k.. WOW... and I thought fellowships would do better than 60? I am aware of psychiatrists making a lot though, they are in short supply and high demand.
the only thing that kept me from pursuing something like that is the looming healthcare overhaul. the system is broken and things will change soon enough.
psychiatry does seem quite interesting though, watching the effects of different pills on people watching them change over time as a result.


oh and to put my shock into perspective.... as a computer salesman i made 65k gross in one year.
not going to say my current wagerate, but here is another shocker... your local AT&T/Verizon sales reps make 70-80k per year, they do a lot of overtime though, but then again so do residents.

so I ask again, is that figure seriously correct?

Ramhammer

You have to remember how much you will be making when you actually start practicing.