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How do I achieve my goal of becoming a psychiatrist within the time period of nine years or less? What can I do in order to gain more knowledge about my career path and what tools will I use to help me?
I have always been intrigued about the human psyche and behavior which is why this career path is so special to me. It will hopefully help me see the perspective of others and educate people on the knowledge that I have acquired in order to spread awareness about certain types of mental health disorders.
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Jennifer’s Answer
If you're focusing on the educational aspect and not the residency, 9 years for undergrad and medical school is definitely doable. First, build a strong relationship with your academic advisor. They will guide you towards your goals and help you choose the right classes, so you don't waste time on unnecessary ones. Advisors can also help plan your schedule, keeping future courses in mind, especially since some classes have prerequisites or are only available at certain times.
Stay mindful of burnout. It's important not to overload yourself in an attempt to speed things up. You'll reach your goals—take time to enjoy the journey.
Stay mindful of burnout. It's important not to overload yourself in an attempt to speed things up. You'll reach your goals—take time to enjoy the journey.
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Alexander’s Answer
The typical path to psychiatry looks something like this:
- 4 years of undergraduate
-4 years of medical school
-4 years of psychiatry residency
-(optional) 1-2 years of fellowship
This isn't a trivial path. Medical school acceptance rates are very low and schools can be selective and picky. Residency applications are also somewhat competitive, although psychiatry is not currently one of the more selective specialties. Keep in mind that to practice psychiatry you will have yo get through medical school, which means getting through the other parts of medicine you may not enjoy like surgery, OBGYN, etc.
To clarify, do you want to be a psychiatrist or a psychologist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in treating psychiatric illnesses, usually with medications. Psychiatrists don'tdo much in the way of talk therapy but they get some training on it. A psychologist is someone who primarily uses talk therapy to treat patients with psychological issues. Psychologists don't have to go to medical school but they do get a graduate degree, either a PhD or PsyD, or else get a master's in social work and then get the license necessary to provide counseling (also called an LCSW). This is an easier path to accomplish than going to medical school, though it's definitely not without challenges.
- 4 years of undergraduate
-4 years of medical school
-4 years of psychiatry residency
-(optional) 1-2 years of fellowship
This isn't a trivial path. Medical school acceptance rates are very low and schools can be selective and picky. Residency applications are also somewhat competitive, although psychiatry is not currently one of the more selective specialties. Keep in mind that to practice psychiatry you will have yo get through medical school, which means getting through the other parts of medicine you may not enjoy like surgery, OBGYN, etc.
To clarify, do you want to be a psychiatrist or a psychologist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in treating psychiatric illnesses, usually with medications. Psychiatrists don'tdo much in the way of talk therapy but they get some training on it. A psychologist is someone who primarily uses talk therapy to treat patients with psychological issues. Psychologists don't have to go to medical school but they do get a graduate degree, either a PhD or PsyD, or else get a master's in social work and then get the license necessary to provide counseling (also called an LCSW). This is an easier path to accomplish than going to medical school, though it's definitely not without challenges.