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will having a BA in psychology instead of a BS affect my career of trying to be a psychiatrist
my career goal is to be a psychiatrist but i just realized my major says BA in psychology instead of BS in psychology. will that affect my career or anything with getting into med school?
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5 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
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Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Aveyah,
Don't worry. A BA in Psychology usually will not stop you from becoming a psychiatrist. Medical schools care much more about whether you've completed their required science courses, earned good grades, and gained experience in healthcare than whether your degree is a BA or a BS.
The main thing to do is check that you've taken all the medical school prerequisites. These often include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and labs. If your BA program doesn't include all of them, you can usually add them as electives. Your academic or pre-med advisor can help you plan your courses.
A psychology degree is actually a good starting point for psychiatry. It helps you understand how people think, feel, and behave. Those skills will be useful throughout medical school and later when you're caring for patients.
I would advice you to focus less on the title of your degree and more on building a strong application. Work hard in your classes, look for volunteer or clinical opportunities, and, if possible, spend some time shadowing a doctor. These experiences will make a much bigger difference when you apply to medical school.
You're asking this question early, and that's a good thing. It gives you plenty of time to plan ahead and make sure you're meeting all the requirements. Keep working toward your goal. Becoming a psychiatrist is still very possible with a BA in Psychology.
Best wishes!
Don't worry. A BA in Psychology usually will not stop you from becoming a psychiatrist. Medical schools care much more about whether you've completed their required science courses, earned good grades, and gained experience in healthcare than whether your degree is a BA or a BS.
The main thing to do is check that you've taken all the medical school prerequisites. These often include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and labs. If your BA program doesn't include all of them, you can usually add them as electives. Your academic or pre-med advisor can help you plan your courses.
A psychology degree is actually a good starting point for psychiatry. It helps you understand how people think, feel, and behave. Those skills will be useful throughout medical school and later when you're caring for patients.
I would advice you to focus less on the title of your degree and more on building a strong application. Work hard in your classes, look for volunteer or clinical opportunities, and, if possible, spend some time shadowing a doctor. These experiences will make a much bigger difference when you apply to medical school.
You're asking this question early, and that's a good thing. It gives you plenty of time to plan ahead and make sure you're meeting all the requirements. Keep working toward your goal. Becoming a psychiatrist is still very possible with a BA in Psychology.
Best wishes!
Updated
Perry’s Answer
Hello Aveyah,
I am a Psychiatrist - MD.
The short definite answer is NO. Absolutely not. BS or BA makes no difference.
Your concern is perfectly understandable, but put it to rest.
In fact, as long as you complete all the pre-medical course requirements, take the MCAT, participate in some professor's medical research, and do some other extracurricular activities that you like, it does not matter what your undergraduate major is [and minor, if you want and if it is available at your college].
I encourage you to ask me questions if you want.
Perry
I am a Psychiatrist - MD.
The short definite answer is NO. Absolutely not. BS or BA makes no difference.
Your concern is perfectly understandable, but put it to rest.
In fact, as long as you complete all the pre-medical course requirements, take the MCAT, participate in some professor's medical research, and do some other extracurricular activities that you like, it does not matter what your undergraduate major is [and minor, if you want and if it is available at your college].
I encourage you to ask me questions if you want.
Perry
Thank you, Perry!
aveyah
Updated
Emily’s Answer
You don’t need to worry, a BA in Psychology generally won’t prevent you from becoming a psychiatrist. Medical schools are much more interested in whether you’ve completed their required prerequisite courses, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and math, than whether your degree is a BA or a BS. You’ll also need to maintain a strong GPA, gain clinical or volunteer experience, and prepare for the MCAT. If psychiatry is your goal, I’d recommend meeting with your academic advisor early to make sure you’re completing all the medical school prerequisites alongside your psychology major. Plenty of students are accepted to medical school with a BA in psychology, so your degree title alone shouldn’t hold you back.
Updated
Sijoy’s Answer
Hi Aveyah,
I understand your concern, but rest assured that having a BA in Psychology won't affect your path to becoming a psychiatrist or getting into medical school. Medical schools care more about your courses, GPA, MCAT scores, and experiences than whether your degree is a BA or BS.
Key Points:
1. Coursework is more important than the degree title. As long as you complete the needed pre-med courses like biology, chemistry, and physics, the BA or BS label won't matter.
2. Both BA and BS graduates get into medical schools. What's crucial is your academic performance, clinical experiences, and dedication to medicine.
3. To become a psychiatrist, you'll need to finish medical school (MD or DO) and a psychiatry residency. Your undergrad degree is just the beginning.
4. Strengthen your application by shadowing doctors, volunteering in healthcare, gaining research experience, and preparing well for the MCAT.
My Personal Suggestion: Your BA in Psychology is actually beneficial because it shows your understanding of human behavior and mental health, which is important in psychiatry. With your pre-med courses and future training, you will be ready for your career. Don't worry about the BA vs. BS label. Focus on gaining experiences and completing your med school prerequisites, and you will stay on track to psychiatry. Wishing you all the very best.
I understand your concern, but rest assured that having a BA in Psychology won't affect your path to becoming a psychiatrist or getting into medical school. Medical schools care more about your courses, GPA, MCAT scores, and experiences than whether your degree is a BA or BS.
Key Points:
1. Coursework is more important than the degree title. As long as you complete the needed pre-med courses like biology, chemistry, and physics, the BA or BS label won't matter.
2. Both BA and BS graduates get into medical schools. What's crucial is your academic performance, clinical experiences, and dedication to medicine.
3. To become a psychiatrist, you'll need to finish medical school (MD or DO) and a psychiatry residency. Your undergrad degree is just the beginning.
4. Strengthen your application by shadowing doctors, volunteering in healthcare, gaining research experience, and preparing well for the MCAT.
My Personal Suggestion: Your BA in Psychology is actually beneficial because it shows your understanding of human behavior and mental health, which is important in psychiatry. With your pre-med courses and future training, you will be ready for your career. Don't worry about the BA vs. BS label. Focus on gaining experiences and completing your med school prerequisites, and you will stay on track to psychiatry. Wishing you all the very best.
Your advice was so helpful!
aveyah
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
No problem, there are many accepted into medical school with BA and not BS undergraduate degrees. As long as you have taken (and done well in) the required pre-medical courses and meet the other admission requirements (MCAT, good GPA, clinical and research exposure, etc.) you should be fine to apply to medical schools. Best of luck on an exciting career!
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
aveyah