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what high school classes should I be in if I want to be a psychiatrist?
I am already going to take Biomed as my program but what extra classes help?
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6 answers
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Beth’s Answer
Maya, congratulations on taking steps to learn more about your career field. Have you explored volunteer opportunities through your school and community where you can take on peer-to-peer mentoring or volunteering at a non profit, assisted living, nursing home or chidlare setting so you can round out your academics with along having real-world examples to reference in admissions essays and to build your professional network? Another area to explore is animal shelters as shelters will also have grief groups to help others through pet loss. Wishing you well on your career journey.
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Lisa’s Answer
You should make sure you are taking classes for a college prep track. Make sure that you are focusing on math and science classes because you will be attending medical school to become a psychiatrist. If your high school offers electives in psychology, you could take those.
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Marwa’s Answer
I would recommend taking Biology, Chemistry, Psyschology, Anatomy, and advance math classes, because , they can help prepare you for becoming a Psyschiatrist.
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Michael’s Answer
I agree with these answers. You might also look at advanced credits in the sciences (think: dual enrollment, AP, IB). This will get you a head start if you choose to pursue this path as an undergrad. It will also give you a sense for how much you like the material. But they aren't strictly necessary. I also know plenty of former English and Social Sciences majors who are exceptional doctors, including in Psychiatry. They took pre-med courses in addition to their other major.
One other piece of advice: shadow if you can. You may not be able to sit in on patient sessions or hospital rounds as a high schooler, but many doctors will happily meet for coffee or answer questions about their career, including elements that might surprise you. Some programs are also designed to give high schoolers exposure (think: volunteer programs, mini rotation internships, etc.). I also know people who worked jobs as EMTs, aids, etc. while in school which also helped their experience.
One other piece of advice: shadow if you can. You may not be able to sit in on patient sessions or hospital rounds as a high schooler, but many doctors will happily meet for coffee or answer questions about their career, including elements that might surprise you. Some programs are also designed to give high schoolers exposure (think: volunteer programs, mini rotation internships, etc.). I also know people who worked jobs as EMTs, aids, etc. while in school which also helped their experience.
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Evi’s Answer
Hi Maya!
I definitely wouldn't overly stress yourself out over this just yet. I changed my mind about my career four times between senior year of high school and freshman year of college as do most people (you'd be surprised).
With that being said, I'd of course take as many advanced classes as possible in the hard sciences. Math, chemistry, biology, physics, etc. Take honors, AP, IB- whatever is available to you. It will be hard as a high-schooler but try to get some tangible exposure to the field as well. Be a secretary at a doctor's office, volunteer with elderly or veterans or some sort of underrepresented group. There are also a lot of conventions, competitions, and programs you will be eligible pre-college that you should explore.
Throughout all of this, make sure to remember that universities love to see a well-rounded person. Put great importance on the aspects above, but be sure to maintain any sports you do, instruments you play, hobbies you have, etc. They will bring you far in an application screening when its time to apply.
Good luck!
I definitely wouldn't overly stress yourself out over this just yet. I changed my mind about my career four times between senior year of high school and freshman year of college as do most people (you'd be surprised).
With that being said, I'd of course take as many advanced classes as possible in the hard sciences. Math, chemistry, biology, physics, etc. Take honors, AP, IB- whatever is available to you. It will be hard as a high-schooler but try to get some tangible exposure to the field as well. Be a secretary at a doctor's office, volunteer with elderly or veterans or some sort of underrepresented group. There are also a lot of conventions, competitions, and programs you will be eligible pre-college that you should explore.
Throughout all of this, make sure to remember that universities love to see a well-rounded person. Put great importance on the aspects above, but be sure to maintain any sports you do, instruments you play, hobbies you have, etc. They will bring you far in an application screening when its time to apply.
Good luck!
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TJ’s Answer
Since Psychiatry is more on the medical pathway, it may be helpful to look at classes such as: medical terminology and health services technology. Also, classes like psychology, sociology, and any other social sciences would be useful.