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What is the best way to become a Psychiatrist, Is there only one route? What AP courses should you take in high school to become one and what is the best path?

I am a junior in high school struggling with course selection.

college psychology high-school pre-med psychiatry
Thank you comment icon Hey Terinn, these are all great questions but I would encourage you to post each one separately as you're more likely to receive a response that way. Often times, volunteers can get overwhelmed with multiple questions Gurpreet Lally, Admin
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Bhavna’s Answer

Hello Terinn,

There is no one single route to becoming a psychiatrist. However, the general path is to complete a bachelor's degree, preferably in a science-based or health-related field, followed by a medical degree from an accredited school. During undergraduate studies, courses in biology, anatomy, psychology, and any math- or science-based courses are important preparation for medical school.

In terms of high school, consider taking as many AP courses as possible in math and science. This includes AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Statistics and Psychology. Other important ones to consider include AP English, US History, Economics, and Sociology. Developing strong communication and writing skills are especially important for communicating with patients, so don't overlook English and writing courses.
I hope this helps . Good luck .
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Blanche’s Answer

I assume you've done your research and know that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has first completed medical school and then entered into the study of the psychiatric specialty in a residency program. So in college you'll want to take courses that are part of a pre-med program (though your major could be in any subject). With that being said, you'll want a good high school science background in order to be prepared for pre-med courses.
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Gurpreet’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team

I can't speak to your other questions but I can definitely chime in on classes to take in high school! I was a psychology major in college so I have a few suggestions:
1. AP Psychology - if your school offers it, I would highly recommend you take it now so that you can receive college credit for the intro class
2. AP Statistics - Stats is HUGE in psychology and you will most likely take a few statistics classes along the way. By starting in high school, you're preparing yourself for what is to come
3. Anatomy - You're going to want to know the ins and outs of the brain and it's processes. Anatomy really helped me with that.

I'd also look into taking classes at a community college over the summer. Often times, its free for high school students and you can get credits out the way and start taking psychology classes earlier on!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Terinn
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