2 answers
Deacon
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
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What should an aspiring psychiatrist expect college workloads to be like?
How intensive should I expect college classes and workloads to be, and how much would a doctorate cost?
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2 answers
Kess French
Medical Student
109
Answers
Updated
Kess’s Answer
Hello Deacon!
You've asked some fantastic questions! The answer, though, isn't as straightforward as you might hope - it largely depends on various factors.
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine, so you'll need to attend medical school. But let's not get ahead of ourselves! For your undergraduate studies, it's advisable to be a full-time student, which typically means taking more than 12 credits per semester. With discipline, you can handle up to 15-18 credits. Many students balance part-time jobs alongside their studies. Here's a helpful tip: study subjects you love, but also make sure you're covering the necessary classes for your degree and pre-med requirements. You'll find that many of these classes overlap, so with careful planning, it won't necessarily cost more. If you're on a scholarship or receiving financial aid, prioritize essential classes and sprinkle in electives when possible. Medical schools appreciate well-rounded students, not just those focused solely on science.
The coursework for medical school is challenging, to say the least. Your university will likely have a roadmap that outlines the required courses and spaces out the more demanding ones. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to take Biochemistry concurrently with Anatomy and Physiology, labs, and other difficult classes. Usually, two rigorous science classes with labs are sufficient.
As for the cost, medical school in Minnesota is comparatively affordable, around $32,000 per year. Sounds like a lot, right? But it's actually quite reasonable. Most medical students can't maintain a job due to the workload. There are several programs available to help with tuition or even offer free medical education, like military or public health service programs. Just to give you an idea, a full-time undergraduate student takes 12 or more credits per semester, while a typical medical school semester consists of 25 or more credits. That's quite a load!
But don't let this intimidate you. Remember, every practicing doctor has been through this journey, and so can you!
YOU'VE GOT THIS!!! Best of luck, and remember to hit the books hard!
You've asked some fantastic questions! The answer, though, isn't as straightforward as you might hope - it largely depends on various factors.
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine, so you'll need to attend medical school. But let's not get ahead of ourselves! For your undergraduate studies, it's advisable to be a full-time student, which typically means taking more than 12 credits per semester. With discipline, you can handle up to 15-18 credits. Many students balance part-time jobs alongside their studies. Here's a helpful tip: study subjects you love, but also make sure you're covering the necessary classes for your degree and pre-med requirements. You'll find that many of these classes overlap, so with careful planning, it won't necessarily cost more. If you're on a scholarship or receiving financial aid, prioritize essential classes and sprinkle in electives when possible. Medical schools appreciate well-rounded students, not just those focused solely on science.
The coursework for medical school is challenging, to say the least. Your university will likely have a roadmap that outlines the required courses and spaces out the more demanding ones. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to take Biochemistry concurrently with Anatomy and Physiology, labs, and other difficult classes. Usually, two rigorous science classes with labs are sufficient.
As for the cost, medical school in Minnesota is comparatively affordable, around $32,000 per year. Sounds like a lot, right? But it's actually quite reasonable. Most medical students can't maintain a job due to the workload. There are several programs available to help with tuition or even offer free medical education, like military or public health service programs. Just to give you an idea, a full-time undergraduate student takes 12 or more credits per semester, while a typical medical school semester consists of 25 or more credits. That's quite a load!
But don't let this intimidate you. Remember, every practicing doctor has been through this journey, and so can you!
YOU'VE GOT THIS!!! Best of luck, and remember to hit the books hard!
Gregory Barclay, M.D., DLFAPA, FASAP
Psychiatrist
24
Answers
Wilmington, Delaware
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
Deacon,
All psychiatrists in the USA have to get accepted to medical school before they can get into a residency program to become a psychiatrist. Residency training positions are paid positions, so they don't cost you money, but of course, medical school is a significant cost to most, often more than $100,000 for four years, even if you went as an in state student to one of the Minnesota public medical schools (which are highly regarded, incidentally). Ways to cut down on the costs are avaialable, for example, joining the national health service corps or the military are options, also obtaining a scholarship from a rural community in exchange for agreeing to work and practice there after residency. You would just need to explore those. However, most students borrow money and then make plans to gradually repay their loans after they leave residency, or find jobs after residency that offer "loan forgiveness" in exchange for agreeing to practice there. Many jobs offer this option. So, I don't think you should worry too much about this.
As to college workload, you want to take varied classes and make good grades in all of them, but in particular in the core pre med science classes. Since medical school is academically tough, it is also good to demonstrate that you are able to do well taking 18-21 credit hours per semester if possible. You may need to work up to that but it says something to have a good GPA with 21 hours per semester vs. a good GPA taking 12 hours per semester.
Demonstrating a wide variety of interests and skills via your college classload is important to medical school admission committees. Being involved in student organizations and in leadership roles is also important. There is no requirement that you major in science either. I majored in music, for example, and the admission committee was very interested in knowing I had composed several compositions already while a college student! So, major in something you are interested in and want to learn more about. You may decide you want to go that direction in the end instead of going to medical school as interests change as you grow and experience college! In other words, don't box yourself in, don't put your eggs in one basket, and don't limit yourself. College happens only once, so have fun and learn a lot while there!
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Greg
All psychiatrists in the USA have to get accepted to medical school before they can get into a residency program to become a psychiatrist. Residency training positions are paid positions, so they don't cost you money, but of course, medical school is a significant cost to most, often more than $100,000 for four years, even if you went as an in state student to one of the Minnesota public medical schools (which are highly regarded, incidentally). Ways to cut down on the costs are avaialable, for example, joining the national health service corps or the military are options, also obtaining a scholarship from a rural community in exchange for agreeing to work and practice there after residency. You would just need to explore those. However, most students borrow money and then make plans to gradually repay their loans after they leave residency, or find jobs after residency that offer "loan forgiveness" in exchange for agreeing to practice there. Many jobs offer this option. So, I don't think you should worry too much about this.
As to college workload, you want to take varied classes and make good grades in all of them, but in particular in the core pre med science classes. Since medical school is academically tough, it is also good to demonstrate that you are able to do well taking 18-21 credit hours per semester if possible. You may need to work up to that but it says something to have a good GPA with 21 hours per semester vs. a good GPA taking 12 hours per semester.
Demonstrating a wide variety of interests and skills via your college classload is important to medical school admission committees. Being involved in student organizations and in leadership roles is also important. There is no requirement that you major in science either. I majored in music, for example, and the admission committee was very interested in knowing I had composed several compositions already while a college student! So, major in something you are interested in and want to learn more about. You may decide you want to go that direction in the end instead of going to medical school as interests change as you grow and experience college! In other words, don't box yourself in, don't put your eggs in one basket, and don't limit yourself. College happens only once, so have fun and learn a lot while there!
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Greg