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Natalie
Student
Longview, Washington
1
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how to easily become a psychiatrist in less years than normal while also knowing a lot about it
I want to become a psychiatrist and not be in my 30's or mid 30's. My goal is to try to be a young psychiatrist.
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Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1983
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Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Natalie !
Thinking about becoming a Psychiatrist is so awesome and there is a great deal to learn. In your state of Washington, it takes 12 years to become a licensed Psychiatrist. If you are 18 right now, yes, you would be in your early thirties like most other Psychiatrists when they begin. I have some advice for you because I think you may not realize the impact that Psychiatrists make and how important they are and why you need to study for 12 years to be a good, credible psychiatrist. It's a career with an enormous amount of responsibility.
You have to think of the big picture. Not only would you be working with mentally ill patients, you would also be working with patients that have developmental disabilities and cognitive disorders. You would also be working with and prescribing pharmaceutical medications for your patients. I highly advise not rushing this study, cutting corners or overloading yourself to get done in less time. Mid-thirties as an age is still young.
If you really need to cut your time in college, you could do it by considering two different careers that would also have you doing clinical therapy - Social Work or Mental Health Counselor. Both take 6 years for a Bachelors Degree, then a Masters Degree. There is a lot of information about these two careers online that should help you. Think about the reason why you want to become a Psychiatrist. Would being a Social Worker who does clinical therapy or being a counselor fulfill your purpose for going into this field ? I often hear people say they want a career in mental health because they want to help people. In the mental health field, there are a lot of times the patients aren't helped, however, and that is usual and part of what goes along in this work. So be clear with yourself as to why you want to go into psychiatry and explore the career more.
Very few people fast-track medical school, so much so that there are no statistics for it. It is the same for Bachelors Degrees - so low that there are no statics for it and some universities have phased out their quick track due to low enrollment. Many years ago when I was a student, fast tracking for a Bachelors Degree was not a thing - it was unheard of. I think I'd have felt as though I would have been slighted if I did it. I would feel as though I had to cram way too much information in less time. But you are the one who has to decide what to do and it's best to get advice for it. I would not recommend fast tracking for any medical career, let alone becoming a Psychiatric doctor.
So look further into mental health careers that can be done in half the time - Clinical Social Worker or a Mental Health Counselor and delve deeper into exactly what Psychiatrists do as well as what exactly the education consists of. I wish you all the best in whatever path you take !
Thinking about becoming a Psychiatrist is so awesome and there is a great deal to learn. In your state of Washington, it takes 12 years to become a licensed Psychiatrist. If you are 18 right now, yes, you would be in your early thirties like most other Psychiatrists when they begin. I have some advice for you because I think you may not realize the impact that Psychiatrists make and how important they are and why you need to study for 12 years to be a good, credible psychiatrist. It's a career with an enormous amount of responsibility.
You have to think of the big picture. Not only would you be working with mentally ill patients, you would also be working with patients that have developmental disabilities and cognitive disorders. You would also be working with and prescribing pharmaceutical medications for your patients. I highly advise not rushing this study, cutting corners or overloading yourself to get done in less time. Mid-thirties as an age is still young.
If you really need to cut your time in college, you could do it by considering two different careers that would also have you doing clinical therapy - Social Work or Mental Health Counselor. Both take 6 years for a Bachelors Degree, then a Masters Degree. There is a lot of information about these two careers online that should help you. Think about the reason why you want to become a Psychiatrist. Would being a Social Worker who does clinical therapy or being a counselor fulfill your purpose for going into this field ? I often hear people say they want a career in mental health because they want to help people. In the mental health field, there are a lot of times the patients aren't helped, however, and that is usual and part of what goes along in this work. So be clear with yourself as to why you want to go into psychiatry and explore the career more.
Very few people fast-track medical school, so much so that there are no statistics for it. It is the same for Bachelors Degrees - so low that there are no statics for it and some universities have phased out their quick track due to low enrollment. Many years ago when I was a student, fast tracking for a Bachelors Degree was not a thing - it was unheard of. I think I'd have felt as though I would have been slighted if I did it. I would feel as though I had to cram way too much information in less time. But you are the one who has to decide what to do and it's best to get advice for it. I would not recommend fast tracking for any medical career, let alone becoming a Psychiatric doctor.
So look further into mental health careers that can be done in half the time - Clinical Social Worker or a Mental Health Counselor and delve deeper into exactly what Psychiatrists do as well as what exactly the education consists of. I wish you all the best in whatever path you take !