Should I take psychology to become a psychiatrist
I thought psychology would be a good thing to study if I wanted to be a psychiatrist but I feel like I should take a harder math major instead #psychiatry #psychiatrists #psychiatric-care #healthcare #hospital-and-health-care #psychology
5 answers
Linda Ann’s Answer
Hi Lydia,
Psychology is a good major in college so long as the school that you attend has a strong, pre-med program. One of the sections of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) tests knowledge of the behavioral sciences! It tests knowledge of other scientific disciplines as well: physics, chemistry, biology AND writing proficiency.
A mathematics major will will indeed help you with logical reasoning. It will not, however, provide the necessary coursework for entrance into medical school.
What you need to do now:
- Explore the website for the MCAT.
- Explore the websites of each of the colleges and universities to which you will be applying. Do they have a pre-med focus? Do they have academic advisors dedicated to students who wish to go to medical school? What is the placement rate for admission to medical school for their graduates? IF this information isn’t readily available from the website, then you might want to ask a lot of questions of that school OR cross it off your list of potential institutions for your undergraduate degree!
Good luck!!
Yasemin’s Answer
Best of luck!
Cameren’s Answer
The bottom line is that as long as you are completed the required courses for medical school and the MCAT, your major is not very important. Another suggestion would to major in mathematics (or any subject you find relevant) and minor in psychology or vice versa. This way you are getting in the psychology courses that will definitely be useful but also becoming a well-rounded student by studying other relevant material. I hope this was helpful.
Estelle’s Answer
Pick a college that suits your personality and a major that interests you. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Medical school takes 4 years to complete then psychiatry residency is another 4 years.