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How to stand out?
HI, I am a Junior in high school. I plan on going to UW (good school choice?) and major in nursing/pre med. I will study to become a psychiatrist. What should I be doing now to stand out for Medical School?
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4 answers
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Michel’s Answer
Depends on what you are trying to do. Some nurses do become medical doctors but if you are trying to get an MD degree this will add some time to your schooling. So If you have any questions about that let me know and I can guide you a little bit. standing out is hard, but the big things that schools are going to look at are leadership positions, volunteering, shadowing a physician, research, and good grades.
Thank you! Nursing is my backup plan in case something happens in the future.
Tanthy
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Raquel’s Answer
Is there a particular reason why you're interested in majoring in nursing? If your goal is to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist going to nursing school is only going to add time to your schooling. While nurses are super important and you can learn valuable information in nursing school that can be applied as a physician, it's not a necessary step in the process. If you know you want to be a psychiatrist I would suggest looking into a major that will provide you the necessary prerequisites such as chemistry or biology so that you don't have to take lots of extra classes outside of your degree path. Things that medical schools are looking for include longevity in different activities such as volunteering or leadership. Having a variety of experiences that are meaningful to you is an important part of making yourself a dynamic applicant. So getting involved in volunteering, clubs/organizations, and shadowing physicians to get a taste for the field are all great things you could start doing now. Research experience is also super important to make yourself a good applicant, but those opportunities will become more available to you once you get to college. Best of luck!
Thank you so much! I want to study nursing as well as get my prerequisites in case my career path changes. It’s a backup plan 😅.
Tanthy
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Christopher’s Answer
The only other thing I would add to the above is that you need to he sure to have things you do outside of school.
Thank you!
Tanthy
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Jen’s Answer
UW is an excellent school! Psychiatrist offices often need help with filing and billing. Getting an internship (even unpaid) at a psychiatrist office while in high school would differentiate you on a number of levels. Psychiatrists often network and connection can be helpful. And of course, really strong academic performance will also be critical. Good luck!
Thank you!!
Tanthy