Anyone familiar with the prerequisites/recommended high school courses to become a Psychiatrist?
Hi, I’m a high school student anxious to become a psychiatrist.
I’ve been doing a little research in the career and I came to a question,
"What courses will help me get to where I want to be in 4 years?"
What I want to know is:
1) What courses should I take to become a psychiatrist?
2) For SAT II: Subject Tests, should I take Biology or Chemistry?
3) What colleges have good psychiatry/psychology departments?
Please answer my questions with effort and add any additional
information as you please 
Thanks guys!
Posted in psychiatrist career
content rss
October 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Psychiatrists are doctors with a specialty, so you need to take whatever classes are recommended for people who want to go to med school. Your advisor will know what those classes are specifically. Generally, you want all the chemistry and biology your school offers, at the most advanced level they offer.
For the SAT II, take whichever you’re stronger at. Getting into med school is highly competitive.
Harvard and John Hopkins are among the highest-regarded medical schools, but I have no idea which is stronger. Colleges will not have psychiatry departments, since that’s a subset of medicine.
Psychology is a whole different thing. Make sure you understand the differences between the two disciplines before choosing coursework that leads to one or the other.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Psychiatry is a medical specialty. To become a psychiatrist, you need to go to medical school after you get your college degree (I’m assuming you’re in the US, which seems to be the case). You don’t really need to worry about getting into med school yet, so focus on taking courses that will position you to get into a good college that will help prepare you for med school. The only reason to take high school courses in chemistry, biology, and psychology is to get a good head start, as there are absolutely no high school pre-reqs for med school.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Hello, I am not sure if you are looking for a College in your area or an online University. Right now I have been taking a Bach. Degree in Psychology. This will help you achieve in becoming a Psychiatrist. Here is the university I attend if you like to look into it. You can also attend online. Good Luck
http://www.ashford.edu/home/index.php
July 7th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
[...] Anyone familiar with the prerequisites/recommended high school … [...]