<p>I want to be a child psychiatrist and i'm wondering would Harvard be a good choice? When I finish high school I will already have my associates degree. I talked to a rep from Harvard and I still have to stay all four years but i would just have more time for electives or just free time to do other things. That's nice and all but i'm looking at other schools that accept transfers and that will allow me to get out into the workforce at the age of 23. I'm stuck in a bind. Harvard is my dream school but medical school for psychiatry takes 5 years if I do a joint program. Doing all 4 years plus 5 added years puts me at being about 30 years old before getting out into the work force. What are your takes on it and any advice?</p>
<p>I am a Child Psychiatrist but I don’t understand your question. </p>
<p>“but medical school for psychiatry takes 5 years if I do a joint program.”</p>
<p>For most people, undergrad is far from being related to your choice of specialties. It’s usually 4 years undergrad, 4 years medical school ( maybe you will only do a total of 7 rather than 8?) about three years internship/general psych, then two years Child Psych fellowship. I was thirty when I finished. Yes, it’s a long haul for relatively not so much money. Probably why there is such a shortage.</p>
<p>Well my question is should I attend harvard or attend somewhere else. I was looking into a program at SMU that is strictly for psychiatry. You get your masters/doctors and then you do your 5th year as an internship. If I choose the SMU route I wont have to do 4 years undergrad. Just 2 since they take transfers.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how something can be “for Psychiatry” in undergrad. Do you mean Psychology? I will have to look that up. Is there a link?</p>
<p>You need to be ready for the MCAT; that and minimizing debt is what you should focus on. Also, please allow for the possibility that you may change your mind.</p>
<p>I’m going to major in psychology in undergrad (after HS graduation i’ll only have two years left of undergrad to complete) then i will go on to grad school for the psychiatry part. This is where i’m looking at going [SMU</a> Department of Psychology](<a href=“http://smu.edu/psychology/html/graduateFAQ.html]SMU”>http://smu.edu/psychology/html/graduateFAQ.html) looking at those FAQ that will clear up the misunderstandings about the program i’m looking into.</p>
<p>I see. You are talking about PSYCHOLOGY (PhD) not PSYCHIATRY ( MD). </p>
<p>As far as I know, there is no specific duration, training requirement, or credentialing for Child Psychology, but I could be wrong! </p>
<p><a href=“http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychology_PhD_Programs_Info_for_Doctoral_Students.html[/url]”>http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychology_PhD_Programs_Info_for_Doctoral_Students.html</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Awe man, I so forgot about the whole psychology/psychiatry difference thing. One can give medicine and the other cant. oops. I guess med school for me. lol Thanks for your help. That’s quickly cleared up a lot and is going to help with my decisions.</p>
<p>“One can give medicine and the other cant. oops. I guess med school for me.”</p>
<p>That’s really not the point at all.</p>
<p>Unless you are saying you are primarily interested in giving medication to children ( I hope not!) , I don’t think that’s the way to decide if you want to go to medical school. Decide if you want to practice medicine, THEN decide where you want to specialize.</p>
<p>With all due respect, what grade are you in?</p>