<p>This is going to sound really strange but I'd really like to go to med school and become a psychiatrist...but I guess you could say that I'm in the process of being weeded out (not by some pre-med committee or anything..more self-inflicted). I've gotten through a little over half of the requirements, and I've done well in the courses and have a good gpa. Except I'm absolutely miserable in these science classes and I'm getting discouraged by the low admit rates. At the same time, I'm finding that my interest in medicine is waning as well. Maybe some cognitive dissonance is at work.... </p>
<p>So I guess I'm looking into other possible career routes. I've actually been considering law for a while now, and I think I'd enjoy being a lawyer (possibly handling GLBT related issues and cases). I'm heading into my junior year as an undergrad and I'm kind of freaking out. I know some additional research is definitely in order.</p>
<p>Should I be looking at a more versatile degree or possibly finding a job for a few years after I graduate before committing to a particular profession? Thanks in advance for the help!</p>
<p>sangria dear, TAKE your time! There's no hurry here. I always tell my undergrads and med students that there is only one reason to go to medical school...because you have a passion for it. I have many friends, colleagues, and students who didn't come to this realization for several years after undergrad school. One had BA in philosophy from Carleton, MM from U of Michigan in organ performance, toured Europe playing recitals on the great organs, then started med school at age 32. One of my hubby's colleagues was a practicing pathologist for many years...then went to law school. One of my med students this year was a practicing lawyer for several years and then started med school.</p>
<p>Mikemac has a wonderful recommendation for you. Visit your college counseling office and take some aptitude tests. It could open up avenues you would never have considered otherwise. And if you're still not sure, work for awhile then go back to grad school or law school or med school! Good luck, dear!</p>
<p>Sangria, my daughter went through some of what you describe: she spent most of college trying to decide between med school (psychiatry) and psychology. She took the pre-med requirements, but ultimately came to the conclusion that she didnt want to wait so long to do treatment. She took a year off after college (worked in an inpatient psych setting as a "mental health worker"), and applied to clinical psych PhD and PsyD programs. She got into some of both---then came another agonizing decision of which program to pick. In the end, she followed her heart, which is in the clinical as opposed to the research world, and she will be starting her PsyD program this fall. Still, she does sometimes have doubts about her decision...still sometimes wonders about med school. And we tell her the same thing as other posters above...if it turns out not to be the right choice, you make a change.</p>
<p>Your daughter's job in the inpatient psych setting sounds interesting to me. What did she do to get set up with that? How does one apply? That actually sounds like something I'd be interested in doing, and it would certainly give me time to think things through.</p>
<p>Sangria, she did a summer internship at a local inpatient setting (serves primarily children and adolescents, but also some adults), which then turned into a job in the fall. You can probably contact facilities in your area to see what they might offer. My daughter works "per diem", which in this case means she's assinged to different units as need arises. This has given her lots of different kinds of exposure.</p>
<p>Talk to the career counselors, remember that most careers are not like the courses in college. Every professional can tell you about courses they thought were boring or even hellish, but when the career starts, when you find yourself creating your style of what ever it is you end up doing...Things can be quite different. The skills you have acquired, the discipline you will have developed, your sharpened thinking skills and your personality will impact on how your approach your task. Don't give up, but don't stick with something just because it seemed like a good idea when you were 17, consider the traits of an athelete....flexibility, strength, endurance.. this might just be your runners wall you are experiencing.</p>
<p>Make appointments and talk to people in fields that you're interested in. Most professionals are willing to spend a half hour or so with a young person who's seriously considering their profession.</p>
<p>Also talk to your college career service. Your kind of issues are what they are designed to help with. They also may help you connect with alum in fields that interest you.</p>
<p>You will be transferring to Harvard, right? Talk to the folks at the Office of Career Services; they are very helpful. Also, I believe that each House has a pre-med advisor. Since you know you will be at Adams House, you could try to find out who the pre-med advisor is and contact him/her.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice everyone. I guess I'm just feeling the strain associated with entering my junior year. At least right now, it feels like most of my peers have a general sense of what they want to do and are already building toward their future careers. It may sound silly, but I just don't want to be left behind. </p>
<p>I will certainly contact career counselors and my house pre-med advisor once I arrive in the fall. I guess I was hoping to have at least something figured out by the fall so I can hit the ground running.</p>