<p>I am thinking that i would like to go into psychology or psychiatry. I guess i am wondering what the major differences are, pay, schooling etc. I'm a junior in high school. I guess i am trying to get some direction ultimately. What classes should i be taking? I am taking psychology, and an AP medical sciences class, which is a behavioral sciences 1010 course, but other than that i am not taking any other classes of the sort. </p>
<p>Thanks to anyone who can help me out. :]</p>
<p>Nick</p>
<p>Psychiatry is a medical degree specialty and Psychology is a PhD or PsyD. Two very different training programs but related to brain/thought processes.</p>
<p>Well be aware that Psychology and Psychiatry are similar, yet very different.
I'm a college student and I am getting my major in psychology, but fulfilling my "Pre-med" requirements(ex. chem, bio, calc, ect.) You can do both but remember that a psychiatrist prescribes the medicine, while a psychologist is more therapy based. And there are tons of fields in the psychology area. </p>
<p>The reason I am a psychology major yet completing my med. requirements is because I believe people need medicine under certain circumstances but I believe sometimes someone just needs a listening ear instead. There is a high rate of people becoming addicted to the medicine being prescribed and a lot of the time psychiatrist are prescribing the wrong medicine! So I think it's wonderful you want to learn more about the human behavior and mind! You will end up helping people a lot more and prevent giving the wrong drug. </p>
<p>As far as classes in high school go, You're a junior. Don't stress it. I'd say take Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus. Just to give you a little bit of an idea and background to your sciences. Psychology is a wonderful field to take during high school, I believe it will give you an idea of what you will be dealing with. But a heads up...You will be learning intro to psych, not dealing with all the behaviors. In intro you learn about past psychologist, Nervous systems, and parts of the brains and their functions. </p>
<p>Don't stress it, you will do good. And you will be prepared. Just keep open ears in your science and math classes. And you get to test the water before jumping in with your psychology class. Remember psychology is absolutely nothing like what you see on Dr. Phil.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>-Christine</p>