Hi! I recently got into Cornell University College of Human Ecology for a major in Human Development. I also got into Middlebury College where I’d probably major in psychology. I’m leaning toward Middlebury just because it is a LAC with smaller class sizes, but would it be a bad choice to turn down Cornell? I’ve heard that Middlebury isn’t ranked very high for psychology… Would that be a disadvantage to me since I want to eventually go to med school for psychiatry? Are there opportunities and resources in science fields at Middlebury that are comparable to those at Cornell? Would also probably do pre-med at either.
Weren’t the answers when you asked this 2 weeks ago sufficient? Middlebury or Cornell? HELP!
In any event you seem to misunderstand the medical school flow. Medical schools accept students and turn them into trainee doctors; specialization such as psychiatry happens in residency after med school, not in med school. Consequently even if you are right that “Middlebury isn’t ranked very high for psychology” it has absolutely no bearing on your future.
1 Like
Note: if you love psychology, you might prefer a career in clinical psychology to one in psychiatry. Almost all psychiatrists just provide medications to a patient after a brief consultation, simultaneously referring the patient to a psychologist (such as my spouse) for talk therapy. It is the psychologist, not the psychiatrist, who actually delivers the psychotherapy.
Psychiatry pays better, of course, so it matters what your goals are!
But you have no need to major in psychology to get into medical school and eventually specialize in psychiatry. Just major in it if it interests you!
As far as the schools go…
It comes down to large vs. small, and arts and sciences vs. human ecology.
First, look at the requirements and options in the college of human ecology. Does the program match what you are hoping for in your intellectual experience at college?
Then, think small vs. big. Cornell is huge, with huge lecture classes. After his visit to Cornell, even though the area around the college was gorgeous (gorges and waterfalls), my son decided he vastly preferred small liberal arts colleges. Others might react the opposite way. We all loved Middlebury, the most beautiful college campus of the 21 we visited. He might have applied there ED2 had he not gotten into his ED1 choice- also a small liberal arts college.
Remember that the college experience itself, and not just your path afterwards, matters. It is a once in the lifetime opportunity to spend four years enjoying the life of the mind. Where will you be happiest for four years?