<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm a senior that's looking to apply to some schools soon. I want to become a psychiatrist that uses art with my patients, and also an artist working out of my house. I know I can double major, but do you think I could do it? I have such a passion for both the workings of the mind and art, which totally connect. I really need to do it. Thanks! </p>
<p>Why do you need to double major? Why not just take some art classes that would relate to what you want to do with patients. You would hardly need to MAJOR in art to get enough background.</p>
<p>Have you considered art therapy? If you plan to be a psychiatrist, be aware of the role insurance companies will play. If you want to be paid, you’ll need to work within the established treatment and payment systems.</p>
<p>Well, one of D’s pre-med friends actually graduated with Zoology major / Art minor. But art is extrememly time consuming and more so in college. My D. had one art class - Paper Making. I have warned her that she is taking a bigger byte than she thinks with this class. She just wanted to have some art class after taking private art lessongs in her entire pre-college life. I was correct. She pulled an A with enourmous effort that took lot of her time, and lesson was learned, it was no more art classes in her college schedule. However, her friend did it. So, you can try maybe art minor and see. In regard to phych. The fact that you dream about it, may not actually lead you to this specialty. This was one of the specialties that my D cnsidered but rulled out after her psych rotation, despite of many comments of her superiors that she definitely has what it takes, she can talk to patients. She did not like certain aspects of protocols that they use in psych wards, so she is planning to pursue something els. So, do not plan too much, while dreaming is a good think, do not make specific plans geared towards certain specialty that early in a game. Try it first at Med. School.<br>
Going back to potential combo of major(s) / minor(s), most of D’s pre-med friends graduated with some combo and D. graduated with Zoology major / Music Composition minor. Her minor was NOT time consuming, but a great break from challenging major, so it worked for her very well. She was not able to finish her other minor in Neuro being 2 classes short, she dropped it.<br>
I would say try it, see how it goes, stay flexible and open minded. No matter what you take, your goal is to have an A in a class. It may not happen, but aim at it as much as you could. You will need at least 3.6 college GPA to successfully apply to Med. Schools.
Yes, it is correct as pointed in a previous post, you will need to follow certain protocols for certain treatments. However, I do not think there is a great job market for any type of art therapy or music therapy, those do not belong in the stable future, if you are looking for one. Psych on the other hand is fine and the easiest specialty to get into residency. If you going to be happy there will be somewhat answered during your psych rotation at Med. School. </p>
<p>I know I can double major, but do you think I could do it?</p>
<p>Med schools will expect you to do well academically in both premed and all other courses you take. Even considering premed reqs, GE reqs, two major reqs, I’ll guess you can create a 4 year plan that will allow you to complete all reqs. The big question is whether with all the academic demands and don’t forget other demands such as MCAT, ECs, social life, etc that would be eating away at your time, will you do well GPA wise pursing a double major because that is what med schools will be concerned with. They don’t care what major(s) is/are, or give a lot, if any, bonus points to difficulty of schedule. And at this point whether you do well GPA wise is the great unknown and only tends to be answered more accurately in hindsight after grades get posted which is often when many premeds change career pathways. So can you double major, yes. Can you create a competitive med school app pursing a double major, yes. Will you? </p>
<p>On the one hand it’s great that you have developed two passions that you want to tie into a career in medicine. And college is great place to further nurture these two passions. On the other hand I agree with mom2collegekids post above. Why two majors which could put a lot of extra, unnecessary pressure on your chances to develop a competitive med school app.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>You can go to a college that allows you to Design your Own Major and incorporate Art, Premed Req’ts, and Psychology.</p>
<p>New College in Florida allows this.</p>
<p>University of Alabama allows this in its New College dept.<br>
<a href=“http://nc.as.ua.edu”>http://nc.as.ua.edu</a></p>
<p>I am sure other schools do this, too. </p>