<p>I'm hoping some of you pre-med students will be able to give me some advice, since most of you have kept motivation and are passionate about the path you chose. I apologize in advance if this is a bit long. </p>
<p>Since I was young, I always wanted to be a psychiatrist. I am currently in my 4th year of undergrad and double majoring in psych and bio. I will have my psych degree by this spring. In the last year and a half or so, I have been all over the place, weighing out my options and looking at alternatives, shadowing physicians, talking to multiple people who are in healthcare or have siblings and friends who are in medical school/residency. I told myself that this semester I would decide whether or not I wanted to continue going the pre-med route. The passion never came back, and I swapped o chem out for another mid-semester course. I have a high enough GPA and have done well in my past science courses, plus I have the research experience and other extra curriculars, but I just am not passionate about it anymore.</p>
<p>I am feeling a bit burnt out too. I moved out on my own in March because the environment at home was unhealthy and I couldn't study. My life-long interest was always to be a psychiatrist, but I never was interested in prescribing medication, so I feel as though the PsyD route would be better for me; however, a few people I have talked to said the pay is terrible and I would be better off going the Physician Assistant route if I don't want to endure 8 years of medical school. The thing is, I really am not passionate about any of my science courses. They irritate me, even though I score well, I just am miserable. </p>
<p>I feel stupid because I just turned 21 and I feel like I should have figured out what I wanted to do by now. There's a part of me that just wants to go to the psyD route and take a leap of faith instead of trying to take more science courses that I will get a B in or something and lower my GPA which would waste more of my time and set me back. </p>
<p>Is the reason I am feeling burnt out because I am/was on the wrong path going the med school route? If I was passionate about PA or med school, wouldn't I endure he courses instead of trying to cut corners and feel so unhappy all the time? </p>
<p>Any advice would be very much appreciated!</p>
<p>I hope this doesn’t sound condescending because I don’t mean it to be–but you’re young yet. There is still plenty of time to decide the course of your future career. </p>
<p>Helping the mentally ill is a calling. One there is many ways to fulfill. Psychiatry is just one of them. PsyD is another. Psychiatric or clinical social worker (requires a MSW) would be another. Professional counselor (MA) would be a fourth option.</p>
<p>Clinical psychologists aren’t reminbursed at the same rates that psychistrists are, but it’s still possible to earn a more than comfortable living. PsyD students have significantly less debt upon graduation than do physicians. And a PsyD will get you into practice faster. (4 years for PsyD vs 8 years for MD + psychiatric residency). Clinical social work or professional counselor would take even less time.</p>
<p>Have you talked indepth/done an informational interview with a practicing PsyD to get a feel for what that career entails? That would be a reasonable first step, as would talking with a practicing clinical social worker and/or professional counselor to find out what their practice is like. The career center at your college might be able to help connect your with individuals in these professions.</p>
<p>However, before you make an critical decisions, give yourself some space and a chance to de-stress. You have just made a major life change (left home due to a toxic situation). Give yourself some time to heal and recover your equilibrium. You may just be reacting (feeling burnt out) due to the stress or you may genuinely be in the wrong career path. It’s tough to tell.</p>
<p>As graduation approaches, you will probably feel pressured to make a decision about med or grad school. (Everyone is going to ask what your plans are.) It’s OK to not know exactly what you’re going to be doing for the rest of your life. (Most 21 year olds haven’t got a clue.) Take some time to figure out what you really want. It’s OK not to know. Really.</p>
<p>You need to state your problem, it is not clear at all what is bothering you.<br>
I have completely changed my career in my mid 30s. I nver felt miserable. I did not like my job (engineering), so I went back to school and changed my path.
It must be something else going on that you are not letting us on. I really do not need to know any personal aspects of your life. But what kind of advice you expect if problem is not stated clearly at all. Do you have a problem with your state of mind or your career plans or not having support or WHAT is it?</p>