Medicine usually requires a science degree(most likely biology or chemistry). Since psychology isn’t considered a ‘hard’ science, and is usually in the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, I highly doubt so. You best alternative would be to go for a PhD in psychology if you have a psych degree, where you can work alongside medical doctors in a hospital.
i think psych would be ok for nursing but not training to be a doctor. i would definitely go with biology because it covers all the topics – chemistry, pharmacology etc etc that u need for medicine but biology should cover some psychology too
Unlike other opinions expressed here, medical schools say that they are more interested in students with a broad undergrad education, that a specifically pre-med or science degree is not necessarily an advantage. In practice, however, I suspect that the pre-med majors have some advantage–not so much necessarily in course work or knowledge but in impression. Doing a pre-med degree shows that you’ve been aiming for a medical degree for at least several years–long-term commitment looks good. Then again, if you’re interested in working toward psychiatry, a psych. BS degree would have a similar effect.
Whatever you choose to major in, look through the pre-med major in your college catalogue and use electives to pick up some of the hard science courses listed–some bio, some chem.
In addition to coursework/degree, there are some other things you can do to maximize your odds of med. school acceptance:
1. Score really high on the MCAT entrace exam. It’s probably worth completing some of the available MCAT test prep packages a few months before taking it.
2. Experience. See if you can find a job or even volunteer opportunity in a medical setting. It will look good on your med. school application; it also gives you a chance to make the acquaintance of some practicing doctors–cultivate those relationships, explain to them that your goal is to be a doctor–they will help with the next points.
3. References. Your med. school application will require letters of recommendation. The best ones are written by doctors, second-best by other medical professionals. Absolutely best are by doctors who graduated from that med. school :-) Here’s where the contacts you made when working in health care start to pay off.
4. Interview. Each med school conducts a personal interview with the applicant. You should be prepared to take every standard interview question (what’s your long-term goal? what are your strengths? what are your weaknesses?) and hit it out of the park. There are also some specific med-school related questions they’ll ask; to find out how to answer them, ask the doctors you’ve cultivated relationships with.
One last correction: psychology is recognized by the national academy of science. So the guy who says “it’s not a science” must not be a member.
It doesn’t matter what you major in, but it’s important that you declare yourself pre-med. Talk with your adviser about what classes you need to take, because the basic 101 introductory sciences won’t fly. The pre-med requirements are calculus, chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and physics. So as long as you take the classes and afterward take the MCAT, you are set to apply to medical schools.
Benny said,
Wrote on September 18, 2010 @ 6:08 am
I would imagine that it will take care of at least most of your prerequisites. At least they’re not going to waste. Best of luck to you.
Aj said,
Wrote on September 18, 2010 @ 6:37 am
Medicine usually requires a science degree(most likely biology or chemistry). Since psychology isn’t considered a ‘hard’ science, and is usually in the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, I highly doubt so. You best alternative would be to go for a PhD in psychology if you have a psych degree, where you can work alongside medical doctors in a hospital.
monkeyhijinx said,
Wrote on September 18, 2010 @ 6:39 am
i think psych would be ok for nursing but not training to be a doctor. i would definitely go with biology because it covers all the topics – chemistry, pharmacology etc etc that u need for medicine but biology should cover some psychology too
TR said,
Wrote on September 18, 2010 @ 7:22 am
Short answer: yes. At least if you’re in the USA.
Unlike other opinions expressed here, medical schools say that they are more interested in students with a broad undergrad education, that a specifically pre-med or science degree is not necessarily an advantage. In practice, however, I suspect that the pre-med majors have some advantage–not so much necessarily in course work or knowledge but in impression. Doing a pre-med degree shows that you’ve been aiming for a medical degree for at least several years–long-term commitment looks good. Then again, if you’re interested in working toward psychiatry, a psych. BS degree would have a similar effect.
Whatever you choose to major in, look through the pre-med major in your college catalogue and use electives to pick up some of the hard science courses listed–some bio, some chem.
In addition to coursework/degree, there are some other things you can do to maximize your odds of med. school acceptance:
1. Score really high on the MCAT entrace exam. It’s probably worth completing some of the available MCAT test prep packages a few months before taking it.
2. Experience. See if you can find a job or even volunteer opportunity in a medical setting. It will look good on your med. school application; it also gives you a chance to make the acquaintance of some practicing doctors–cultivate those relationships, explain to them that your goal is to be a doctor–they will help with the next points.
3. References. Your med. school application will require letters of recommendation. The best ones are written by doctors, second-best by other medical professionals. Absolutely best are by doctors who graduated from that med. school :-) Here’s where the contacts you made when working in health care start to pay off.
4. Interview. Each med school conducts a personal interview with the applicant. You should be prepared to take every standard interview question (what’s your long-term goal? what are your strengths? what are your weaknesses?) and hit it out of the park. There are also some specific med-school related questions they’ll ask; to find out how to answer them, ask the doctors you’ve cultivated relationships with.
One last correction: psychology is recognized by the national academy of science. So the guy who says “it’s not a science” must not be a member.
dsagar11 said,
Wrote on September 18, 2010 @ 8:08 am
It doesn’t matter what you major in, but it’s important that you declare yourself pre-med. Talk with your adviser about what classes you need to take, because the basic 101 introductory sciences won’t fly. The pre-med requirements are calculus, chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and physics. So as long as you take the classes and afterward take the MCAT, you are set to apply to medical schools.