Premed in Austin?
April 23, 2011 5:07 PM Subscribe
I'd like to become a psychiatrist. Problem: I earned a bachelor's degree that includes none of the prerequisites for getting into medical school. I live in Austin, TX.
I've been out of college for 2 years.
What are my best options for a (starting right now!) speedy entry into some kind of postbac premedical program in Austin, or the DFW area?
I don't want to waste any more time, or money, than necessary changing my career.
I've been out of college for 2 years.
What are my best options for a (starting right now!) speedy entry into some kind of postbac premedical program in Austin, or the DFW area?
I don't want to waste any more time, or money, than necessary changing my career.
Sorry, I mention psychologist because then you would still be able to help people and the medical school barrier would be removed.
posted by inturnaround at 5:23 PM on April 23, 2011
posted by inturnaround at 5:23 PM on April 23, 2011
Response by poster: I considered becoming a psychologist.
I decided on becoming a psychiatrist.
I know that getting into a PhD program would be simpler. but its not what I want.
posted by sindas at 5:32 PM on April 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I decided on becoming a psychiatrist.
I know that getting into a PhD program would be simpler. but its not what I want.
posted by sindas at 5:32 PM on April 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can also just take the pre-req courses at UT (or any other school). You don't have to do a formal post-bac. I would avoid community colleges, however.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 6:27 PM on April 23, 2011
posted by LittleMissCranky at 6:27 PM on April 23, 2011
There's an article in the NYTimes published last year. Mount Sinai medical school admits a number of students without pre-med backgrounds.
Here's the article.
posted by jchaw at 7:23 PM on April 23, 2011
Here's the article.
posted by jchaw at 7:23 PM on April 23, 2011
fascinating stuff jchaw, unfortunately I don't think it will be helpful to the OP specifically because it looks like you have to apply during undergrad and meet certain requirements/attend their 'boot camp' during the undergrad years prior to starting at the med school. But I really enjoyed the article!
for the OP: one suggestion (tangential to your question) is to try to shadow a psychiatrist for at least a few weeks, ideally a psychiatry resident at a big medical center. A lot of people who are thinking about becoming a doctor don't take this step and find themselves spending years on something that it turns out they really wouldn't have wanted to sign up for... and once you take those loans it's really hard to turn back.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:04 PM on April 23, 2011
for the OP: one suggestion (tangential to your question) is to try to shadow a psychiatrist for at least a few weeks, ideally a psychiatry resident at a big medical center. A lot of people who are thinking about becoming a doctor don't take this step and find themselves spending years on something that it turns out they really wouldn't have wanted to sign up for... and once you take those loans it's really hard to turn back.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:04 PM on April 23, 2011
Take your pre-reqs at the best four-year college you can afford. Don't go into debt if you don't have to - plenty of time and student loans for that later. Shadow a variety of physicians, not just psychiatrists.
Something else to keep in mind: medical school gives you a general education in medicine. When you go to med school, your clinical education involves every specialty, not just psychiatry. It's okay to start medical school with a clear idea of what you want to specialize in, but it's important to keep an open mind, because you really don't know what you're going to like or dislike when you're actually on the front lines. I started school sure that I was going to specialize in one thing, changed my mind about a half dozen times even over the last 9 months, and hated the specialty I thought I would love.
posted by honeybee413 at 8:32 PM on April 23, 2011
Something else to keep in mind: medical school gives you a general education in medicine. When you go to med school, your clinical education involves every specialty, not just psychiatry. It's okay to start medical school with a clear idea of what you want to specialize in, but it's important to keep an open mind, because you really don't know what you're going to like or dislike when you're actually on the front lines. I started school sure that I was going to specialize in one thing, changed my mind about a half dozen times even over the last 9 months, and hated the specialty I thought I would love.
posted by honeybee413 at 8:32 PM on April 23, 2011
1) Pick out some schools.
2) Look at their pre-req requirements
3) Find schools that offer those classes, in your budget, nearby.
Honestly, in my experience, postbacc programs are significantly more expensive, and have no real advantages. What will matter is getting some very good professors who actually know you well enough to write letters of recommendation. Focus on building those relationships, do well in your classes, and you'll be golden.
posted by aint broke at 9:57 PM on April 23, 2011
2) Look at their pre-req requirements
3) Find schools that offer those classes, in your budget, nearby.
Honestly, in my experience, postbacc programs are significantly more expensive, and have no real advantages. What will matter is getting some very good professors who actually know you well enough to write letters of recommendation. Focus on building those relationships, do well in your classes, and you'll be golden.
posted by aint broke at 9:57 PM on April 23, 2011
Best answer: I’m from Austin and entered medical school in 2009 after being out of school for a long time.
You can do what you want at UT. I met two other guys my first day of class doing the same thing, so it’s not that unusual.
It’s been a while so I’m a bit hazy on the details and things may have changed but… apply to UT as an post-baccalaureate non degree seeking student for the undergraduate Natural Sciences department and then go from there. They don’t have an official program so you’ll have to figure out the requirements you need on your own. This will generally be:
You can also take advantage of the UT extension courses in the evenings. I took biochem through that program.
The one thing to be careful about is scheduling. The labs at UT are difficult to get into. As a post-baccalaureate student you’ll have priority over the undergraduates after you complete your first semester if you remain as an active student, but not upon initial enrollment. I ended up having to pay $1500+ to take an unneeded class in the fall so that I could get into orgo lab in the Spring (happy ending: the class was super useful and I highly recommend it: Communication Skills for Health Professionals with Dr. Erickson).
If you go full time, you can do it in two years or less if you take advantage of the summer sessions (amazing what you can get through in 10 weeks) and you’re fortunate to get into the labs you need. I’d recommend working along the way of course.
The application deadline for the fall has passed. You can still get into the summer transient program though and then apply for Spring 2012 admission.
Get Dr. Bocknack if you can for orgo. One of the best instructors I’ve ever had if you do all of the work he recommends.
But before you do all of this hoop jumping (which will never cease) I’d heed the advice of some earlier responses and shadow a psychiatrist and other doctors for some time, talk to some medical students and residents, and decide if this is really for you.
Good luck.
posted by bnahas at 10:41 PM on April 23, 2011
You can do what you want at UT. I met two other guys my first day of class doing the same thing, so it’s not that unusual.
It’s been a while so I’m a bit hazy on the details and things may have changed but… apply to UT as an post-baccalaureate non degree seeking student for the undergraduate Natural Sciences department and then go from there. They don’t have an official program so you’ll have to figure out the requirements you need on your own. This will generally be:
- 2 semesters of general chemistry and lab
- 2 semesters of physics (can’t remember if lab is required)
- 2 semesters of organic chemistry and lab
- 2 semesters of introductory biology and lab
- 2 additional semesters of biology including genetics
You can also take advantage of the UT extension courses in the evenings. I took biochem through that program.
The one thing to be careful about is scheduling. The labs at UT are difficult to get into. As a post-baccalaureate student you’ll have priority over the undergraduates after you complete your first semester if you remain as an active student, but not upon initial enrollment. I ended up having to pay $1500+ to take an unneeded class in the fall so that I could get into orgo lab in the Spring (happy ending: the class was super useful and I highly recommend it: Communication Skills for Health Professionals with Dr. Erickson).
If you go full time, you can do it in two years or less if you take advantage of the summer sessions (amazing what you can get through in 10 weeks) and you’re fortunate to get into the labs you need. I’d recommend working along the way of course.
The application deadline for the fall has passed. You can still get into the summer transient program though and then apply for Spring 2012 admission.
Get Dr. Bocknack if you can for orgo. One of the best instructors I’ve ever had if you do all of the work he recommends.
But before you do all of this hoop jumping (which will never cease) I’d heed the advice of some earlier responses and shadow a psychiatrist and other doctors for some time, talk to some medical students and residents, and decide if this is really for you.
Good luck.
posted by bnahas at 10:41 PM on April 23, 2011
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posted by inturnaround at 5:22 PM on April 23, 2011