Becoming A Psychiatrist: Questions
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Hi, I hate to be that person but I have some questions on what it takes to become a psychiatrist, specifically a forensic psychiatrist. I am a current undergrad student finishing off my freshman year. I am currently a nursing major but I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching (cliche I know) and I’ve come to the realization that I really would like to be a psychiatrist. Before choosing my major or even going to college, I had two career paths I knew I absolutely wanted to take and that was nursing or psychology/psychiatry because I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than helping or attempting to help people in their time of need.
I settled for nursing because the cost of schooling for psychiatry was so daunting and the pay for psychology didn’t seem lucrative for the cost of schooling either and I really don’t want to be drowning in debt for the rest of my life. However I really do want to become a psychiatrist. Do I believe I would also enjoy nursing, absolutely. But the passion I have for psychiatry and the inner workings of the mind outweigh my enthusiasm for all that nursing is (which I definitely still love).
So my questions are: What is an actual tangible path that I can take to becoming a forensic psychiatrist? I am aware that I will have to go to med school, complete a residency, internships, fellowship, and get my licenses. However I’m just a little lost on how exactly to go about it. What is the best major to choose so that l am not lost on the MCAT? Is there any realistic way I can complete my schooling without being eyeballs deep in debt? (scholarships, grants etc.) Will the undergrad school I’m attending affect my acceptance into med school?
https://familypsychiatry.us/
Note: I currently have a full ride scholarship at Northern Arizona University for my undergrad.Thank you so much in advance!