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Help - psychology vs medicine ??

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Reply 20
Original post by Etomidate
Opting to do medicine because you want to spend less time with people doesn't seem particularly sound. Let alone going into psychiatry for this reason!

Ask yourself this, do you actually want to be a doctor? Are you interested in physiology and biology?


Thank you for your reply. Well, I am interested a lot in biology and the physiology as well. And I don't want to spend a short time with people (such as a GP) but I have heard that a psychiatrist spends longer times with the client so that is good, I am a person that likes to see the progress of the client and being able to see it and track it (in a way).
Reply 21
Original post by seaholme
The other thing you'd have to bear in mind is that when you're studying Medicine you have to study all of it and not just the bits you're interested in. Most of it wouldn't fit with your interest in psychology. It's not just a way to try and make practical use of psychology, it's also something different entirely (and massive as a subject area!!).


Thanks for your answer:smile:. Yes that's true. Medicine is something that interest me, but I do have to keep in mind about that fact that I have to study it all the way and that's why it's not such an easy decision
Original post by Cymb
Thank you for your reply. Well, I am interested a lot in biology and the physiology as well. And I don't want to spend a short time with people (such as a GP) but I have heard that a psychiatrist spends longer times with the client so that is good, I am a person that likes to see the progress of the client and being able to see it and track it (in a way).


You've mentioned mental health nursing. That role would probably fit more with what I think you're saying that you would want. Particularly more of the community side of mental health nursing where you would certainly get to know clients and be following them up for a while. Plus its a much more focussed training (as opposed to medicine which is very broad until you become quite senior).

There are also graduate entry programmes for nursing.

But tbh it sounds like you're still not quite sure what you're actually looking for. So you need to start getting work experience.
Original post by Cymb
Thanks for replying! :smile:. To be quite honest with you I am really confused in terms of my career :frown:. That's why I keep shifting from medicine to psychology and it is really tough to come up with a decision.

The length of study for psychiatry put me off because I'm in my early 20s now and I cannot afford to go for GEM right now and by the time I start it would be quite late. And I am still not sure whether I would like to have that much length of studying yet. It is definitely not out of the question, but still considering different things. I am still trying to find a common ground between a practical and theoretical career. I am quite a practical person, but not fully. That's why I'm trying to find something in between. I know that I'd be bored in a fully theoretical based career. Psychology opens up in so many different areas, which makes it more difficult to find something like that!


That's okay - the other posters have hit the nail on the head really, I think. No-one enjoys every part of the medical degree, but six or seven years is an awfully long time to spend studying something if you're only interested in a few selected parts from the off. The only thing I can suggest is: while I'm guessing you'll have some work experience from your first degree, why not try to get some work experience in a few of the psychiatry-related careers you've mentioned, and maybe one or two non-psychiatry areas, to flesh out your thoughts a bit? It might help you work out one way or the other whether Medicine would be worth it.

By the way, I know that your own perception of what feels 'too old' is what matters, but early twenties is by no means an unusual age at which to start Medicine. On my course (a 5-year course rather than GEM), several of us started in our mid-20s (I was 25), several more in their late-20s, and some in their mid-30s. There may be other reasons that this isn't the right career path for you, but your age really isn't one of them. :smile:
Reply 24
Original post by *pitseleh*
That's okay - the other posters have hit the nail on the head really, I think. No-one enjoys every part of the medical degree, but six or seven years is an awfully long time to spend studying something if you're only interested in a few selected parts from the off. The only thing I can suggest is: while I'm guessing you'll have some work experience from your first degree, why not try to get some work experience in a few of the psychiatry-related careers you've mentioned, and maybe one or two non-psychiatry areas, to flesh out your thoughts a bit? It might help you work out one way or the other whether Medicine would be worth it.

By the way, I know that your own perception of what feels 'too old' is what matters, but early twenties is by no means an unusual age at which to start Medicine. On my course (a 5-year course rather than GEM), several of us started in our mid-20s (I was 25), several more in their late-20s, and some in their mid-30s. There may be other reasons that this isn't the right career path for you, but your age really isn't one of them. :smile:


That's true. Yeah, I think I will try and do that - get some work experience in both a clinical and non-clinical field. That should narrow my choice a little!

Haha yeah I guess. It's just I felt that it would be really long until I can say I'm a psychiatrist for example, and I saw that the would be age too old when i actually start practicing psychiatry. But funding is another thing that makes me think twice about psychiatry! In the end though, you'd end up with a good job that you like and a good salary. Which doesn't really matter.

As I've mentioned before, I have seen that psychiatrists can specialise in psychotherapy (http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/psychological-therapies/differences-between-psychology,-psychiatry-and-psychotherapy/). It's in the at the end of "What is psychotherapy?" bit. So that kind of hits the nail as well as I am looking for not a complete practical job but also theoretical and can track the client's progress.

However I was also looking at the clinical neuropsychologist which is really interesting however I don't know if this is hard to get in to like clinical psychology or if it is easier. On the BPS website, it is not part of the clinical field, so it might be separate and less competitive. I remember I asked one of my lecturers from uni about this and the only thing he said is that it is not that competitive. Thought he didn't teach specifically in this area and am not sure if it is true!
Reply 25
Original post by Cymb
That's true. Yeah, I think I will try and do that - get some work experience in both a clinical and non-clinical field. That should narrow my choice a little!

Haha yeah I guess. It's just I felt that it would be really long until I can say I'm a psychiatrist for example, and I saw that the would be age too old when i actually start practicing psychiatry. But funding is another thing that makes me think twice about psychiatry! In the end though, you'd end up with a good job that you like and a good salary. Which doesn't really matter.

As I've mentioned before, I have seen that psychiatrists can specialise in psychotherapy (http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/psychological-therapies/differences-between-psychology,-psychiatry-and-psychotherapy/). It's in the at the end of "What is psychotherapy?" bit. So that kind of hits the nail as well as I am looking for not a complete practical job but also theoretical and can track the client's progress.

However I was also looking at the clinical neuropsychologist which is really interesting however I don't know if this is hard to get in to like clinical psychology or if it is easier. On the BPS website, it is not part of the clinical field, so it might be separate and less competitive. I remember I asked one of my lecturers from uni about this and the only thing he said is that it is not that competitive. Thought he didn't teach specifically in this area and am not sure if it is true!

You've mentioned funding twice now with GEM and Psychiatry. Is there a reason you wouldn't be eligible for regular GEM financial support?
Reply 26
Original post by Ronove
You've mentioned funding twice now with GEM and Psychiatry. Is there a reason you wouldn't be eligible for regular GEM financial support?


Well no not really. I am aware of NHS's funding for GEM and student finance as well. However, I am not able to do this now yet for financial reasons. So if I get into psychiatry it would be in a few couple of years - like 3/4 years from now possibly.
Reply 27
Original post by Cymb
Well no not really. I am aware of NHS's funding for GEM and student finance as well. However, I am not able to do this now yet for financial reasons. So if I get into psychiatry it would be in a few couple of years - like 3/4 years from now possibly.

I'm sorry, I'm really struggling to follow you here. There are student loans for maintenance and tuition for GEM. An extra cushion on top is advisable but one that takes 3-4 years to save up seems unnecessary, unless you're currently drowning in amassed non-student debt and/or rent on a London flat or something? And the financial support for GEM/GEM itself might have disappeared in 3-4 years.

Not to mention that you wouldn't be 'getting into psychiatry' for at least 7 years from now if you did GEM, and at the point of 'getting into psychiatry' you would be earning a decent salary as a doctor.
(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 28
Original post by Ronove
I'm sorry, I'm really struggling to follow you here. There are student loans for maintenance and tuition for GEM. An extra cushion on top is advisable but one that takes 3-4 years to save up seems unnecessary, unless you're currently drowning in amassed non-student debt and/or rent on a London flat or something? And the financial support for GEM/GEM itself might have disappeared in 3-4 years.

Not to mention that you wouldn't be 'getting into psychiatry' for at least 7 years from now if you did GEM, and at the point of 'getting into psychiatry' you would be earning a decent salary as a doctor.


Well, I have read about funding of GEM and NHS can help with the funding as well apart from student and maintenance loans. However, I've read there is a requirement to pay some of the funding yourself for the first year. But funding seems to be a less of a problem for me. It is just another factor to think about with regards to Psychiatry. I hope this sounds a little bit clearer than the previous message.
Reply 29
Original post by Cymb
Well, I have read about funding of GEM and NHS can help with the funding as well apart from student and maintenance loans. However, I've read there is a requirement to pay some of the funding yourself for the first year. But funding seems to be a less of a problem for me. It is just another factor to think about with regards to Psychiatry. I hope this sounds a little bit clearer than the previous message.

Yep, that's clearer. It's really not as wishy-washy as you seem to think, though. NHS bursary involvement is at a set time at set amounts, there's no 'can help with the funding', as you put it. The only thing you'd need to have saved up is just over £3000 as tuition fee contribution in first year, and a bit of a cushion for maintenance (though lots of people try to earn money during the course/in the summer holidays to top maintenance off rather than saving it all up beforehand).
Reply 30
Original post by Ronove
Yep, that's clearer. It's really not as wishy-washy as you seem to think, though. NHS bursary involvement is at a set time at set amounts, there's no 'can help with the funding', as you put it. The only thing you'd need to have saved up is just over £3000 as tuition fee contribution in first year, and a bit of a cushion for maintenance (though lots of people try to earn money during the course/in the summer holidays to top maintenance off rather than saving it all up beforehand).


Yeah exactly and saving £3000 is not impossible but that is why if I choose psychiatry, it won't be now. The most important thing at the moment though is trying to find the career pathway that I would like to go for and look deeper in how to achieve that.:smile:
Original post by Cymb
Hi everyone :smile:

I have done a BSc Psychology undergraduate course and I have just finished my last year. I started to think about of any possible careers and I have always had a passion for medicine. The Graduate Entry in Medicine seems promising but there are a couple of factors to consider as well. I enjoy working along side people, and that's one of the reasons why I studied psychology apart from other things. I enjoy having to watch all the steps and progress of clients and see the help you give each step. But I don't like the full close relationship with the client and that's why I started to think of combining psychology with medicine and trying to find a career that does not require full close relationship with the client and just a few minutes contact with the client where you cannot see the progress of your help.

Sorry, it may sound confusing!! I am really struggling to find a career that is in between and is both psychological and medical :frown:. I was interested in psychiatry but it takes a lot of years to become one and clinical psychology was not recommended due to the high number of people applying to it.

So... if anyone can help, it would be absolutely useful!!

Thanks a lot :biggrin:


just release a self-help book, leave medicine to the real science heads

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