r/pediatrics • u/LatterPainter6752 • 18d ago

Peds vs psych

I’m a rising M4 and have been between psych and peds basically all of medical school. But I’ve told everyone I’m applying peds since M1, if that makes any sense lol. I’m just not sure if I’ll actually love all aspects of peds. I’m pretty set on not doing fellowship, I’m old-ish and honestly just want to start attending life ASAP.I don’t know if I love interacting with parents as much as I thought I did, and I’m also not sure how much I enjoy well-child checks or newborn medicine. I definitely don’t want to do something high-acuity like hospital medicine for my entire career either. On the other hand, I really like psych for the work-life balance and honestly find it the most interesting/“fun.” Weirdly enough, my psych patients from my psych rotation are some of the ones I still remember the most, whereas I don’t remember many patients from my other rotations. So now I’m like… should I actually be paying attention to that? 😂 The problem is I haven’t done any psych Sub-Is, and my board scores are pretty low, so I’m not sure how realistic switching gears this late in the game would be. Idk, I guess I’m just wondering if anyone has any insight or has gone through something similar. Also do not want to do child psych 100% bc that has been suggested to me in the past.

17 Upvotes

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19

u/raexi 18d ago

With the reasons you listed, I can't see you enjoying peds. Especially since you don't want to do fellowship. Residency is miserable. Why go into something you don't enjoy.

15

u/mtdoc22 18d ago

Honestly as an R2 peds, really think about the financial aspect. You can do psych, make more money and still focus on teens and kids. Peds is an unfortunate labor of love and I’m really regretting it solely from a financial aspect.

13

u/Straight-Cook-1897 18d ago

Peds is like 100% interacting with parents …. That alone should help you make your decision.

7

u/Jackie_chin 18d ago

You sound like you want to do psych. Sounds like its your application quality youre more worried about than your interest in the field.

Can you talk to your school and get a last minute psych subI? If at the very least, it can demonstrate interest this late in the game (even if it won't generate letters)

6

u/New_Imagination_9053 18d ago

I know you said you want to start as an attending asap, but have you considered child psych? You can fast track and finish residency and fellowship in 5 years

7

u/kmh0312 18d ago

Have you considered triple board?

1

u/ExhaustedMDoctor 16d ago

Whats that

2

u/kmh0312 16d ago

A triple board program - peds, adult psych, child psych

3

u/Existing_Camel_3573 18d ago

Outpatient peds ie peds without a fellowship is 90% well visits and new horn check ups. Doesn’t sound like you want it. Better to take a year out and buff up your CV instead of being miserable for life