Medicine vs Psychology

[potatochip]

Ok so I have a dilemma... last year I did year 12 with the aim of getting into medicine and got an atar of 99.60 but a crappy umat score of 40. This year I am taking a gap year to mainly focus on umat prep as I'd rather not start a degree and a) lose my atar b) not be eligible to apply to certain universities.

Only now I am not so sure that I want to do medicine.

I am most interested the brain, particularly in the relationship between the brain and behaviour, probably with more of a psychology spin rather than being interested in neurology. But I am fascinated by Oliver Sacks' writing of neurological disorders and how they are intricately tied to the affected person's identity and their psychology. I am also intrigued by the idea of neuroplasticity and would like to research/practice in this area. I'm fascinated by the overlap of psychiatry/psychology with neurology and neuroscience, like when there are neural correlates to psychiatric disorders. I am also interested in neuroscience's exploration of concepts such as consciousness, memory and free will. I would like to have a career that involves most of this stuff, but am conflicted as to what university degree would be the best way to do this.

I'm not sure if medicine is the best way to develop my interests in these areas, or if I will be bored by the majority of other things in the degree. I would consider specialising in neurology or psychiatry if I did medicine. However, I couldn't imagine myself as a practicing psychiatrist as I am quite introverted and am not the most intuitive communicator.

On the other hand, if I did psychology or a science/health degree (with neuroscience focus) then I'm not sure if I'd be well equiped enough or gain such a broad understanding as I would get from a medical degree. And I am not sure where my career would lead from doing a psychology or science degree, other than research, which I'm not sure I want to do.

Any tips would much appreciated as I am feeling quite conflicted about my choices at the moment

[pi]

I think a medical degree will open more doors for you. Also worth noting that the late Oliver Sacks' work, while interesting, is an incredible poor representation of what neurology/neuopsychiatry is usually like. If he wrote on classic strokes, neuropathies and depression, his books wouldn't have sold

Having said that, if you truly (modesty aside) consider yourself to be "quite introverted and am not the most intuitive communicator", then I'd advise against medicine. Medicine, by large, is a people profession, you're going to need to talk to people all the time. If that's not something that you're keen on, then I probably wouldn't pursue clinical medicine.