andddd back on topic...
Some random guy approached me after class:
Classmate: "Hey, so you're trying to go to med school, right?"
Me: "Yup, hopefully."
Classmate: "Gotcha.. and you're into neuroscience and stuff, right?"
Me: "Yeah, why? Are you thinking about doing neuroscience research?"
Classmate: "Well, I want to become a psychiatrist, but I'm a junior, so I know I'm a bit late in the game."
Me: "I mean, that's fine a lot of people realize they want become a doctor as upperclassmen, what have you done so far?"
Classmate: "Only Bio, and nothing else.. but I'm really passionate about being a psychiatrist cause I'm a psychology major.."
Me: "Oh, me too.. well, you can probably apply and do a post-bacc.. (thinking about where he stands in the general timeline, but realizing somethings off).. but you might want to explore medicine a bit more. Are you sure you're ready to take this path?"
(I could see that this guy had no idea why he wanted to be a psychiatrist.. the following shed some light..)
Classmate: "Well, you make like over $200,000 a year and it's psychology mixed with medicine. I like those things, so why not, right?"
Me: ....... "I don't want to sound mean when I ask this.. but do you know how long it takes to become a psychiatrist?"
Classmate: "Yeah, just the 4 years of medical school, right?"
Me: (mind the fact that I was on 3 hours of sleep, but normally very willing to help fellow students with advice, this irked me a bit cause he clearly decided to come to me before doing any research of his own..) "No, its 4 years of medical school, followed by 4 years of residency, at a minimum. If you want to specialize and do a fellowship, that's another year or two, depending on what you want to do. Plus, some people take time off to do research. Also, you still need to do your pre-reqs and take the MCAT. So you're looking at 9-12 years of work to become a psychiatrist from now.. so again.. are you sure you're ready for that commitment?"
Classmate: (I kind of felt bad cause I had the same look on my face in sophomore year come over me as the information sunk in...) "Oh, that.. that changes things.. I got to think about that then.."
Haven't heard from the guy since.. I might have been a bit of an asshat.. but 4 years to be a psychiatrist after college.. someone had to tell the poor kid before he messed up his last year of undergrad