For a very long time, I have wanted to be a psychiatrist. As someone with mental health issues who has a lot of close friends with mental health issues, helping those who also struggle is something that is very important to me.

The problem is, I am not sure if I'm strong enough for med school. Ok, I'll rephrase that...I'm not strong enough for med school. I did a one year masters program this year to get me prepared for med school; essentially, I took all the same courses a first year med student would take. It was awful. I was so stressed and anxious, and I experienced a really bad depression second semester.

So, I'm looking at alternate career paths.

Option A:

Become a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Pros: I could prescribe medications, do therapy, and I'd have a back-up career as a nurse if I got too sick to complete the advanced nursing practice degree after completing the RN, I don't have to take any more standardized tests, and I could probably get into a program that would start in January or May of next year.

Cons: I don't think I'd be able to do research, and I don't think I'd get much respect.

Option B:

Become a clinical psychologist.

Pros: I would receive extensive research training, I would also get more training on how to conduct therapy than a psychiatrist would, I think the coursework would be very interesting, most of the classes I'd be taking would directly relate to what I want to ultimately do, I wouldn't have to pay tuition.

Cons: I'm not sure I could get into a PhD program, I wouldn't be able to prescribe meds in most states, I'd have to take the GRE, and I'd make less than either an MD or an NP.

So, what do you all think I should do?