Medicine vs Engineering

straight_As

Hi guys ,

Firstly, I'm only in 5th year atm, but nonetheless, this is niggling at me.

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to do medicine. In all honesty, it's all I've ever really wanted to do. I did my TY work experience in a hospital (loved it) and have been researching the different courses, both home and abroad, since 2nd year. I do care work as a local volunteer and, even though at times it is challenging, in general, I very much enjoy it. In essence, I always saw medicine as the perfect career for me.........

Until recently. The whole ultra-reduction on health services, doctors' training grants and the inevitable increase ( :eek: ) in the hours a doctor will have to work are terrifying me. I always knew and realised that a doctor's life was very tough and that very long hours and low pay were the standard, but now, it just seems to be too much. I'm really worried that one night, while on call, I'll wake up and say to myself "72 hour shift? this isn't worth it", and I'll have to basically start my life from scratch again. It's killing me inside as I know that if I want to be a good doctor, I should be really looking forward to these challenges, not dreading them.

Then I realise the impact I would have on peoples' lives. The chance to help someone using all the detailed knowledge acquired, and de-complicating it so as to put the patient at ease inspires me. I'm addicted to helping people (sad as it sounds) and a career with the said motivation appeals to me so much.

But lately, I've been thinking about engineering.

Subject-wise, engineering is probably my most compatible career and course. I adore applied maths, literally, I love it. It's by far my favorite subject and also my best. I sometimes even do it for funsies ( ). I'm intrigued by the way maths can describe the physical world in a language more precise and poetic than any other. I also get an unbelievable rush from solving a problem in a shorter way than the teacher. It's an indescribable buzz that I'm sure some of you have experienced.

That said, though, I am very strong at chemistry and biology. The only thing is, while I find them interesting, they always seem confined to a set way of thinking and no lateral or creativity is required to solve their rather shallow problems. I know a career as a doctor requires an analytical mind which also has the ability to see the world outside of the box (cliché'd as hell, I'm sorry), but from all my research, and indeed talking to students, the med course seems to very much reward the rote learner and it really appears to come down to how much you can remember instead how well you understand. This really wouldn't be my idea of an enjoyable course. I much prefer understanding and application over the learning of reams of bland text.

I know that if I was to choose to follow engineering, I would have time to myself, perhaps even a life outside of work. The whole 100 hour week of junior doctors is scary to say the least. I can't imagine any social life with theses hours. Between work and sleep, I really don't see how doctors have time for anything else! I know the EWTD has outlined a shorter working week, but honestly, with the state of our health system I don't forsee the government implementing this scheme. And with regards to the economy, I don't believe this crap that we will have recovered in 5 years time, i.e., just when I'd be scheduled to emerge from the depths of college......

There is also the possibility of working in a vast array of fields other than the stereotypical engineer (which hardly exists anyway). It would seem that many industries are attracted to the skills of engineering graduates and this diversity of metier enthralls me. My dad is a qualified engineer and works outside what I would classify as "engineering" so I, myself, can vouch for this. I have also read that engineers are seven times more likely to end up as CEOs or equivalents than any other profession which is interesting.

I'm sorry guys if I'm sounding pathetic here, but it's really tormenting me. My goal, my career path, my ultimate ambition seems to be fading quickly and I'm worried that it is fading unnecessarily so. I'm so afraid of missing out on my 20's and 30's for a job, even if it is the most rewarding available. For the last 5 years, I could not imagine myself doing ANYTHING but medicine, now, though, I'm having doubts.

I suppose it will come down to my commitment; is a career as a trusted healer worth the sacrifice of the best years of one's life?

Medicine or engineering? Your wise words, as always, would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks for listening, and in advance for your help.

(P.S. I feel confident that I could obtain the points for both courses, so that really isn't an issue. It's more the overall personal satisfaction each would offer me.)

c-note

dont think about the money!!
if you're going for medicine your likely to be in for the long haul, nobody can say what a doctors life pay/conditions will be like in 20 years time.
(or engineers for that matter)

if you've had your heart set on medicine since you were young, it may be a chip on your shoulder if you decide to do engineering. if you do decide to do engineering you'll have to commit to it and not regret not choosing medicine and visa versa.

or you could have the best of both worlds, if you like the idea of spending a long time in college you could study engineering and then do a suitability test to study medicine. i know 3 people who are doing this right now.

anyhoo you still have lots of time to think about it. best of luck