Thought I was set on engineering but now thinking Medicine is appealing...

Original post by The_Top_Hat

My story is basically I thought I was set on engineering at university however in the past 2 months I've been thinking more about weather I want this as a career. Just 3 months before the application deadline, I'm seeing myself more in a job as a doctor and not as an engineer. I've read lots that engineers just graduate and then sit at a desk doing computer programming or mechanics. That isn't at all what I want to do at all, I would love to diagnose and be presented with new problems everyday to solve and help people generally (Have an active job).
I'm just quite afraid to make any decisions as my personal statement etc is all set to engineering...
For any reference if you need it, my AS's are Maths, F.Maths, Physics and Chemistry and I'm on for AAAA, however what I'm taking through, I have no clue.
GCSEs are 8 A*s and 5 As.

If you have any advice or want to verify anything, please ask, I need to talk to people about this!

Medicine goes beyond just the functional task of making diagnoses - simply having an inquiring and analytical mind doesn't mean you'd enjoy doing medicine.

Are you actually interested in the idea of learning the various branches of medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, etc)? are you interested in how the body works and what can go wrong with it? By the looks of your A levels you seem like someone who enjoys mathematical subjects - would you be okay with the fact that there is virtually no maths or physics taught in medical school?

Do you see yourself working in a profession which requires you to interact with the general public on a daily basis and to care for people who may be very ill indeed?

As has already been pointed out, being a doctor also involves boring and menial tasks like paperwork, admin and so forth. The training pathway is long and expensive and requires you to continue studying and sitting exams long after you've graduated from medical school. I'm not saying this to put you off (I'm a med student and I love it) but merely so that you have a realistic idea of what you're getting into.

Basically I'd say you should research a bit more into what it's like being a doctor - look up some med school prospectuses, see if the course content which you'll be learning for 5 or 6 years actually interests you or not. Then perhaps look into arranging a period of work shadowing at a hospital or a GP's surgery so you can see whether you think you'd be suited to the working environment :smile:

Reply 4

A-New-Start

Original post by JakeyKakey

From what I heard from my friends who wanted to study medicine, but ultimately went against it, you need so much hospital/intern experience crammed up your arse that it's very unfeasible to just decide to try medicine unless you had strict Asian parents pushing you into it since you were twelve and/or go to a private school and are well-off enough to be on a personal basis with the people who can hook you up with some experience. You're also lacking a Biology A-Level which may count against you. I might be talking utter *******s though, because as I said it's not first hand experience.

And nonsense, there's plenty of active engineering jobs just as there's plenty of "crappy" medical jobs. Do you think hospitals are like Scrubs/House M.D. and you don't spend a large chunk of your time swarmed with paperwork? Unless you're a surgeon or a technician, you'll spend more of your time screwing around looking at the results of tests somebody else did for you as well as dealing with patients who think their sniffles are actually cancer.

You've heard wrong on both accounts.

I have Asian parents and they never force me into anything and they are the complete opposite of strict, so please don't generalise.

Also i had very little work experience ( none in hospitals and GP areas ) and yet i had other things to say in my personal statement and interview - and still got an offer. So you don't need anything "crammed up your arse".

Also i decided i wanted to study medicine when i was 15.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 5

oli_G

12

Original post by JakeyKakey

From what I heard from my friends who wanted to study medicine, but ultimately went against it, you need so much hospital/intern experience crammed up your arse that it's very unfeasible to just decide to try medicine unless you had strict Asian parents pushing you into it since you were twelve and/or go to a private school and are well-off enough to be on a personal basis with the people who can hook you up with some experience.

Not true, none of these apply to me (or quite a few people I know) and we are going to do medicine.

OP, Biology A level is not required for all medical schools (just research the ones that do require it, this info may be on tsr, and avoid them). You'll have to do the UKCAT this summer (as well as possibly the BMAT) and will need to get some work experience/volunteering to write about in your personal statement. If you think you can do all of this before the deadline it could be worth applying, especially if you get a really good UKCAT and AS grades. However, maybe think about taking a gap year and getting more experience before applying.

Reply 6

OP

Original post by JakeyKakey

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Original post by Democracy

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Original post by oli_G

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I've been thinking about this for a long time and have done quite a bit of research. I know there is a lot of paperwork involved etc and I think I can bear that (Oh and from what i've heard surgeons do actually have ALOT of paperwork, sometimes more than other area professionals). I've also looked at the BMAT and UKCAT and judged my options, I know where I can apply due to no A-Level biology as well and also tried for some work experience (No luck yet).
I am however considering a year out and looking into my options, do work experience then and earn some money maybe and then possibly make an application. I can do UKCAT and BMATs next year in this case.

I may have a lot of maths in my A-Level and I do well in it but it's not an entirely interesting topic for me, I prefer chemistry and physics.

Another annoying thing is my sister who just finished a marine biology degree is wanting to go into medicine and decided that before me and so is getting 'Pissed off' at the fact I'm looking at it... I honestly have no idea why that is.

I suppose what I really need to know is what is a medical course like? Please don't list out the bad, identify the areas that interest you so I can get an idea of the course.

Reply 7

woodpecker

10

The other thing you need to be aware of is that some medical schools don't accept Maths and Further Maths as two ASs, they'd only count as one, so you'd have to look into where you could apply with them.

Other than that and the things already pointed out above, as long as you've researched it, there shouldn't be any problem. Although it might be better to take a year out, like you said, and get some work experience/volunteering rather than trying to change your personal statement and do exams like the UKCAT and BMAT in a hurry. Good luck with it :smile:

Reply 8

Original post by The_Top_Hat

I've been thinking about this for a long time and have done quite a bit of research. I know there is a lot of paperwork involved etc and I think I can bear that (Oh and from what i've heard surgeons do actually have ALOT of paperwork, sometimes more than other area professionals). I've also looked at the BMAT and UKCAT and judged my options, I know where I can apply due to no A-Level biology as well and also tried for some work experience (No luck yet).
I am however considering a year out and looking into my options, do work experience then and earn some money maybe and then possibly make an application. I can do UKCAT and BMATs next year in this case.

I may have a lot of maths in my A-Level and I do well in it but it's not an entirely interesting topic for me, I prefer chemistry and physics.

Another annoying thing is my sister who just finished a marine biology degree is wanting to go into medicine and decided that before me and so is getting 'Pissed off' at the fact I'm looking at it... I honestly have no idea why that is.

I suppose what I really need to know is what is a medical course like? Please don't list out the bad, identify the areas that interest you so I can get an idea of the course.

That's fair enough - don't take what your sister's saying too seriously, it's probably just a bit of sibling rivalry. Absolutely no reason why you both shouldn't go into medicine if that's what you both like :p:

There are different types of teaching methods and course structures which vary from medical school to medical school. In general however, you can expect to spend two pre-clinical years predominantly in lecture theatres/seminars learning the basic sciences of medicine (anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc). After that you'll have three years of clinical medicine which involves completing rotations in different medical specialities, being in wards and clinics, etc.

Most of the course could be described as human biology, but it is taught in an applied way rather than in an experimental context. There's also a bit of psychology, sociology, ethics, etc too. As I've already said, there's virtually no physics or maths, and very little chemistry.

More details here: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine_Course_Structure

Do you have any specific questions? I've given you a general overview here because your question was rather broad :p:

Reply 9

OP

Original post by Democracy

That's fair enough - don't take what your sister's saying too seriously, it's probably just a bit of sibling rivalry. Absolutely no reason why you both shouldn't go into medicine if that's what you both like :p:

There are different types of teaching methods and course structures which vary from medical school to medical school. In general however, you can expect to spend two pre-clinical years predominantly in lecture theatres/seminars learning the basic sciences of medicine (anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc). After that you'll have three years of clinical medicine which involves completing rotations in different medical specialities, being in wards and clinics, etc.

Most of the course could be described as human biology, but it is taught in an applied way rather than in an experimental context. There's also a bit of psychology, sociology, ethics, etc too. As I've already said, there's virtually no physics or maths, and very little chemistry.

More details here: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine_Course_Structure

Do you have any specific questions? I've given you a general overview here because your question was rather broad :p:

Thanks for the response.
I'm generally looking at medicine because on inspecting my own personal traits and what I would like to see myself doing in 10 years time, medicine seems to look fantastic. One goal I've always wanted is to make a difference and I have an analytical mind and I love to solve problems, as well as trying to help people as often as possible whether it be in study help or needing advice. I would love the chance to make a difference and be respected in a tough job. Also I know it sounds odd but I like the 'idea' of being on call and then suddenly being presented with a new problem out of the blue which I have to solve, it sounds exhilarating (I'm sure its different to that but you get the gist).
(I think I have the academic ability and I can catch up with any missed work such as doing extra biology so to me the workload isn't an issue)
Does this sound like I have the skill set to look into medicine?
And I assume you are a medical student, what do you love about the course?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 10

Original post by The_Top_Hat

Does this sound like I have the skill set to look into medicine?

It seems like you're thinking along the right lines yep, but ultimately you're the best judge of yourself, which is why it can be incredibly useful to complete a period of work shadowing at a hospital - it can give you a very good insight into the day to day work of doctors and give you greater confidence in your decision :smile:

And I assume you are a medical student, what do you love about the course?

Well first and foremost I really like that what I'm learning is practical and applicable and can make a real difference to people's lives and can help get them better. Not many other jobs can offer similar satisfication in my opinion.

I am also interested in how the body works, what can go wrong with it and how it can be fixed, so I find the science of medicine interesting too, especially physiology and pathology. But ultimately what I like best is learning how to put this science into context by learning how it can be used to treat illness.

As I've mentioned earlier, I also like how a medical course isn't just pure science but includes other disciplines too including social sciences. I have an interest in politics, ethics, debating etc so in that sense it's nice to occasionally get away from anatomy and consider something totally different like sociology.

I've always been interested in having a job which involves interacting with the public, so that's really what I like most about the course. I'm still at an early stage in my studies, but the best bit is definitely being on the wards and getting to take a history from a patient, performing examinations, etc :biggrin:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 11

OP

Original post by Democracy

It seems like you're thinking along the right lines yep, but ultimately you're the best judge of yourself, which is why it can be incredibly useful to complete a period of work shadowing at a hospital - it can give you a very good insight into the day to day work of doctors and give you greater confidence in your decision :smile:

Well first and foremost I really like that what I'm learning is practical and applicable and can make a real difference to people's lives and can help get them better. Not many other jobs can offer similar satisfication in my opinion.

I am also interested in how the body works, what can go wrong with it and how it can be fixed, so I find the science of medicine interesting too, especially physiology and pathology. But ultimately what I like best is learning how to put this science into context by learning how it can be used to treat illness.

As I've mentioned earlier, I also like how a medical course isn't just pure science but includes other disciplines too including social sciences. I have an interest in politics, ethics, debating etc so in that sense it's nice to occasionally get away from anatomy and consider something totally different like sociology.

I've always been interested in having a job which involves interacting with the public, so that's really what I like most about the course. I'm still at an early stage in my studies, but the best bit is definitely being on the wards and getting to take a history from a patient, performing examinations, etc :biggrin:

That sounds very exciting! I think I might find the diagnosis really interesting. Surgery looks quite interesting but diagnosis looks fascinating, not really specialising in any field but being able have a broad understanding would be fun! Or nuero-surgery...
I've applied to a few hospitals, just sent off the last e-mails (Finding the right e-mail address is impossibly difficult...) and hopefully I can get something.
Oh and how did you find the UKCAT and what did you do to prepare for it?
Thanks for the advice. This is quite a scary prospect as all of this is 3 months before I have to apply, seems i'll be taking a year out and applying next year instead... (Apply for engineering this year and inspect the process?)

Reply 12

JoshL123

2

Original post by The_Top_Hat

My story is basically I thought I was set on engineering at university however in the past 2 months I've been thinking more about whether I want this as a career. Just 3 months before the application deadline, I'm seeing myself more in a job as a doctor and not as an engineer. I've read lots that engineers just graduate and then sit at a desk doing computer programming or mechanics. That isn't at all what I want to do at all, I would love to diagnose and be presented with new problems everyday to solve and help people generally (Have an active job).
I'm just quite afraid to make any decisions as my personal statement etc is all set to engineering...
For any reference if you need it, my AS's are Maths, F.Maths, Physics and Chemistry and I'm on for AAAA, however what I'm taking through, I have no clue.
GCSEs are 8 A*s and 5 As.

If you have any advice or want to verify anything, please ask, I need to talk to people about this!

Hi there! I was exactly in the same situation as you though I was in year 11 when deciding between engineering and pursuing a career in medicine. Your grades are strong for medicine but consider a lot more as to why you would like to do it before you actually set your heart on it. Have you any work experience (e.g. a setting in a hospital or care home), or in-sight into medicine/ done a number of things to strengthen your application? I am sure that you ill know that medicine isn't 100% about the grades. Do you do any extra-curricular activities? On an interesting note, have you also done the Engineering Education Scheme?

Reply 13

OP

Original post by JoshL123

Hi there! I was exactly in the same situation as you though I was in year 11 when deciding between engineering and pursuing a career in medicine. Your grades are strong for medicine but consider a lot more as to why you would like to do it before you actually set your heart on it. Have you any work experience (e.g. a setting in a hospital or care home), or in-sight into medicine/ done a number of things to strengthen your application? I am sure that you ill know that medicine isn't 100% about the grades. Do you do any extra-curricular activities? On an interesting note, have you also done the Engineering Education Scheme?

Well for engineering, I have a strong personal statement. I've done Student Robotics (Basically identical to a 6 month project in year 2 at uni for engineering), work experience, extra reading and some other stuff but all in all, I find it quite boring... I've applied for work experience at some hospitals, still awaiting answers and in terms or extra-curricular for medicine, not too much yet. I do do mentoring and I am a swimming coach (And I'm a NPLQ lifeguard) which may help the application but I'm taking the year out to hopefully bolster my application.
I haven't done the engineering education scheme either.

Reply 14

JoshL123

2

Original post by The_Top_Hat

Well for engineering, I have a strong personal statement. I've done Student Robotics (Basically identical to a 6 month project in year 2 at uni for engineering), work experience, extra reading and some other stuff but all in all, I find it quite boring... I've applied for work experience at some hospitals, still awaiting answers and in terms or extra-curricular for medicine, not too much yet. I do do mentoring and I am a swimming coach (And I'm a NPLQ lifeguard) which may help the application but I'm taking the year out to hopefully bolster my application.
I haven't done the engineering education scheme either.

That's great! To be honest applying for engineering this year round may be ideal and then take the gap year out and apply for medicine. You can strengthen your application in prep for next year. I did the EES (basically like Student Robotics) and included it in my PS. It was an interesting topic to discuss on my med interview. If you phrase it correctly (but do not over do it) your engineering experiences can be used to enhance and may make your personal statement unique. Engineering is actually becoming very big in medicine (e.g Biomedical Engineering), especially in fields such as surgery. Although they aren't looking for doctors to design medical engineering equipment they are certainly looking for doctors that can have a firm understanding of future developments. So don't completely ignore all of your engineering experiences. I personally understand your view on engineering. My dad's an engineer and it didn't seem like the ideal career for me. Try and also find some experiences in care homes and hospitals. If you are on a gap year it might be ideal to spend more than your usual once a week volunteering. You could possibly volunteer 2 or three days a week or potentially get a paid job in a hospital.

In terms of the mentoring and swimming coach...all brilliant things to do. I did mentoring last year as well. Although all of your experiences do not have to be medically related, if you can tie them into a medical career you will be fine. Feel free to pm if you have some queries :smile:

Reply 15

OP

Original post by JoshL123

That's great! To be honest applying for engineering this year round may be ideal and then take the gap year out and apply for medicine. You can strengthen your application in prep for next year. I did the EES (basically like Student Robotics) and included it in my PS. It was an interesting topic to discuss on my med interview. If you phrase it correctly (but do not over do it) your engineering experiences can be used to enhance and may make your personal statement unique. Engineering is actually becoming very big in medicine (e.g Biomedical Engineering), especially in fields such as surgery. Although they aren't looking for doctors to design medical engineering equipment they are certainly looking for doctors that can have a firm understanding of future developments. So don't completely ignore all of your engineering experiences. I personally understand your view on engineering. My dad's an engineer and it didn't seem like the ideal career for me. Try and also find some experiences in care homes and hospitals. If you are on a gap year it might be ideal to spend more than your usual once a week volunteering. You could possibly volunteer 2 or three days a week or potentially get a paid job in a hospital.

In terms of the mentoring and swimming coach...all brilliant things to do. I did mentoring last year as well. Although all of your experiences do not have to be medically related, if you can tie them into a medical career you will be fine. Feel free to pm if you have some queries :smile:

Thanks for the response again! Its great to know that I can actually have a chance at applying. I just hope I can get the work experience sorted early...

Reply 16

OP

Original post by JoshL123

Hi there! I was exactly in the same situation as you though I was in year 11 when deciding between engineering and pursuing a career in medicine. Your grades are strong for medicine but consider a lot more as to why you would like to do it before you actually set your heart on it. Have you any work experience (e.g. a setting in a hospital or care home), or in-sight into medicine/ done a number of things to strengthen your application? I am sure that you ill know that medicine isn't 100% about the grades. Do you do any extra-curricular activities? On an interesting note, have you also done the Engineering Education Scheme?

Oh and just a question. Do you agree with the idea that I should take an AS in Biology during my A2 year, alongside A2 Maths, Physics and Chemistry?
It would seem to help the variety of universities I can apply to such as Imperial.

Reply 17

Original post by The_Top_Hat

That sounds very exciting! I think I might find the diagnosis really interesting. Surgery looks quite interesting but diagnosis looks fascinating, not really specialising in any field but being able have a broad understanding would be fun! Or nuero-surgery...
I've applied to a few hospitals, just sent off the last e-mails (Finding the right e-mail address is impossibly difficult...) and hopefully I can get something.
Oh and how did you find the UKCAT and what did you do to prepare for it?
Thanks for the advice. This is quite a scary prospect as all of this is 3 months before I have to apply, seems i'll be taking a year out and applying next year instead... (Apply for engineering this year and inspect the process?)

Heya

The UKCAT wasn't too bad, I spent about 3 weeks preparing for it. I bought a few books and subscribed to a couple of online question banks and spent several hours a day practising using those. It's not really difficult, it just requires a bit of preparation and familirisation. You get the results immediately after the exam which is good as it means you can apply strategically based on how well you do. More info on the UKCAT here:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/UKCAT

Absolutely nothing wrong with taking a year out in order to apply if you don't manage to find any work experience etc for this summer - lots of applicants take a gap year in order to apply for med school :smile:

Reply 18

OP