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Engineering, dentistry or medicine ?

Hi I’m a girl in year 11 and since last week I’ve always wanted to do engineering as a course in university, specifically civil or mechanical engineering. I’ve always thought this is what I really wanted to do, until last week my parents said they were not happy about me wanting to be an engineer.

I really respect my parents wants for me and think they have every right to want me to become something I might not agree with, for context my parents are immigrants and my dad is a minicab driver and my mum has no occupation, also my older sister is now studying medicine at university.

Since my parents have worked so hard to get me to where I am I want them to be happy with my career path especially now that my sister has set the bar quite high by currently studying medicine to become a doctor.

I have now started to consider dentistry as I feel it is more closely linked to engineering qualities such as artistic and technical and very hands on also dentistry does interest me, however I’m not gravitating as much towards medicine as I feel it’s harder to get into than dentistry, more years to study, and just overall harder.

I would love for anyone to answer back with what career path I should take between civil engineering, dentistry and medicine.

Since I’m in year 11 it’s becoming time for me to apply to sixth forms and I really need to decide fast which A levels I need/want to do, fyi, I really like maths so I look forward to picking that as an a level!

Thank you for reading I would love to hear what you guys have to say!
Original post by Engistry
Hi I’m a girl in year 11 and since last week I’ve always wanted to do engineering as a course in university, specifically civil or mechanical engineering. I’ve always thought this is what I really wanted to do, until last week my parents said they were not happy about me wanting to be an engineer.

I really respect my parents wants for me and think they have every right to want me to become something I might not agree with, for context my parents are immigrants and my dad is a minicab driver and my mum has no occupation, also my older sister is now studying medicine at university.

Since my parents have worked so hard to get me to where I am I want them to be happy with my career path especially now that my sister has set the bar quite high by currently studying medicine to become a doctor.

I have now started to consider dentistry as I feel it is more closely linked to engineering qualities such as artistic and technical and very hands on also dentistry does interest me, however I’m not gravitating as much towards medicine as I feel it’s harder to get into than dentistry, more years to study, and just overall harder.

I would love for anyone to answer back with what career path I should take between civil engineering, dentistry and medicine.

Since I’m in year 11 it’s becoming time for me to apply to sixth forms and I really need to decide fast which A levels I need/want to do, fyi, I really like maths so I look forward to picking that as an a level!

Thank you for reading I would love to hear what you guys have to say!

actually dentistry is harder to get into in comparison to medicine but if your hearts not set on either then no point try to discuss with ur parents and tell them the reason you want to go into engineering show them the post uni benefits in terms of finances and lifestyle and highlight how this suits you also dentistry is the same amount of years as medicine so maybe research more on both careers to keep options open bio chem needed for both med and dent any engineering course requires maths but the really competitive unis would want maths and fm
(edited 4 months ago)
Reply 2
Hi, coming from someone who is a medicine applicant AND with immigrant parents do not pursue dentistry/medicine. It is a very serious career, with lifelong exams and non-stop stressing. You will need to be 100% with it, with a genuine passion to help patients or you will hate it everyday. Dentistry is not an easy way out, even though it is more relaxed it is still a gruelling job and you will still face the same challenges as those doing medicine.

Engineering is an amazing career choice, and you actually want to pursue it which is what matters the most. It is YOUR life, not your parents’. I know you want to make them happy, and I know how strict they can be but they will understand one day. As much as you love your parents, it is your life at the end of the day and if anything they should be proud that you want to be an engineer.
Original post by Engistry
Hi I’m a girl in year 11 and since last week I’ve always wanted to do engineering as a course in university, specifically civil or mechanical engineering. I’ve always thought this is what I really wanted to do, until last week my parents said they were not happy about me wanting to be an engineer.

I really respect my parents wants for me and think they have every right to want me to become something I might not agree with, for context my parents are immigrants and my dad is a minicab driver and my mum has no occupation, also my older sister is now studying medicine at university.

Since my parents have worked so hard to get me to where I am I want them to be happy with my career path especially now that my sister has set the bar quite high by currently studying medicine to become a doctor.

I have now started to consider dentistry as I feel it is more closely linked to engineering qualities such as artistic and technical and very hands on also dentistry does interest me, however I’m not gravitating as much towards medicine as I feel it’s harder to get into than dentistry, more years to study, and just overall harder.

I would love for anyone to answer back with what career path I should take between civil engineering, dentistry and medicine.

Since I’m in year 11 it’s becoming time for me to apply to sixth forms and I really need to decide fast which A levels I need/want to do, fyi, I really like maths so I look forward to picking that as an a level!

Thank you for reading I would love to hear what you guys have to say!


What do you mean by “artistic” for engineering? Engineering is very analytical & driven largely through empirical & computational methods.

whilst dentistry probably has a lot of technical elements as does engineering, what technical means & compasses i suspect is wildly different.

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