Medicine or Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Hey, I am currently in S6 and am extremely torn between two courses of study at university - Medicine or Mechanical with Aerospace Engineering. Throughout my school career I have always strived towards the grades needed for medicine - trying to be top of the class at everything I do. I am not naturally intellectually gifted but I work extremely hard to get good grades, I enjoy maths and science subjects (especially Physics and Chemistry). I achieved AAAAB in my Highers (the B was in Higher RMPS) and 1750 with a band 2 in my UCAT.

For the case of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering, over the past 3-2 years I have become increasingly more interested in the development of vehicles for the top level of motorsport and gotten into watching F1 and WEC, and dreaming of being a trackside engineer and traveling the world as part of a team - competing for wins and gains. However, I understand that these roles are few and far between and that the employability prospects are slim for these types of roles. My problem with applying to do Mechanical and Aerospace is that I am worried that I will fall into a mundane and boring career in the future just sitting in an office block and working like a machine without any human connection/communication from 9-5 everyday, something that I am as much as possible wanting to avoid.

For the case of Medicine, I have a love for trying to help people as much as I can, and I am a very sociable person. And I am also almost guaranteed a full time job after graduating. The problem with Medicine is my UCAT score is in a grey area where it is not great but above the cut off (I wish i either did brilliantly or failed miserably) for most university's and I am worried I will apply and get 0 offers for interviews, and be delayed entry to Uni, I have also found it extremely hard to find work experience to boost my personal statement. The last problem with Medicine is that I fear my heart isn't complete set on it and that it may result in burn out and exhaustion from 6+ years of study.

If anyone can provide some advice or discussion or what they would do in my situation it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Reply 1

KingKevan7

Both are respectable careers and offer the benefit of being able to see your work (if you go into Aero, you may watch the aircraft you worked on fly, if you go into medicine, you may see the patient you treated live). I would honestly take a good few days to dwell on nothing but what you enjoy most.

Both disciplines tend to be underpaid in the UK, but you’ll have the benefit of most likely being able to move abroad.

P.S. don’t worry about it being boring, every job eventually turns into a corporate job if you’re in it long enough.

Reply 2

uh.nabiha

One of my siblings do engineering and the other does medicine. The one doing medicine has such long hours and she’s constantly exhausted. I would say if you want to prioritise life and events pick engineering as a 9-5 is better, and also you could do a PHD after