Hello! I'm a high school senior and I wanted to major in Mechanical Engineering and then apply to medical school. However, I'm kinda scared that my GPA will be very low because of how difficult Mech. Eng. is. Is there anyone who has done this that can give me some advice? Thanks!
Mech. Engineering as a major
- Thread starter sonpat
- Start date
- Joined
- May 4, 2015
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction score
- 368
If I could go back to college I would have listened to my idealistic self and done the major that impressed me the most. People say think practically and that is OK but there is a difference between practicality and interest. Highly recommend you to never compromise in life especially in terms of what you want to study. Do the most amazing major you can find and don't look back at the other premeds.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2010
- Messages
- 75,069
- Reaction score
- 120,528
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 83
Engineer here. Don't go in with such a pessimistic mentality.
I don't like the phrase "engineering is difficult". Is it challenging? Yes. Does it require a big time commitment and a strong work ethic? Yes. Can you party every weekend and still expect to do well? Probably not.
If you put in the time, you will get good grades and will do well. Whether or not you'll maintain a good GPA is entirely up to you. I maintained a good GPA, and I'm not one of those people who can do well without working hard.
- Joined
- May 4, 2015
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction score
- 368
Adding to this, I tend to find that what you are genuinely good at is what you should focus on majoring in. As a quantitative type of person, engineering would have been much better for me, especially now that I go back and see my transcript, that really shows considering the bigger amount of motivation and curiosity I had for related classes. You won't understand this regret until you
Graduate with a bio degree and take a gap year or 2 and look back at how useful and universal the classes as an engineer or math person would have been. Thankfully I supplemented my education with as much of Quant and research I could possibly find but even still I am lacking.
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
- Messages
- 6,232
- Reaction score
- 7,580
Why major in engineering if you don't intend to be an engineer?
- Joined
- May 4, 2015
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction score
- 368
I don't want to be a researcher but doing research gives me a great joy...over my more relevant job. I also find that every physician is not the same so trying to put ppl in a box is nonsense. I know plenty of physicians that have done other things...and not let being a physician as an end goal keep them away from concocting their own unique profession.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 83
Being an engineer has given me great insight into medicine and research. All the tools engineering gives you can be applied to medicine.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2013
- Messages
- 8,599
- Reaction score
- 19,864
Why specifically mechanical engineering? Why not biomedical? Or chemical? Why engineering at all?
Do whatever you want but do well and put a little more thought into why or how you want to structure your undergrad education. My advice to you is that if you feel things are too difficult to just take more time to do them. There is no reason to take a 19 hour semester and get a 3.0 when you could take two 13 hour semesters and get a 4.0 in both of them. Allocating more time for your classes allows for more difficult coursework.
Do whatever you want but do well and put a little more thought into why or how you want to structure your undergrad education. My advice to you is that if you feel things are too difficult to just take more time to do them. There is no reason to take a 19 hour semester and get a 3.0 when you could take two 13 hour semesters and get a 4.0 in both of them. Allocating more time for your classes allows for more difficult coursework.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 83
I was not great at science in high school, but I worked hard and succeeded as an engineer.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2014
- Messages
- 1,483
- Reaction score
- 924
Clearly you are not "bad at math and science" - you just under-performed in HS.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 83
I agree, but many people (especially high school graduates) assume they are bad at something because of their past under-performance. This hinders progress and doesn't allow them to realize their full potential. I see that quite often - people are intimidated and this clouds their judgement.
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2015
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 66
Unless there are four engineering majors and twenty thousand biology majors, I think this is correct! Engineering may be a beneficial/convenient major (especially if you change your mind about becoming a doctor), but maintaining a high GPA should be your top priority if you are looking into medical school.
Best of luck, Technology
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2015
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 66
It's good that you are open-minded and thinking about several possible majors but if your main goal is to become a doctor, then try choosing something that interests you or something you are good at! Experimenting other majors is never frowned upon, especially by college professors... but medical school admissions will generally ignore your major unless it stands out significantly among other majors.
Having a backup plan is somewhat essential (there are hundreds of thousands of kids who want to become doctors when starting college). If you are able to maintain a high GPA after taking all of the pre-requisite courses, your major can be of your choice. If your GPA struggles, and you still wish to become a doctor, then consider taking an easier major.
Best of luck, Technology
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2011
- Messages
- 1,870
- Reaction score
- 1,406
Why would you do a major that has minimal overlap with medicine? If you want to be a mechanical engineer, do mechanical engineering. If you want to be a doctor, do pre-med or biomedical engineering.
As a Mech E you will have to take all the med school pre-reqs and upper-level biology courses in addition to your Mech E courses. There will be overlap for BME.
As a Mech E you will have to take all the med school pre-reqs and upper-level biology courses in addition to your Mech E courses. There will be overlap for BME.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 83
Mechanical Engineering has more in common with medicine than you think.
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
- Messages
- 6,232
- Reaction score
- 7,580
As someone who nearly completed an engineering degree, and is now actually in medical school.......... I don't really think there's much overlap.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2014
- Messages
- 117
- Reaction score
- 48
Ok! First answer this question "Why Mechanical engineering?"
Secondly, which out of the following holds true for you...
a) You love Mechanical Engineering (Perhaps you have done something related to it which sparked your interest. For example : A project in high school)
b) Family pressure
c) Backup plan
d) You see its relevance in medicine
Other important questions to ask yourself are as follows :
1) What have you done engineering related so far that made you decide to major in Mechanical engineering, especially if your goal is to get into medical school.
2) Do you have the aptitude, work ethic and passion for engineering?
3) If you do get into medical school, how will it help you to become a better doctor?
4) If you do not get into medical school, do you see yourself pursuing a career in the engineering field for the rest of your life?
