Social skills- premed and engineering

[oliveberry]

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(Sorry if this is the wrong forum! I wasn't sure where else to post).
Hello, I am currently an female college student and I really cannot decide between engineering and medical school. I can see myself doing both, but my real concern is the social aspects of either career.

I realized throughout high school that I really need human interaction and feeling like I belong to be happy. I can be pretty reserved and introverted at times, yet I really yearn for a deep connection with a small group of friends. Thus I try to be as sociable as I can, but it sometimes results in social awkwardness. I think I may have a bit of social anxiety as well.

I am currently a chemistry/physics/undecided major, but am a bit overwhelmed right now. I am intimidated by those seriously outgoing, charming, incredibly intelligent, kind, etc. pre-med classmates that you just KNOW are going to make it to med school and have a successful life. I know I will never be as nearly competitive to med school as those students, which makes me a little sad.

On the other hand, I also have the option of transferring to engineering. I know this is stereotyping, but engineers do tend to be a bit more introverted and nerdy, and I might feel like I belong more there. Obviously engineering also requires communication skills, but I feel like you can get away with it more. On top of that, to be premed, you are basically required to get to know your professors for rec letters, take leadership positions, the more networking the better, etc. which would take me out of my comfort zone way further. I just think doing engineering might give me more exposure to people that I would more easily connect with, and I would have a happier college experience.

Is it silly to assume that a change of majors would affect my happiness in college this much?

Academically, I can see myself doing either. I enjoy studying, especially math and science, and blood/cadavers/surgery doesn't gross me out. I like nerdy and I do like talking to people, just not when thats the determining factor in how competent at your job you are. I also love the idea of studying recent medical developments continuously throughout my life, I am naturally curious and I think that would satisfy me.

Can anyone offer any advice? People keep saying that if all are things equal, go for med school b/c job prospects. Im not sure about that.. any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[fellowstudent92]

Inb4 suggestions towards PA/NP. 🙂

 

[Sesom]

I think you should apply to med school but major in engineering along the way.

 

[oliveberry]

Inb4 suggestions towards PA/NP. 🙂

What is PA/NP?

 

[oliveberry]

I think you should apply to med school but major in engineering along the way.

I have considered that. But wouldn't it make my life even more miserable because of the extra work?
I am currently studying at Cornell, and I heard the engineering courses are brutal for premeds...

 

[kraskadva]

What is PA/NP?

Physician's Assistant/Nurse Practitioner, but never mind that, somebody was just being a smart @ss

Look, you're what, 18?,19? years old...social awkwardness is fairly normal. You're just so focused on your own emotions right now that you're not registering everybody else's.
Pick whichever major makes you happy. Seriously.
If it makes you happy, you'll be more likely to do well. If you do well in whatever major, then you'll have an easier time of getting into whichever career you pick.
So pick a major, keep your grades up, and start shadowing both doctors and engineers. You need to see a day in the life to be able to assess which career would be the best fit for you.

Best of luck to you.

 

[DokterMom]

What about BioMedical Engineering? Great career, and plenty of time to fork this way or that if you decide you want to.

 

[Gauss44]

Trust that you can solve the problems in bold (in the quote below) with counseling. Do NOT arrange your long-term life and career goals around solvable problems. Instead, work on solving and overcoming those problems. In the long term, you will know that is the right decision.

Here's a good place to look for help: http://m.therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/

I would also challenge the idea that you "know" anyone is going to make it. They may be putting on a mask or facade, or they (and their family) may just "look the part." They may be smart with other significant shortcomings you are unaware of. Obviously, I don't know who exactly you are referring to, but it sounds like you are forgetting that looks can be deceiving, and that people's lives can be very complex and have hidden or non-public aspects.

(Sorry if this is the wrong forum! I wasn't sure where else to post).
Hello, I am currently an female college student and I really cannot decide between engineering and medical school. I can see myself doing both, but my real concern is the social aspects of either career.

I realized throughout high school that I really need human interaction and feeling like I belong to be happy. I can be pretty reserved and introverted at times, yet I really yearn for a deep connection with a small group of friends. Thus I try to be as sociable as I can, but it sometimes results in social awkwardness. I think I may have a bit of social anxiety as well.

I am currently a chemistry/physics/undecided major, but am a bit overwhelmed right now. I am intimidated by those seriously outgoing, charming, incredibly intelligent, kind, etc. pre-med classmates that you just KNOW are going to make it to med school and have a successful life. I know I will never be as nearly competitive to med school as those students, which makes me a little sad.

On the other hand, I also have the option of transferring to engineering. I know this is stereotyping, but engineers do tend to be a bit more introverted and nerdy, and I might feel like I belong more there. Obviously engineering also requires communication skills, but I feel like you can get away with it more. On top of that, to be premed, you are basically required to get to know your professors for rec letters, take leadership positions, the more networking the better, etc. which would take me out of my comfort zone way further. I just think doing engineering might give me more exposure to people that I would more easily connect with, and I would have a happier college experience.

Is it silly to assume that a change of majors would affect my happiness in college this much?

Academically, I can see myself doing either. I enjoy studying, especially math and science, and blood/cadavers/surgery doesn't gross me out. I like nerdy and I do like talking to people, just not when thats the determining factor in how competent at your job you are. I also love the idea of studying recent medical developments continuously throughout my life, I am naturally curious and I think that would satisfy me.

Can anyone offer any advice? People keep saying that if all are things equal, go for med school b/c job prospects. Im not sure about that.. any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Sesom]

I have considered that. But wouldn't it make my life even more miserable because of the extra work?
I am currently studying at Cornell, and I heard the engineering courses are brutal for premeds...

Yes, I believe it would make life more miserable for me, I'd hate it. Although I don't have any interest in engineering. You said you enjoyed studying so you'll have to gauge whether you like enjoying studying so much that you will stay competitive grade wise for med school. I personally think you should go to med school if you can.

 

[claduva94]

I'm applying to medical school now as a biomedical engineer and so far have been quite successful. I know Cornell doesn't have BME but they do have biological engineering. What I can say is that it has been incredibly worthwhile. If you want to discuss it shoot me a PM.

 

[Afford]

.

 

[allantois]

Shadow some doctors so that you find out whether interacting with patients is something you will be comfortable with doing. From my experience, successful engineers are quite outgoing and have to manage a lot of people. IMO a doctor doesn't need to be as outgoing as a successful engineer.
Also don't forget that there's pharmacy and dentistry out there.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

(Sorry if this is the wrong forum! I wasn't sure where else to post).
Hello, I am currently an female college student and I really cannot decide between engineering and medical school. I can see myself doing both, but my real concern is the social aspects of either career.

I realized throughout high school that I really need human interaction and feeling like I belong to be happy. I can be pretty reserved and introverted at times, yet I really yearn for a deep connection with a small group of friends. Thus I try to be as sociable as I can, but it sometimes results in social awkwardness. I think I may have a bit of social anxiety as well.

I am currently a chemistry/physics/undecided major, but am a bit overwhelmed right now. I am intimidated by those seriously outgoing, charming, incredibly intelligent, kind, etc. pre-med classmates that you just KNOW are going to make it to med school and have a successful life. I know I will never be as nearly competitive to med school as those students, which makes me a little sad.

On the other hand, I also have the option of transferring to engineering. I know this is stereotyping, but engineers do tend to be a bit more introverted and nerdy, and I might feel like I belong more there. Obviously engineering also requires communication skills, but I feel like you can get away with it more. On top of that, to be premed, you are basically required to get to know your professors for rec letters, take leadership positions, the more networking the better, etc. which would take me out of my comfort zone way further. I just think doing engineering might give me more exposure to people that I would more easily connect with, and I would have a happier college experience.

Is it silly to assume that a change of majors would affect my happiness in college this much?

Academically, I can see myself doing either. I enjoy studying, especially math and science, and blood/cadavers/surgery doesn't gross me out. I like nerdy and I do like talking to people, just not when thats the determining factor in how competent at your job you are. I also love the idea of studying recent medical developments continuously throughout my life, I am naturally curious and I think that would satisfy me.

Can anyone offer any advice? People keep saying that if all are things equal, go for med school b/c job prospects. Im not sure about that.. any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I've met quite a few self-proclaimed introverts that succeeded in the pre-med track and ended up enjoying med school. If you have the passion for medicine, you should pursue it!