<p>Hi everyone, I'm a freshman in HS and I've always been planning my career to be a neurosurgeon when I grow up. Of course, with time comes the realization that certain career pursuits may not be so practical. I've come up with a valid conclusion and would like to ask for some counsel on the more appropriate career path for me. I've always loved all of the subjects with a particular emphasis on Reading and Math/Sciences (leaning more towards science). Lately, my focus has shifted and I actually love my math class. I love solving all sorts of problems and working with practical examples. On the other hand, I also love reading and expanding my vocabulary. Yet, I've also loved biological sciences, learning about pathogens and questioning certain things in the world. I'm in the honors track (all honors courses) and am pretty much a 94-97 student (still hoping to raise that). My track is hence deemed quite rigorous and I plan on taking many AP's. I've already started preparing for the SAT's, and may take the SAT II in Modern Hebrew (I'm Jewish, and can speak Hebrew rather fluently). I considered going into law, however I observed that in the US its a pretty saturated field, if you will, and nowadays involves a mere cycle of sueing. Its primary emphasis has shifted from helping people. Maybe for some that is not so, but 8 years coupled with what I deem to be potentially unsatisfactory.......Not trying to be arrogant, albeit it may seem so. Anyway, upon doing research I've discovered that Neurosurgery involves 4 years of pre-med, 4 years of medical school, and then getting into a highly competitive neurosurgery residency, after which (upon admission) one has to work tirelessly for 7 years (with 40k-60k pay). Finally, they can enter the field and do a fellowship for a sub-specialty while working. This adds up to a minimal amount of 15 years. If one can even make it thus far. However the final salary can make up for the abuse: 200k-600k over time. They are definitely respected, help people everyday, and can save lives, which I am a big fan of. They are considered high society and can live very comfortably. Howver the downside is the amount of years of schooling required, a tireless workday (60-80 hour work week &being on call), insurance technicalities, and the burden of having a potential death on your hands. How will I get married and raise a family?
The second field I've begun to consider, developed because I realized neurosurgery may not be so practical, albeit I love it. Also, I'm gradually beginning to like math. Now if we consider engineering, they only need a BS in applied mathematics/ engineering, and can go 1 more year for a Master's. They have the highest paying entry salary of 40k-60k, and can go up to 80k-110k, but that will be the nadir of their career. However they have a 40-45 hour workweek, and the job is actually very fun; designing, consulting, creating, and managing. However, their salary is relatively mild, lifestyle is plainly comfortable/sufficient, and the job is often perceived as "nerdy".</p>
<p>Don’t even worry about this stuff yet, there is nothing you can do, or that we can do. You need to just take your classes and see which subject your find your self the best in. You probably haven’t hit algebra 2 and you want to decide what you want to do in your future.</p>
<p>There aren’t many decisions you can make now that will alter the possibility of getting into either of these fields. You will have plenty of time during the rest of your high school (and college, for that matter) career to find out what you really enjoy doing. For now, just worry about performing well in high school and setting yourself up to get into a college you want to attend. It sounds like you are on the right track, stick to it and just enjoy the time you have left before you really have to worry about these things.</p>
<p>Eh, I wouldn’t worry about making a firm decision into which career path you want to go into right now. </p>
<p>However, I do think you should research into the different careers. Even though you can always change career ambition during college, I found it extremely helpful that I made the decision before I entered college(senior year high school I was deciding between pre-med and Engineering as well). I’ve had friends who’ve switched majors (Engineering to pre-med or pre-med to Engineering) and its tacked on additional years to their schooling, which includes extra debt for tuition.</p>
<p>I would go ahead and get your feet wet. Try to get involved in some programs. There are probably some programs out there for high schoolers to do over the summer. HHMI used to do a program for high schoolers at a few places in the nation. My hometown region offers a program called [A-HEC</a> of a Summer](<a href=“http://www.nlahec.org/page.php?s=11]A-HEC”>http://www.nlahec.org/page.php?s=11) , so I would think other places in the nation probably do something similar. </p>
<p>If you have a high school counselor, possibly you can ask them about shadowing (though most people won’t do shadowing until Groundhog day senior year). That’s actually how I found out I didn’t want to be an engineer.</p>
<p>Anyway, basically I’m saying, get some exposure to the different careers (programs and shadowing), but don’t go to crazy. You do want to do some normal high school stuff like have friends and all.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you don’t need any specific major to go to medical school as long as you take the prerequisite classes. You’re more than welcome to major in an engineering field and then apply to medical school from there. That way, you’re covering both bases if you decide one way or another. I have a friend who entered college set to be an engineer and then decided after a couple years that he wanted to go to medical school. He’s graduating with a degree in engineering and heading to medical school in the fall.</p>
<p>Dude, enjoy highschool, take honors classes, maybe just a few APs in subjects you like. You never get your highschool years back, make some friends, see what a party is like.</p>
<p>Whoah, dude… You are WAY ahead of yourself. Get out and enjoy life. Seriously. Sounds like you need to enjoy your childhood. Adulthood will come sooner than you realize. Enjoy what you’ve got now instead of thinking so far ahead. You seem to be devoting more time to this than would be healthy for a freshmen in college!</p>
<p>While I know it’s not true for the entire engineering community (since there is field work obviously), the engineers that I knew or shadowed worked in offices and cubicles and I knew I did not want to do that.</p>
<p>Besides glad I chose not to go through engineering based on the fact that I’m 100% positive that I would not have enjoyed taking upper level math, physics, and the various engineering courses (thermodynamics, statics, etc.) even though I really liked and was good at physics and math in high school.</p>
<p>But seriously, don’t overload yourself too much in high school. You still have at the very least 4 more years of schooling (and additional depending on grad or professional school) after high school. You don’t want to burn out before you even get to college.</p>
<p>@blieux_monkey
Okay wow. Great counsel. I’m going admit that when you just said that engineers work in such a typical, rather boring environment, it was a turn-off to me as well…</p>