Need advice, which way to pursue?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>So I am a junior in high school. I will be applying Columbia ED, as an international. However I am having problems with my applicant profile. Two things I have wanted to become for years are either a plastic surgeon or a civil engineer. Two very different paths. But to make my application as strong as possible, I am trying to make it oriented on one way. It actually is pretty oriented on the medicine side. I have been doing all kinds of internships at labs/hospitals for the last few years. However as an international student, I am not planning to study Med in the US. I want to study Engineering in Fu, but it is too late to change the orientation in my application and make it a more physics/math oriented. I wont probably get in.
So here are my questions:</p>

<p>1)Can I keep on building my profile as a strong biology oriented one(as if I am planning to become a biomedical engineer) and once(and if) I get in, change my path entirely within SEAS and go take civil engineering courses? I have a strong math-physics background as well, but just as academics(just courses, no EC).</p>

<p>2)Or should I apply with an intended major of Civil Engineering and try to write a great essay on it? But then would my medical internships be just trash on my application? should I even not bother to include them then?</p>

<p>I think you got the picture. Any advice on the subject is welcome. Thank you all, and sorry for the very long post. Thank you even if you have just read it.</p>

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<p>be practical - folks wanting to do med in high school are a dime a dozen, sure most don’t end up doing it, but you wouldn’t stand out. civil engineering is less obvious, if you do research, do an internship next summer, it would be easier to stand out.</p>

<p>and nothing becomes trash if you make it clear that you had an ‘aha’ moment and changed your mind. changing ones mind is fine and certainly allowed, so don’t worry that much.</p>

<p>you can always come back to medicine (though biomed engineering, straight bio, or just doing the prereqs).</p>

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<p>You are allowed to have multiple interests. Why not pursue both until one gains a clear advantage?</p>