<p>So, seeing that this bit of the forum is fro parents, I thought it would be best to post here. </p>
<p>So to begin with, I'm a high school junior thinking about what I want to do with my life, I know I want to become a mechanical engineer, but my father thinks otherwise. I told my father that I would rather become a mechanical engineer than a doctor. Mechanical engineering is a perfect fit for me because I love working with physics and things like that which I can interact with. My hobbies reflect that idea perfectly, as bowling is my favorite sport, a game of physics, and I enjoy flying rc helicopters and planes. I also think mechanical engineering is great for me due to the reason that it does hire decently, pays well, and you don't work ridiculous hours.
My father on the other hand doesn't like this idea because he really believes I'm cheating myself out of a job I can do, which is true, but I would much rather hate having to dislike what I do... 60 hours a week. On top of that he says mechanical engineering is not hiring and that he will have to keep me in the house until I'm 40. I find this ridiculous because most students majoring in mech. engineering at a good school (and I should definitely go to one) get job offers. On top of that the starting salary is typically around $60,000 and to add to my point even more, studying to become a doctor would leave in the house longer. Becoming a doctor has huge debts with it and you don't get paid well until roughly 30. </p>
<p>I think it can be clear that mechanical engineering is perfectly suited for me, however I need my dad to understand that so I can be at peace, I think I will show him some statistics or maybe even talk to someone to curb his thoughts. Random question---do you think a guidance counselor would be able to show him some facts?</p>
<p>Thanks, however of course it's not a big deal, I'm not letting anyone influence my future career choice.</p>
<p>Anyways so what do think about parents getting so involved in their children's career choice?</p>
<p>Remind him that most pre-meds do not get into any medical school.</p>
<p>While doing pre-med can be done alongside any major, in practice, mechanical engineering has so many non-overlapping requirements that it would be unlikely to work out well with that major. So if you major in something else like biology (which has poor job and career prospects but which about half of pre-meds major in and what parents pushing pre-med often push their kids to major in) and do not get into medical school, you are more likely to end up in his house until you are 40.</p>
<p>We parents have our opinions and only want the best for our children. </p>
<p>That doesn’t mean we are always right. Your dad probably suggests becoming a doctor because he “thinks” it’s a great field, not because empirical evidence says it is.</p>
<p>Do your research on the medical field. Doctors are expected to retire in greater numbers, pay has been in decline since the 90s, the average pay for a pediatrician is around $80k per year. You’d do better as an engineer. They get sued all the time and work 80-100 hours per week. You have to have passion to live this grueling lifestyle. Show your dad evidence that mechanical engineering is a lucrative field and that medicine is a hot mess right now. It could be that you’re both wrong or both right. Do some homework - it’s what a great engineer would do as well as a great doctor.</p>
<p>I agree you may actually do “better” both in lifestyle and in pay NOT being a physician. The pay is compressing and the hours are not lifestyle friendly. Primary care is increasingly falling to PAs and NAs and practices are increasing not independent but being purchased and folded into large hospital groups or large physician groups so you are still an “employee” as opposed to the friendly doctor who runs his/her own office. And you won’t be in any real earning position until at least your late twenties. I think being a physician is a wonderful career, but you gotta love it…</p>
<p>^ Well put! But no my dad is not a physician, rather not very close at all haha. However though, I did find some awesome statistics (thank you usbalumnus!), that proved my point and he sort of understood, though I can tell he didn’t want to accept defeat. Anyways this was intended to be more of a post for this general problem, rather than just mine but I guess that’s what I get for babbling on about my point. Thank you for all the great posts though!</p>
<p>Looks like the OP does not want to go to medical school, so going into biomedical engineering would only be to appease the OP’s father (who does have final veto due to finances unless the OP goes to a full ride merit scholarship school), while being less interesting to the OP than mechanical engineering and having worse job prospects as well.</p>
<p>I’m incredibly impressed with the OP’s thought process in general. He’s considering his own aptitude, interests, lifestyle and debt. Very impressive.</p>
<p>My son’s friend in college had this dilemma. His parents pushed med school. Once taking classes, he decided to shift to chemical E. He spoke with his chemE adviser, and she encouraged him to have his parents meet with her. This young man is now in grad school in chem E.</p>
<p>So, my advice to OP is to go to a school with eng program, take STeM classes, be open-minded, and keep talking with your dad. If you know someone in mechanical engineering, have them talk with your father. When you do get to college, have your dad visit. </p>
<p>Personally, I think you don’t have the experience to know exactly what you will like and pursue. That is what college courses are about. My sense is your dad wants you to think of the practical aspects of your choices.</p>
<p>However, in this case, the pre-med path that the father is pushing is by far the riskier choice from a practical / pre-professional standpoint, as well as being of less interest to the OP.</p>