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How should I choose between medicine and aerospace engineering?
How should I choose between medicine and aerospace engineering as a course that I should pursue in university?
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Ben’s Answer
Hi Nathan!
You've got some great advice here, and I'd like to add a suggestion. Why not explore both options at university? Your early years in school are perfect for trying out different fields. Since you've already narrowed it down to two interests, take this chance to dive into both. Look for practical experiences like internships or shadowing to get a real feel for each area. This will help you decide which path excites you more.
Make the most of your time at university and all the fun opportunities it offers!
Ben
You've got some great advice here, and I'd like to add a suggestion. Why not explore both options at university? Your early years in school are perfect for trying out different fields. Since you've already narrowed it down to two interests, take this chance to dive into both. Look for practical experiences like internships or shadowing to get a real feel for each area. This will help you decide which path excites you more.
Make the most of your time at university and all the fun opportunities it offers!
Ben
Thanks for the advice.
Nathan
Updated
Lilian’s Answer
Nathan,
It is good you are looking into career options in the fields of medicine and aerospace engineering. As you work through to determine which career path to take, some things to thing about include if the career you chose is something you would see yourself doing for a long time, decades even if nothing changes. To help figure that out, think about what are you passionate about, what do you care about today, what ignites your passion/desire to learn more?
Medicine is involves caring for patients at a time in their lives where they have a health challenge. Do you like helping people overcome health struggles, do you like working with people? Do you enjoy figuring out a solution to problems patients may have? Is there someone you can follow in their day and learn from them in the area you live?
Aerospace engineering involves exploration of space, and working daily to ensure space missions are successful. It more of a traditional engineering field.
In the same way you reached out on this forum, the internet can be a useful tool to research and find out more about these 2 careers you are considering. Go to college sites and check the program offerings and see what interests you. Review videos which may cover 'a day in the life' of someone in medicine as well as in aerospace. Make a list with pros and cons of each per your research. Best of luck!
It is good you are looking into career options in the fields of medicine and aerospace engineering. As you work through to determine which career path to take, some things to thing about include if the career you chose is something you would see yourself doing for a long time, decades even if nothing changes. To help figure that out, think about what are you passionate about, what do you care about today, what ignites your passion/desire to learn more?
Medicine is involves caring for patients at a time in their lives where they have a health challenge. Do you like helping people overcome health struggles, do you like working with people? Do you enjoy figuring out a solution to problems patients may have? Is there someone you can follow in their day and learn from them in the area you live?
Aerospace engineering involves exploration of space, and working daily to ensure space missions are successful. It more of a traditional engineering field.
In the same way you reached out on this forum, the internet can be a useful tool to research and find out more about these 2 careers you are considering. Go to college sites and check the program offerings and see what interests you. Review videos which may cover 'a day in the life' of someone in medicine as well as in aerospace. Make a list with pros and cons of each per your research. Best of luck!
I appreciate your support, Lilian
Nathan
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
Both medicine and aerospace engineering are very good an interesting careers, but they are very different. So, you need to do some soul searching. Look at what attracts you to each career and what you are good at and interested in.
If you look at what you are good at, do you enjoy biology/anatomy and chemistry in school? Or is physics and math more your thing? Do you enjoy caring for people during difficult times or would you rather build things and tinker with machinery?
If you look at what fascinates you, are you interested in how the body works and how you can fix injuries and diseases? Or are you looking up into the sky whenever you notice a plane and wish you could work in that industry?
Consider the length of education you would commit to and the cost of that education. I don't know if you would want to study and work in Kenya or somewhere else. In the US, your education to become a physician includes 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years or medical school and 2 to 5 years of residency in a specialty. Of course there are other medical careers that don't take quite as long. An undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering takes 4 years and will qualify you for entry level positions. For higher level positions you would need a masters (2-3 years) and/or a PhD (4-6 years).
Consider where you see yourself living and how your profession would affect your plans. Medical doctors are needed everywhere, so, also depending on your specialty, you would be mobile and employable. For international moves, you would need to take licensing requirements into account though. Jobs in aerospace engineering are a bit more limiting. You would be looking for aircraft and space manufacturers and companies that do repairs and maintenance. If you are willing to work in other sectors, you would be able to work as a mechanical engineer.
There are intersections of engineering and healthcare too. You could e.g. become an engineer and develop medical equipment for diagnostics and treatment.
Try to get some experience in each career field. Can you volunteer in a hospital or a clinic to get a feel for that environment? Also look for a company that employs mechanical engineers or aerospace engineers to get a feel for that environment.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Both medicine and aerospace engineering are very good an interesting careers, but they are very different. So, you need to do some soul searching. Look at what attracts you to each career and what you are good at and interested in.
If you look at what you are good at, do you enjoy biology/anatomy and chemistry in school? Or is physics and math more your thing? Do you enjoy caring for people during difficult times or would you rather build things and tinker with machinery?
If you look at what fascinates you, are you interested in how the body works and how you can fix injuries and diseases? Or are you looking up into the sky whenever you notice a plane and wish you could work in that industry?
Consider the length of education you would commit to and the cost of that education. I don't know if you would want to study and work in Kenya or somewhere else. In the US, your education to become a physician includes 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years or medical school and 2 to 5 years of residency in a specialty. Of course there are other medical careers that don't take quite as long. An undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering takes 4 years and will qualify you for entry level positions. For higher level positions you would need a masters (2-3 years) and/or a PhD (4-6 years).
Consider where you see yourself living and how your profession would affect your plans. Medical doctors are needed everywhere, so, also depending on your specialty, you would be mobile and employable. For international moves, you would need to take licensing requirements into account though. Jobs in aerospace engineering are a bit more limiting. You would be looking for aircraft and space manufacturers and companies that do repairs and maintenance. If you are willing to work in other sectors, you would be able to work as a mechanical engineer.
There are intersections of engineering and healthcare too. You could e.g. become an engineer and develop medical equipment for diagnostics and treatment.
Try to get some experience in each career field. Can you volunteer in a hospital or a clinic to get a feel for that environment? Also look for a company that employs mechanical engineers or aerospace engineers to get a feel for that environment.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Nathan,
People have three basic legs to success:
1) Innate Talents - intuition, intelligence, Eye-hand coordination, etc. What you and your body bring to the table.
2) Primary Motivation - generally in the form of Self-satisfaction, Ego/Pride, or control/power/Wealth. What you want to get out of the job.
3) Opportunities - those external events that advance your goals, like getting accepted to a school, winning a scholarship, or landing a job.
I think YOU need to establish your opportunities, assuming you have already inventoried your talents.
Medicine demands a deep commitment to chemistry and anatomy. Aerospace demands math and mechanical understanding. And these are very different professions, so do a comprehensive list and compare your inventory. Find a mentor in each profession and validate your perceptions of each, as well as the intangible benefits and costs.
Also - examine your "motivation" intensely and honestly. If you are motivated by pride in what you do, then aerospace engineering is less attractive than medicine because engineers have less professional opportunity to be individually recognized than those in medicine. If money/wealth is your motivation, then engineering is a better bet because of the very large cost of medical education! It's a balancing act. If your motivation is self-satisfaction (You see yourself happy and fulfilled in that job) then all you have to worry about is the path to that job.
Tony
People have three basic legs to success:
1) Innate Talents - intuition, intelligence, Eye-hand coordination, etc. What you and your body bring to the table.
2) Primary Motivation - generally in the form of Self-satisfaction, Ego/Pride, or control/power/Wealth. What you want to get out of the job.
3) Opportunities - those external events that advance your goals, like getting accepted to a school, winning a scholarship, or landing a job.
I think YOU need to establish your opportunities, assuming you have already inventoried your talents.
Medicine demands a deep commitment to chemistry and anatomy. Aerospace demands math and mechanical understanding. And these are very different professions, so do a comprehensive list and compare your inventory. Find a mentor in each profession and validate your perceptions of each, as well as the intangible benefits and costs.
Also - examine your "motivation" intensely and honestly. If you are motivated by pride in what you do, then aerospace engineering is less attractive than medicine because engineers have less professional opportunity to be individually recognized than those in medicine. If money/wealth is your motivation, then engineering is a better bet because of the very large cost of medical education! It's a balancing act. If your motivation is self-satisfaction (You see yourself happy and fulfilled in that job) then all you have to worry about is the path to that job.
Tony
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
150
Answers
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi Nathan!
This is a good question. You should really consider your interests, strengths, and career goals. If you enjoy biology, patient care, etc. then you should consider medicine. If you find yourself more drawn to problem solving, physics, etc. then aerospace engineering might be a better fit. Medicine requires extensive education (medical school + residency) and comes with high job security but demanding hours. Aerospace engineering typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree, offering structured work hours but industry fluctuations. Medicine is emotionally intense but deeply rewarding, while engineering provides hands-on innovation with better work-life balance. If unsure, try shadowing professionals in both fields or exploring hybrid careers like biomedical engineering or aerospace medicine. Hope this helps!
This is a good question. You should really consider your interests, strengths, and career goals. If you enjoy biology, patient care, etc. then you should consider medicine. If you find yourself more drawn to problem solving, physics, etc. then aerospace engineering might be a better fit. Medicine requires extensive education (medical school + residency) and comes with high job security but demanding hours. Aerospace engineering typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree, offering structured work hours but industry fluctuations. Medicine is emotionally intense but deeply rewarding, while engineering provides hands-on innovation with better work-life balance. If unsure, try shadowing professionals in both fields or exploring hybrid careers like biomedical engineering or aerospace medicine. Hope this helps!
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
Nathan
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Nathan, I urge you to experience what it is like to work in a clinical setting with patients before you commit yourself to a medical career. It can be quite a different 'feel" from working with basic science or engineering. You should really enjoy the human aspect of caring for patients in order to go into a direct healthcare career, like medicine. I don't know what options there are for you in Nairobi to get such experience. Perhaps you can speak to some doctors you or your family have contact with and see if someone would allow you to "shadow" them as they see patients. Or perhaps you can find a summer or part-time job working or volunteering in a hospital or clinic. Please, be very sure this is what you feel you "must"do because you love helping people directly and in this very personal way. If it is not, you can find more satisfaction in engineering or pure science fields.
Loved reading this, thanks!
Nathan
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
Hello Nathan,
Check out the curriculum for the degrees you're considering. Look at the classes you'll need to take at your dream school. Are they interesting to you? Picture yourself in those lectures or labs for hours each week. Ask yourself, "Is this what I want to do for the next few years and in my career?" If not, explore other options. You might discover a new interest in a different area of medicine or engineering. I once worked with a student who chose not to go to medical school but instead pursued a medical art degree. It combined her interests and made her even more excited about her future!
Check out the curriculum for the degrees you're considering. Look at the classes you'll need to take at your dream school. Are they interesting to you? Picture yourself in those lectures or labs for hours each week. Ask yourself, "Is this what I want to do for the next few years and in my career?" If not, explore other options. You might discover a new interest in a different area of medicine or engineering. I once worked with a student who chose not to go to medical school but instead pursued a medical art degree. It combined her interests and made her even more excited about her future!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Nathan
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Hi there! Both of these are fantastic career paths. Aerospace health is a fascinating field that tackles the unique health and biomedical challenges of living in space vehicles. Working on research with a professor is a wonderful opportunity to combine different areas of study and discover exciting new ideas.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Nathan