- #1
Kushwoho44
- 25
- 1
Hi guys,
I'm an Australian student and for the past two years of my life, I have been studying quite hard to get into an MD after I finish my undergraduate degree. Now, something has dawned upon me, although I can handle working hard in university, I'd like to think there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, that doesn't really exist in medicine. I love the medical field and the prospect of operating on someone and helping them change their life. However, in Australia at least, surgeons regularly work 80 hour weeks and it's not uncommon for them to work 100+ hour weeks.
I dont' want to go into a field that becomes my entire life. I love medicine, but I also love other aspects of life and I feel like medicine would not allow for this.
I was toying between engineering and medicine when I completed high school, so I have a few questions to ask before I make a final decision on whether engineering is the right career for me.
Realistically, as an engineer, can I expect to work a 40 hour week most of the time? I accept some weeks might require an extra amount of work, but generally, can I expect a 9-5 job?
Pay is not a big issue for me at all and I understand I would make significantly less in engineering than I might make in medicine, but could I reasonably expect 75,000+ AUD by the time I'm ~30? I figure this would be a decent enough salary to help me live.
As an engineer, do YOU find your job enjoyable?
Finally, I would like to be an engineer that does some hands-on work as well, would electrical or mechanical engineering allow for this more?
Thank you for your time.
I'm an Australian student and for the past two years of my life, I have been studying quite hard to get into an MD after I finish my undergraduate degree. Now, something has dawned upon me, although I can handle working hard in university, I'd like to think there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, that doesn't really exist in medicine. I love the medical field and the prospect of operating on someone and helping them change their life. However, in Australia at least, surgeons regularly work 80 hour weeks and it's not uncommon for them to work 100+ hour weeks.
I dont' want to go into a field that becomes my entire life. I love medicine, but I also love other aspects of life and I feel like medicine would not allow for this.
I was toying between engineering and medicine when I completed high school, so I have a few questions to ask before I make a final decision on whether engineering is the right career for me.
Realistically, as an engineer, can I expect to work a 40 hour week most of the time? I accept some weeks might require an extra amount of work, but generally, can I expect a 9-5 job?
Pay is not a big issue for me at all and I understand I would make significantly less in engineering than I might make in medicine, but could I reasonably expect 75,000+ AUD by the time I'm ~30? I figure this would be a decent enough salary to help me live.
As an engineer, do YOU find your job enjoyable?
Finally, I would like to be an engineer that does some hands-on work as well, would electrical or mechanical engineering allow for this more?
Thank you for your time.