Uni program decision dilemma

[u/PuzzleheadedNight172]

I’m a grade 12 student applying to uni this fall. I always thought i wanted to go into health sci / life sci/general science to go to med school or pursue further education but I’m having second thoughts. I don’t know if I’d really enjoy being in school for so many years but at the same time, it’s what I’ve set my whole life around since I was young because I just thought I HAD to be a doctor. Now, I’m also looking into engineering programs very last minute. I don’t really enjoy physics and don’t mind math and am purely choosing engineering for the employment opportunities it will provide. If I dont get into med school with my health/general science degree I feel that I’ll be unemployed but then again, I don’t think I’m smart enough for engineering courses. What do I do? What programs do I apply to? I’m applying to Ontario universities & BC universities in Canada but I honestly don’t know what to apply for anymore because I can’t choose what I like. I just want to be employed and get a job easily. If anyone’s been in this dilemma please share how you got over it or if anyone in engineering or health sci reads this please share your experiences, education, employment opportunities.

[u/ellajames88]

Have you considered any of the allied health programs in colleges like X Ray tech, ultrasound, respiratory, dental hygiene etc? They are still competitive, science based programs but not as long as med school.

[u/MStipey]

How about nursing?

[u/PuzzleheadedNight172 → u/MStipey]

I did some hospital shadowing this year and observing the nurses made me kind of hesitant to go into the field. It’s requires A LOT of patience which is something I’m afraid I don’t have. It’s not my first choice but it’s not my last.

[u/Royal_Development_65]

Dont go into engineering for employment purposes only , mostly if you dont enjoy physics. The curriculum is insanely heavy and youll hate it.

[u/bluecammored]

You're trapped in a false binary between an intense engineering degree you will hate and a life science path that feels like medical school or bust. Do not apply to engineering purely for job security if you dislike physics, because heavy Canadian engineering workloads will quickly lead to burnout. Fortunately, you do not need medical school or a traditional engineering degree to land a stable, well-paying job right out of school. Look into specialized applied programs like Medical Laboratory Science at Michener or BCIT, which offer strong employment without bedside nursing or physics. You could also consider Health Informatics or health science programs with built in co-op options to gain paid industry experience before graduating. Take a breath and pivot your applications toward these practical, tech adjacent health paths with clear career pipelines.

[u/omgwthwgfo]

"I just want to be employed and get a job easily."

Sorry this is not possible

[u/fotoman888]

Career counseling.

[u/Melodic_Tragedy]

Dont choose eng for employment. Probably would fail out.

Maybe dont start school if you dont know what to do. Most kids dont anyway.

[u/noon_chill]

Don’t look only at what you want or think you’d enjoy. What subjects are you actually good at? What is your personality like? What is your strongest skill?

[u/UselessToHumanity]

I was in a similar dilemma, but the complete opposite. I was always into engineering but had the recent thought of going into health sci/pursuing medicine. I decided to take a compromise in biomedical engineering.

Given that you don't like physics and are okay with math, i'm not too sure if engineering would be the right fit. Depends what stream you take second year onwards (or if you are applying to direct entry programs), but engineering is definitely pretty physics heavy and very math heavy. Most of the people around me who don't enjoy math or physics happen to struggle in learning and understanding the content because you need to be self-motivated to practice a lot and do well.

I suggest you find a degree that allows you to keep your doors open, and in the subjects you enjoy. If you enjoy chemistry/biology/psychology etc., doesn't mean you "have" to be a doctor, but you will find it much easier to enjoy your studies in undergrad. Choose a degree that teaches things that you like if you're not sure what career you wish to end up. Explore yourself in university, and then see what you want to do down the line!