I can't decide between two courses and career paths!

[geminii]

Hi everyone!

I'm really struggling to decide between two courses for Uni next year...

I love Biomedicine, it's really interesting to me and I love the thought of eventually being able to help people get better through natural means (I love the idea of being a dietitian, and I know that job opportunities in this field are growing) - like people who have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc..

However, I also really love Engineering, specifically Aeronautical Engineering. I just find it so fascinating, and I would love to help engineer and design new safer planes for people to travel in. I would also love to get a pilot's license in the future (not to become a pilot, but just to fly smaller planes every now and then). I find planes amazing.

Now the issue I'm facing is, I have to pick either one or the other for next year. I can't do a double degree of Aeronautical Engineering & Biomedicine at Monash because it's not an option (isn't it just my luck that practically all other Engineering types are offered in a double degree with Biomed, like Mechanical and Civil, but not Aeronautical?!), so I definitely have to choose between them.

Also, in terms of my eventual career, I love both of them, but I really dislike Biomedical Engineering. I would rather study one alone. If I do Engineering, I want it to be pertaining to aircraft, not biomedicine, and if I do biomedicine, I don't want to have to include engineering in it because I'd like to help treat people naturally through diet.

This is a real dilemma for me. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Thank you so much

[Calebark]

Hey, Geminii!

I feel like I need to clear one thing up. Biomedicine isn't about alternative medicine -- it's straight-up science, and for a lot of people, leads to conventional medicine. You can see what you'd be learning here. Additionally, Biomed doesn't allow you to practice as a dietician. For that, you'd need an accredited dietetic program.

[geminii]

Hey, Geminii!

I feel like I need to clear one thing up. Biomedicine isn't about alternative medicine -- it's straight-up science, and for a lot of people, leads to conventional medicine. You can see what you'd be learning here. Additionally, Biomed doesn't allow you to practice as a dietician. For that, you'd need an accredited dietetic program.

Hi Calebark,
Thanks for this! I actually looked at that website yesterday and thought that perhaps after doing Biomed at Melbourne I could transfer to Monash for a Masters of Dietetics degree, which is one of the programs listed. I wonder if that's a possibility?

[Calebark]

Hi Calebark,
Thanks for this! I actually looked at that website yesterday and thought that perhaps after doing Biomed at Melbourne I could transfer to Monash for a Masters of Dietetics degree, which is one of the programs listed. I wonder if that's a possibility?

I believe it is indeed a possibility, yes. Biomed is one of the areas needed to go into a Master of Dietetics! Other options would be science, health science, nutrition, food science, and exercise science.

[AngelWings]

This is a real dilemma for me. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Hey Geminii.

As Calebark mentioned, Biomed isn't alternative medicine, for that, you could do a Bachelor of Health Sciences or more broadly, a Bachelor of Science/ Science (Advanced). Alternatively, you could still accomplish both dreams by doing a BSci/ Eng double degree. That way you can have a degree with the science major in one of the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences departments e.g. Biochemistry or Physiology, whilst taking Aeronautical Engineering. Usually they are a bit more lenient in how they run things in Science compared to Biomed, so that is definitely a very valid option. If you do a major/ minor(s) in biochemistry or physiology, it should fulfill some of the base requirements for the Master of Dietetics that Calebark's told you about. Perhaps you might want to have a look into that.

Note: You posted as I was typing this, but thought this might still be some valid advice.

[geminii]

I believe it is indeed a possibility, yes. Biomed is one of the areas needed to go into a Master of Dietetics! Other options would be science, health science, nutrition, food science, and exercise science.

Ah, awesome!

But I still really love aeronautical engineering... My parents really want me to do engineering too (they've never said that, but it's easy to tell), and my dad would HATE it if I did dietetics (my cousin did dietetics and my dad talks about how bad her choice was). My dad is an engineer and so wants me to go into that field too. I really don't know what to do.

Let me just say that my inclination to engineering isn't as a result of my dad wanting me to do it - I did work experience at CSIRO in year 10 and designed material holders etc. for them using Tinkercad and printed them using a 3D printer. I also attended a Monash event a couple of years ago which was about mechatronic engineering, which I loved.

I would love to know everyone's opinions on which job - dietitian or aeronautical engineer - is most feasible, has the most job opportunity and has better pay? Perhaps this will help me decide. Also if anyone has done either of these courses and could shed some light on how good/bad they are, I think that would help a lot too!

Thanks again

Hey Geminii.

As Calebark mentioned, Biomed isn't alternative medicine, for that, you could do a Bachelor of Health Sciences or more broadly, a Bachelor of Science/ Science (Advanced). Alternatively, you could still accomplish both dreams by doing a BSci/ Eng double degree. That way you can have a degree with the science major in one of the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences departments e.g. Biochemistry or Physiology, whilst taking Aeronautical Engineering. Usually they are a bit more lenient in how they run things in Science compared to Biomed, so that is definitely a very valid option. If you do a major/ minor(s) in biochemistry or physiology, it should fulfill some of the base requirements for the Master of Dietetics that Calebark's told you about. Perhaps you might want to have a look into that.

Note: You posted as I was typing this, but thought this might still be some valid advice.

Thanks AngelWings!
I actually never thought of Science/Engineering...thanks for the advice! This actually sounds like a really good idea!

My parents would prefer if I went to Melbourne though, for the prestige factor, so I'll try put it high up on my list. Currently my top two preferences are Biomed at Melbourne and then Science at Melbourne, and the ones below that are Monash double degrees. The bottom two are RMIT biomed and engineering courses.

[Natasha.97]

I would love to know everyone's opinions on which job - dietitian or aeronautical engineer - is most feasible, has the most job opportunity and has better pay?

Hi!

There is a site called JobOutlook from the Government, which provides info about different careers. Here is the link for nutrition, and I think this is the one for aeronautical engineering

[EragusTrenzalore]

Ah, awesome!

But I still really love aeronautical engineering... My parents really want me to do engineering too (they've never said that, but it's easy to tell), and my dad would HATE it if I did dietetics (my cousin did dietetics and my dad talks about how bad her choice was). My dad is an engineer and so wants me to go into that field too. I really don't know what to do.

Let me just say that my inclination to engineering isn't as a result of my dad wanting me to do it - I did work experience at CSIRO in year 10 and designed material holders etc. for them using Tinkercad and printed them using a 3D printer. I also attended a Monash event a couple of years ago which was about mechatronic engineering, which I loved.

I would love to know everyone's opinions on which job - dietitian or aeronautical engineer - is most feasible, has the most job opportunity and has better pay? Perhaps this will help me decide. Also if anyone has done either of these courses and could shed some light on how good/bad they are, I think that would help a lot too!

Thanks again

Thanks AngelWings!
I actually never thought of Science/Engineering...thanks for the advice! This actually sounds like a really good idea!

My parents would prefer if I went to Melbourne though, for the prestige factor, so I'll try put it high up on my list. Currently my top two preferences are Biomed at Melbourne and then Science at Melbourne, and the ones below that are Monash double degrees. The bottom two are RMIT biomed and engineering courses.

Hi there Geminii! If you wanted to specifically do Biomedicine and Engineering, there is a double degree at Monash for Biomedical Science/ Engineering, which runs for five years. The clearly in ATAR required is 94.5, which is only slightly higher than for Biomedical Science at Monash.

I guess the choice between Melbourne or Monash is up to you, and depends on which university you prefer. I don't think prestige matters so much; at the end of the day, people will judge you on how well you do your job, not which school or univerisity you went to.

Did you go to open day? If not, you should check out the university websites and /or email them with any questions you have.

[zofromuxo]

Everyone has given such great advice and your pretty lucky considering you have two options you both like compared to most students who don't know at all .

I only want to emphasize that speaking to people in the respective industry you want to work in, the universities professor and students is the best course you can take I feel .

Talking to universities students and professors balance things out in a way. Professors can be very off-putting by overstating what their university can do with your degree and students can exaggerate issues too much (Something i have learnt being on my university's program representative). So in theory, they should cancel each other's cons.

However, if you can talk to someone in the industry, the more senior the better. Since they know what it is like to work on a professional level and that can drastically be different compared to university in some cases [/b].

But whatever you do don't regret what you pick and think what-if because sometimes you can always transfer to the other course if you want.