What should I do with my life? [Just graduated]

[Mitt Romney 1]

Dear students,

I just graduated with the following grades

HL:

Math - 6

Physics - 6

Chemistry - 7

SL:

Economics - 6

Swedish B - 7

English A Lang/lit - 5

TOK/EE: 1 38 points

I have been admitted to study engineering at Warwick, but I do not believe that engineering is my future; so much hard work with little reward. I do believe that studying my undergraduate degree in UK instead of Sweden will always be an advantage from an international point of view.

With my grades and subjects, what can I study? I am looking for jobs which have a future. Engineers are undervalued. Business and Economics do interest me.

God I am lost, please help!

[IB>mindf**k 5]

Medicine ? As I believe that Denmark and Norway require Maths, physics and chemistry but NOT biology. I believe that 38 IB points would, with a high degree of certainty, get you into a medical school in Denmark

[dniviE 161]

38 does not get you into Medical school in Norway (you basically need 40-45 to get in, plus the extra points given in Norwegian system for certain sciences), Denmark on the other hand I have no idea. Engineering has a great future ahead and there will also be need for engineers. It is also very well paid (at least in Norway they are). Medicine in Norway does not require Biology (odd in my opinion), but it does require either Mathematics HL/SL, Physics SL/HL and Chemistry HL.

Business and Economics could be viable with your grades, but it depends where and what program.

Edited July 17, 2013 by dniviE

[TykeDragon 355]

Who said engineers don't do well? o.O have you already done serious research on that and would be able to prove that engineers are unwanted and/or poor? Because I think that's incorrect... Specialise in aeronautical engineering, or become a pilot, or fix smashed up cars and stuff (this earns lots of money) ?

[~Lc~ 178]

On that note, any Math/Physics degree can get you a career in finance if that is what interests you. Employers are looking for graduates with high quantiative skills, which an engineering degree would earn you. I worked for Bloomberg last year promoting an exam they do to prove your knowledge of economics/finance. Essentially what I learned form this is that coporate employers look to employ 30% of their staff from diciplines outside of finance/economics so they have a good range of "talent" in their business.

I would personally advise you to study something quantitative to keep your options open if you are learning towards economics/business and don't know what you want to do!

[Emmi 1,391]

I know several people who started out in engineering, decided it wasn't for them and switched over to business. They now study something like accounting or finance which still lets them use math and other quantitative skills, which employers like a lot. If you want to look at schools in the UK, browse a couple of university websites and see what their business programs require. I'm assuming you're doing a gap year, and you can use that year to explore business options and build up a good resume, and see if this is something you'd like to do.

Just stay out of politics from now on.

[CkyBlue 353]

Bro, where do you get the idea that engineering doesn't reward as hard as you work? Engineers may be undervalued but they are not unwanted. They're responsible for holding up countless pillars of society.

[Mitt Romney 1]

Thank you for all your replies!

Does anyone know if I really can study Medicine in Denmark? It is true that they don't require Biology, but is my 38 points good enough?

Whereelse can I study medicine with my grades?

Poland requires Biology...UK is veeery hard.

[maereth 27]

I think you don't need biology for uk, but yeah, it seems hard to get there.

I just found out how much it costs to study medicine in English in Poland in my city... feels unrealistic, considering that the university and student accommodation that I live basically next door to doesn't look like it's worth that much ;d but it allegedly is a good university so...

Edited July 17, 2013 by maereth

[Sandwich 2,405]

To apply in the UK you will need Biology for some places, and also to show commitment to Medicine - work experience and so on. Getting the grades is a pretty basic requirement, the differentiating factors are additional exams, your personal statement and an interview. In the UK at least, you can't just decide to apply for Medicine at the last minute or at random. Really you have to want to do it in order to tick the other boxes, because it's quite a lot of effort!

Engineering does have a future and it's a hell of a lot more easy to get into/out of than Medicine. Once you're on a medical degree it's at least a 5-6 year course and it's one of the more challenging ones so I wouldn't do it just because you ran out of other options. I suggest you look at what you enjoy and what you're good at. You can end up in a good career with almost any degree, provided you do the right things and get lucky, so I wouldn't have it as your primary concern. Once you've got a job you'll have to spend the rest of your life potentially doing it, so pick something you love. If you're very confused, either take a general degree which you can move into or out of when you figure things out, or take a gap year to think about it and maybe earn some money, get some experience.

[Mitt Romney 1]

To apply in the UK you will need Biology for some places, and also to show commitment to Medicine - work experience and so on. Getting the grades is a pretty basic requirement, the differentiating factors are additional exams, your personal statement and an interview. In the UK at least, you can't just decide to apply for Medicine at the last minute or at random. Really you have to want to do it in order to tick the other boxes, because it's quite a lot of effort!

Engineering does have a future and it's a hell of a lot more easy to get into/out of than Medicine. Once you're on a medical degree it's at least a 5-6 year course and it's one of the more challenging ones so I wouldn't do it just because you ran out of other options. I suggest you look at what you enjoy and what you're good at. You can end up in a good career with almost any degree, provided you do the right things and get lucky, so I wouldn't have it as your primary concern. Once you've got a job you'll have to spend the rest of your life potentially doing it, so pick something you love. If you're very confused, either take a general degree which you can move into or out of when you figure things out, or take a gap year to think about it and maybe earn some money, get some experience.

Thank you for your reply!

I am interested in the economics part of engineering. In Sweden we have a special programme which will give me this mixture future. However, I need 39...

Should I retake TOK? My EE should have been an A ...

At Warwick, I can chose to study "Engineering with Business Studies (BSc)" which is not accredited. See link:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/h1n1#course-tab-3

Perhaps that course will open many other doors for me?

Edited July 18, 2013 by Mitt Romney

[Mitt Romney 1]

I know several people who started out in engineering, decided it wasn't for them and switched over to business. They now study something like accounting or finance which still lets them use math and other quantitative skills, which employers like a lot. If you want to look at schools in the UK, browse a couple of university websites and see what their business programs require. I'm assuming you're doing a gap year, and you can use that year to explore business options and build up a good resume, and see if this is something you'd like to do.

Just stay out of politics from now on.

Politics will always be in my heart. (joke)

Perhaps this is the right course for me: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/h1n1#course-tab-2

It will allow be to continue doing a postgraduate degree at WBS later on.

[IB>mindf**k 5]

Thank you for all your replies!

Does anyone know if I really can study Medicine in Denmark? It is true that they don't require Biology, but is my 38 points good enough?

Whereelse can I study medicine with my grades?

Poland requires Biology...UK is veeery hard.

YES you can study medicine in denmark (the only "problem" is that it is in danish) with "only" 38. I assume you know swedish, thus I advice you to see this blog

http://www.voiceofsteve.com/

About a swedish medical student in denmark, where he explains the admission process etc. I researched the matter as one of my options was to study medicine in Denmark.

Good luck with your studies

Edited July 18, 2013 by IB>mindf**k

[IBKID4lyf 45]

Honestly, you should do what you want to do.

Edited July 18, 2013 by alefal

[Mitt Romney 1]

Thank you for the link! Based on how they translate IB into danish grades, 39 would be needed.

Or do we get IB credits? Everything feels so hopeless

.

[IB>mindf**k 5]

Thank you for the link! Based on how they translate IB into danish grades, 39 would be needed.

Or do we get IB credits? Everything feels so hopeless

.

No there are no IB credits but you only need 38; google ib to danish grades; also if you apply within 2 years of getting diploma you multiply your danish score by 1.08 to get something called "kvikbonus". Thus i assure you that your grades are most likely enough

[IB>mindf**k 5]

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8330028509897547258&postID=7520255916237129197&isPopup=true

For more reassurance

[Mitt Romney 1]

Are you 100% that I can get in?

I have a top grade in "Svenska som andraspråk B"

9,5*1,08 = 10.26 ...

[IB>mindf**k 5]

Are you 100% that I can get in?

I have a top grade in "Svenska som andraspråk B"

9,5*1,08 = 10.26 ...

You have a very good chance of getting accepted, but if I were you I would ask my coordinator and be even more sure of the rules etc. However, a problem when it comes to applying to Denmark is that you will have to wait until next year (ie you have to apply in march 2014) for BOTH the autumn and spring terms, so you will essentially have a gap year waiting......In my (humble) opinion I believe it is worth the wait. See this page http://läkarstudent.se/danmark.html

and scroll down to "antagningsstatistik" for even more statistics

An off topic question: Did you study the IB in Sweden?

Edited July 18, 2013 by IB>mindf**k

[Mitt Romney 1]

Yes I did.

I think I will go for Warwick now and study hard like everyone have to. The tuition is going to cost me £36000 (it's free in Sweden), but I guess that if I aim to get as good grade as possible, I will most likely be able to get my first class or upper second. A good grade from Warwick will most likely still benefit me.

lower upper class + 1 year working experience = good grades anyways.