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Okay well i'm 17 and going into my senior year... I am now thinking about college and not sure what I want to major in. I want to do something with cars, so I was thinking about mechanical engineering only thing is I don't really know what they do and it sounds more like calculations and such. Which I can do that stuff but I want like a hands on type of job. Basically here is what my dream job is... Working with cars and designing performance parts or aftermarket parts, like designing a new intake or making stronger pistons maybe designing a bodykit. I don't want to be a mechanic because most of the stuff, in my opinion, would get old. So just wondering what kind of careers/degrees that I could look into. Sorry this could be a really dumb post but I need a little guidance.. Thanks!

 
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Mechanical engineering sounds like the type of career that your interested in and you can work towards working in automotive design, but keep in mind, everyone wants to work in automotive design. Also, almost everyone including many of us on this site have changed our majors after a year or two or university, very few people end up with the degree they thought they wanted in hs.

 
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Thanks for the quick reply! So is automotive design include like the engine parts? I'm not very artistic and probably would not like designing cars. I really just want to work on engines they fascinate me. Thanks!

 
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there's so much engineering involved in designing cars, I use the term automotive design to encompass all of it.

 
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could always work for a performance company and design/test products like AEM, weapon-r, k&N, etc.

 
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I'd do a bit of research, looking for careers that are in demand and pay well. Something you don't necessarily love, but something you wouldn't mind making a living doing. Save the things you absolutely love to do as a hobby so you don't get sick of it after a while. Unless you're willing to eat, sleep, breathe automotive stuff.

That's my personal opinion. I went to college for engineering, ended up wasting time and money because I wasn't doing well in school, so I joined the navy as a nuclear power plant mechanical engineer. The moments, albeit few and far between, where I got to get my hands dirty and rip things apart, finding out how they worked made me happy, but overall, I didn't like my job much.

 
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Everything said so far is spot on IMO. I couldn't agree more. I was always into computers and thought web design would be great. Eh. Not so much. I didn't like what was involved and I switched my major to marketing which also sucked. I'm not a people person and my creativity is something that I wouldn't call spectacular in that area. I ended up switching to automotive and although I was a little skeptical at first, the ins and outs I learned about really intrigued me and I ended up sticking with it. Just do some research. And if you go into something you don't like, you can always switch. If you can, start out at a community college. 2 years and the tuition is cheaper if you plan on transferring out.

 
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If you don't like calculations and such then you'll be in for a rough time. You need to be very good with math when it comes to designing anything, especially mechanical stuff that needs to be very precise.

You're 17, nobody at 17 really had their life planned out even though most 17 year olds thought they did. You'll probably end up going to college, hating what you're studying in, then meeting new people and exploring stuff, and end up switching into something new. It's a totally normal process and it's extremely important to make sure you do what you love. Nothing worse than spending 8 hours a day doing something you hate for 25 years, even if the pay is great.

I went to college not knowing what to do so I went in social sciences and then wanted to get into Computer Science but I didn't pass my math course, so I went into graphic design. Half way though that (last summer), I decided it wasn't for me and for as long as I can remember, my heart has lied with trains and the railroad so I applied to a technical college in Alberta, half way across the country but only later did I realize that I didn't have the required math equivalency (yeah I hate math) so now I'm still in graphic design with just 1 semester left before my internship. I'm seriously doubting that it's going to work out but i've come too far in it to quit now. I'll finish the program so that I have some college education under my belt then I can either pursue trains again or trucking. I'm 20 btw.

 
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I decided to be mechanical engineer by 15. followed the path so far and am at 39 .
But it do suit me, so take this with a grain of salt. Also, very rare that i use anything more than high school physics and math, although i have the concepts very solid. Not doing the calcs. But i do work on production process, and some design, develop is involved.
The certificate is to open the first door, in the end. most end up working on a different area.
Did not happen with me again because the carreer do fit me in particular and it seems i do a good job on it :P

 
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I was in your exact position about a year and a half ago (when I was 17.. lol) what Brian said was spot on. Live your life day by day. Plan out life by the week not by the year or decade. You will know when you find something you love. I went in as a mechanical engineer in college because that's all I wanted to be and I HATED it. Circuits, Thermo, Statics etc pretty much gave me nightmares daily. I decided to take advantage of other strengths I have, like public speaking, writing, interacting with other people, etc and am now preparing to go to law school after college. You never know until you live, but you gotta live first.