Biology majors

[Anonymous No.5898579]

Im going to be applying for my bachelors in a few weeks. I have the choice of BSc in either Biomedical sciences or Genetics. Though I am very interested in genetics as a post grad, I want to know if there are more prospective options and which major would be better suited for them.

[Anonymous No.5898612]

>look at job ads
>few jobs in science
>ones that do list qualifications
>qualifications include degree
>any degree in biology, chemistry, or related or X amount of years of experience or any combination of education and experience equivalent to education
It doesn't matter, pick what you love.

[Anonymous No.5898619]

>>5898612
Im kinda in love with genetics but Im worried about leaving myself little options if I specialize in it at bachelor level. Do geneticists have good prospects?

[Anonymous No.5898636]

>>5898619
I think they have slightly better prospects. If you want to increase your prospects then minor/double major in biochem and learn to bioinformatics. Also, 1 year of undergrad research experience in a professors lab at minimum.

[Anonymous No.5898649]

>>5898636
Considering my interest in genetics, I can see myself going for a PhD after a post grad. That cant be bad, right?

[Anonymous No.5898660]

>>5898649
I'm not sure because I haven't gone that route, but I've heard one can be caught up in postdoc hell or fail to get an academic position or have trouble finding a job in the market due to overqualified with lack of experience. I'm not sure how common those fates are but do what you want/need to do.

[Anonymous No.5898669]

>>5898660
>overqualified with lack of experience
That does sound like a problem. A few jobs during and after under and post grad should help keep things balanced. Thanks.

[Anonymous No.5898684]

I got M.Sci in microbiology last year. Got a job about one week later, not really because of my knowledge in biology, but because I also have a B.Sci in computer science. Genetics is in essence applied computer science. If you can't bioinfo, there are no jobs for you..

[Anonymous No.5898686]

>>5898649
It goes like this: Bachelor, Master, Doctorate and then post grad. Not Bachelor, Master, post Grad, PhD..

[Anonymous No.5898689]

>>5898684
So bioinformatics as a course in my program or a separate minor?

[Anonymous No.5898694]

>>5898686
I thought post grad was masters. Arent you a graduate once you do your bachelors?

[Anonymous No.5898698]

>>5898689
A single course in bioinfo probably means learning a few programs. This will in no way prepare you for bioinfo. You should acquire at least rudimentary knowledge of coding so that you're able to construct pipelines. Also, learning bash by heart is very important for parsing your data..

[Anonymous No.5898707]

>>5898698
So you dont do much lab work? What exactly does a bioinformatics worker do?

[Anonymous No.5898764]

>>5898707
I do if I have to, but not often, no. Currently I'm doing bioinfo for a Deep Biosphere project. Basically they've drilled a very deep bore hole and isolated total DNA from different depths, which was sequenced either by 454 or Illumina. This is basically where my job starts, after QC I either predict stuff from reads, or first assemble and then proceed. The overall aim is to understand what lives there and how (where does the energy come from etc.)..

[Anonymous No.5898773]

>biology
gtfo
>>>/an/
>>>/fit/

[Anonymous No.5898787]

>>5898773
This is /sci/ - Science and Math.
Science even comes before math in the title.

[Anonymous No.5898790]

>>5898612
>pick what you love

Worst advice ever. Pick something realistic that will pay the bills and give you enough resources to do what you love in your spare time. A career is not a hobby.

This mentality that everyone should do what they love is why we have so many unemployed gender studies majors begging for the government to forgive their student debt.

OP, biology pays shit unless you get into medicine or go all the way to your PhD, neither of which you know yet if you are capable of. You are more likely to become an elementary school teacher than a scientist. I would recommend studying nursing, pharmacy, or biomedical engineering if you don't want to party.

[Anonymous No.5898801]

>>5898773

[Anonymous No.5898800]

>>5898790
>biomedical engineering
And do what exactly? Do you mean pursue instrumentation and devices, an electronics field? Im more interested in biology than engineering.

[Anonymous No.5898802]

>>5898773
That pic, just wow.
Do you even realize how heavily chemistry is applied to biology?

[Anonymous No.5898817]

>>5898790
Well, I picked what I love, I got a job immediately after graduation, and it pays pretty well too. I don't think a PhD would boost my salary much, it's more about how much work experience you have. Anyway, I'll certainly start a PhD in a year or too, if just to get that stamp of high intelligence (and also because my gf is halfway thru hers and I can't be worse than her)

[Anonymous No.5898820]

>>5898817
Bio related?

[Anonymous No.5898830]

>>5898820
Yes, I'm
>>5898684

Kids, remember, don't slack with your studies. Employers do appreciate near 5 GPA (I had 4.9 from ARWU Top 100 ranked Uni). It makes it ever so more convincing when you state in dat job interview that you're passionate about the science..

[Anonymous No.5898839]

>>5898579

Once you go through it, you realize that the idea of 'specializing at the bachelor level' is sort of laughable if not impossible, especially in biology.

If you're interested in Genetics, take some time to think about the reason why. Why does it excite you? The reason things like Bioinformatics pay so much is because it's centered around a practical skill that people in the field need badly (because they don't want to do it themselves). You'll be separate from a lot of types of biology. If you like the idea of building ways to deal with information, predictive modeling of structure, ways of automating data analysis, etc etc etc, then bioinfo might be for you.

[Anonymous No.5898850]

>>5898839 Cont.

Furthermore, in the life sciences, it's sort of folly to think of future job prospects. If you want jobs, be an engineer.

With a Bachelor's here's how biology looks:
-Technician: start around 25k a year, tons of competition. After a handful of years, snag a lab manager or specialized technician job. Your cap is probably around 45k in academia (and we're talking after a long career). Industry pays more, but they pay for specific skills and often give less intellectual freedom (prepare to PCR all day).

Sales rep: The people research scientists all avoid. More money, travel...is it really bio? Can't say, never done it.

If you want money, you HAVE to get a PhD.

[Anonymous No.5898848]

>>5898787
Doesn't mean political science, computer science, or biology belong here

[Anonymous No.5898851]

>>5898802
organic chem, the least scientific field of chemistry

[Anonymous No.5898855]

>>5898850
And WITH the realization of getting a PhD, I have to stress that what your B.S. (or even B.A. shocking, I know!) diploma says matters very little.

If that's what you want to do, like someone else suggested you should jump on the research train early and enthusiastically. Establish a good relationship with a professor at your school (or a nearby one) doing somethign that really excites you. Be upfront about your intentions to learn what research is really like to perform and your desire to build the skills and resume for PhD applications.

Here's something people also don't understand a lot about after your B.S. Master's aren't necessary. They're great for giving you experience designing and managing your own project and getting you publications (both an incredible help for securing a spot in a PhD program), but it is possible to do that in your undergrad.

[Anonymous No.5898892]

>>5898848
I'll agree with political science because this board is focused on natural sciences rather than social sciences. That's why there's /pol/. Computer science relies heavily on math and thus belongs here as well. But if you don't think Biology is science then you really need to stop being a close minded idiot.

[Anonymous No.5898904]

>>5898773
If this thread was started on /an/ or /fit/ they'd direct OP to /sci/ and you know it.

[Anonymous No.5898942]

>>5898790
>Worst advice ever.
I was referring to specialization, not major.

>nursing, pharmacy, or biomedical engineering
Also, these are all heavily saturated nowadays. BME is the 4th or 5th most popular major for incoming students at my university and there are barely any specific jobs for it.

>>5898800
You could try out the alternative "bioengineering" if they have that at your school.

>>5898839
>you realize that the idea of 'specializing at the bachelor level' is sort of laughable if not impossible
Yes but some schools require a focus or specialization even at undergrad. For example mine was cell biology & physiology and all but 1 of my electives was related to it.

>>5898850
If you want jobs you go into IT. Engineering works out but it is saturated. IT is required in nearly every industry.

>Here's something people also don't understand a lot about after your B.S. Master's aren't necessary.
This. Although I'd strongly look into getting a 5 year degree (4yr bachelors + 1yr masters) if you have the option. It shaves a year or two off of "related work experience required."

[Anonymous No.5899024]

>>5898892
He's trolling, you're biting.

>>5898579
I have a genetics degree OP

[Anonymous No.5899187]

>>5898892
>Computer science relies heavily on math

It absolutely does not

>Biology is science then you really need to stop being a close minded idiot.

It's just one unfounded assumption upon another. There are only a handful of actual biological physicist rigorously studying the subject and trying to turn it into a legitimate field. Biology is going to stay being tad more than blatant witch-doctoring for many decades to come.

[Anonymous No.5899199]

>>5899187
the reason computer science and math is the most popular double major is because the curriculum is so similar it requires little extra effort. please keep your opinions out of this

[Anonymous No.5899201]

>>5898892
What about Economics, anon. Economics relies heavily on math as well especially in the research field, yet is considered a social science.

[Anonymous No.5899234]

>>5899199

A math major means nothing by itself.

Difficult classes like Real Analysis (with Rudin), Abstract Algebra (with Artin or similar), Differential Geometry, Complex Analysis, Algebraic Topology rarely if ever have any computer science majors in them. Piss easy classes that those aiming to become HS math teachers take are filled with CS majors.

Claiming CS and math are similar is a massive insult to mathematics.

[Anonymous No.5899292]

>>5899024
>I have a genetics degree OP
Sweet. And what do you do? What are your plans?

[Anonymous No.5899308]

>>5899292
sage

[Anonymous No.5899319]

>>5899308
What?

[Anonymous No.5899352]

yes

[Anonymous No.5899468]

>>5899187
This faggot is probably some godtard, hence the 'witch-doctoring'

[Anonymous No.5899469]

>>5899468
>le edgy atheist face

[Anonymous No.5899508]

>>5899469
Common sense is edgy these days?

[Anonymous No.5899512]

>>5899508
>we have no evidence therefore therefore matter was created by nothinng

[Anonymous No.5899523]

>>5899508
Neither /sci/ nor 4chan are your super secret atheist hangout. Get the fuck out and kill yourself.

[Anonymous No.5899533]

>>5899468
I can't believe redditors post here thinking they'll be accepted

fuck off

[Anonymous No.5899555]

>>5899512
>there's uncertainty therefore faggot-hating sky wizard made it

[Anonymous No.5899624]

>>5898801
10/10 I'm dying.

[Anonymous No.5899644]

>>5898848
>tfw when no geology

[Anonymous No.5899658]

>>5899292
DVM, unsure whether I'll practice or go into research once I qualify

[Anonymous No.5899696]

Trolling aside, there really are people who think biology = studying animals, which will always blow my mind.

[Anonymous No.5899701]

>>5899187
This person is definitely not actively involved with anything useful in any scientific field.

All these experts constantly bullshitting on this board are mostly people who haven't even finished an undergrad degree.

[Anonymous No.5900748]

Theres so much overlap between the life science majors
I was a genetics major for 3 years and ended up changing to biochemistry my senior year and all I needed to do was take 2 extra classes
Pick whatever you want
IMO biomedical science is more useful. Genetics is something you would learn as a biomedical science major anyway

[Anonymous No.5900765]

>>5898579
btw that DNA picture is a left handed helix
It's twisted the wrong direction
also too few basepairs per turn

[Anonymous No.5901223]

>>5900765
Z-DNA is left-handed..

[Anonymous No.5901240]

>>5901223

And it also doesn't look anything like that. They were going for B-form and fucked it up. At least they acknowledged it had a major and minor groove.