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what is everyone's view on majoring in biology

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Review the researches that your school, and what other school of biology has. It's fascinating! You can always take some technical courses to complement your knowledge, take some electrical engineering courses cuz right now everyone seem to try to interface cells, neurons etc with chips.

Also, after you finishes your masters, you could get a law degree and then make money when biotech company fight over patent etc.
 
I had a double major in NeuroBiology and Psychology (I was premed all the way through, but changed my mind at the end), went to law school, and now work at a bank. If the market didn't suck so badly, I'd be in IT now.

I wish I had made up my mind about my career track back in college.
 
i don't think your prospects for work are too great. my friend graduated with a bs in bio. she got a couple of jobs in labs but none paid very well and she hated the work.

fortunately, she subsequently got a job in a completely unrelated field, web development, and after a few years she's now living in london as a project manager at a global investment bank and owns a house there.
 
It is the same as any other pure science - almost no jobs and if you do get one you will be the lowest paid employee. A BS in any science is almost worthless. Take my dad for example. He majored in chemistry and found a job. However he was the lowest paid employee. Even the janitor (who was the second lowest paid employee) made 20% per hour more than him.

You need more than just a BS in biology. You'll need to go on to grad school. Then you have a great outlook for jobs. Or you could double major, however that ends up with as much time and as much work as getting a BS and a masters but you don't get the salary of having a masters...

So what is your goal? Is grad school in your plans? If so, biology will be a great major. If not, you have plenty of time to switch.
 
I don't mean to crap, something is defnitely wrong with your dad, I am not sure when did your dad graduate, I'd assume at least 10-15yrs ago, and 10-15yrs ago, chemistry was a good major to get into, one didn't really need a Ph.D to go further in their career. You will still be ok with a BS in chem degree way back in 20yrs ago. 1/2 of the old farts in my company are non-Ph.d, and they make pretty good money, and in charge of something just because they have been doing it for a long time. too bad its not like that anymore, no ph.d, you won't be in charge of anything now.



Originally posted by: dullard
It is the same as any other pure science - almost no jobs and if you do get one you will be the lowest paid employee. A BS in any science is almost worthless. Take my dad for example. He majored in chemistry and found a job. However he was the lowest paid employee. Even the janitor (who was the second lowest paid employee) made 20% per hour more than him.

You need more than just a BS in biology. You'll need to go on to grad school. Then you have a great outlook for jobs. Or you could double major, however that ends up with as much time and as much work as getting a BS and a masters but you don't get the salary of having a masters...

So what is your goal? Is grad school in your plans? If so, biology will be a great major. If not, you have plenty of time to switch.
Click to expand...

 
Originally posted by: richardycc
I don't mean to crap, something is defnitely wrong with your dad, I am not sure when did your dad graduate, I'd assume at least 10-15yrs ago, and 10-15yrs ago, chemistry was a good major to get into, one didn't really need a Ph.D to go further in their career. You will still be ok with a BS in chem degree way back in 20yrs ago. 1/2 of the old farts in my company are non-Ph.d, and they make pretty good money, and in charge of something just because they have been doing it for a long time. too bad its not like that anymore, no ph.d, you won't be in charge of anything now.
Click to expand...
That was about 30 years ago. He worked as a paint technician at a bathtub/shower manufacturer at that job. But that was a long time ago. He went on to get a masters in accounting and is earning 6 digits now. Lets fast forward to today: Average beginning chemical technician makes $30,377 in the United States. Average beginning janitor makes $21,462. So yes the chemist makes more, but not dramatically more.

More relevant salaries:
Animal Technician: $27,218
Biologist 1: $33,888
Biochemist: $38,092
Engineer 1: $51,081.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: richardycc
I don't mean to crap, something is defnitely wrong with your dad, I am not sure when did your dad graduate, I'd assume at least 10-15yrs ago, and 10-15yrs ago, chemistry was a good major to get into, one didn't really need a Ph.D to go further in their career. You will still be ok with a BS in chem degree way back in 20yrs ago. 1/2 of the old farts in my company are non-Ph.d, and they make pretty good money, and in charge of something just because they have been doing it for a long time. too bad its not like that anymore, no ph.d, you won't be in charge of anything now.
Click to expand...
That was about 30 years ago. He worked as a paint technician at a bathtub/shower manufacturer at that job. But that was a long time ago. He went on to get a masters in accounting and is earning 6 digits now. Lets fast forward to today: Average beginning chemical technician makes $30,377 in the United States. Average beginning janitor makes $21,462. So yes the chemist makes more, but not dramatically more.

More relevant salaries:
Animal Technician: $27,218
Biologist 1: $33,888
Biochemist: $38,092
Engineer 1: $51,081.
Click to expand...


Even more stagering is entry level chemical/materials engineer at my employer comes in from college at 55-65K and design/test while the chemists come in at 25-30K and work in the lab doing analysis for the chemE..This is a 100% differernce!! We don't recruit biologists.

Take those advice whos been there seen hundreds of interviews and friends with similar degrees not these peeps still in college with rosy outlooks.

I graduated with a BS biochem worked in EPA and state labs for three years until getting smart and getting an MS in marterials engineering which doubled salary and responsibilities, made all the difference career wise.




 
Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Even more stagering is entry level chemical/materials engineer at my employer comes in from college at 55-65K and design/test while the chemists come in at 25-30K and work in the lab doing analysis for the chemE..This is a 100% differernce!! We don't recruit biologists.
Click to expand...
I'm a bit shocked by the 65K number - is that for a BS degree? I'm 6 months away from my PhD in chemical engineering. Two years ago the entry level chemical engineering salary was $45,000/$50,000/$60,000 for BS/MS/PhD in chemical engineering (data from American Institute of Chemical Engineers). Nice to see one company bucking the trend and paying a lot more!


 
BS-Biology myself but pursued further studies after that.
Cant imagine just being a Bilogist.

You could be Like George Castanza and become a MArine Biologist and pull a golf ball out of a whales Blowhole.😀
 
Carbonyl, you must like ochem alot ha.

Anyway, I'm a second yr Bio student. What kind of grade do I need to go to pharmacy school? Thx from an inquiring bio student.
 
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