BA vs. BS in Biology

[Pretty POHA]

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Hey All!
I'm looking for your thoughts on this matter--
I just switched my major from a BA in Psychology to a BA in Biology w/ a Psychology minor.
The only major different between a BA in Biology and a BS in it is that I have more electives and fewer Biology classes required to get my degree...
I have no idea why a school would offer both BA & BS in Biology-- especially when they don't offer both a BA & BS in Psychology...
Have any of you heard anything one way or another about a BA vs. a BS? I know that as long as I do well, there won't be any difference in my capacity to get into a school...
Is it just me, or does a BA in Biology just sound kind of weird?
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

It's not a big deal. Don't worry about it, just get the degree that allows you to pursue your interests. 👍

 

[Risa]

My school (a small liberal arts school) only offers BAs. Thus, I too am getting a BA in Biology. We can be a club 🙂

 

[DrBowtie]

At my school BA is 40 hours in major and BS is 60 hours in major.

Also psychology some places isn't considered "sciency" enough to warrant a BS.

 

[Pretty POHA]

My school (a small liberal arts school) only offers BAs. Thus, I too am getting a BA in Biology. We can be a club 🙂

Okay, Neat.
We should make up other specs as to getting into the club. We wouldn't just want any BA in Biology to join. Maybe we can make new members pay us or rub our feet before they're accepted?

 

[CalBoi82]

I got a BA in Biology and a BS in Business Administration... go figure 🙂

 

[Pretty POHA]

I got a BA in Biology and a BS in Business Administration... go figure 🙂

I think your school is just trying to confuse me. Why do they do such a thing??

 

[Risa]

Okay, Neat.
We should make up other specs as to getting into the club. We wouldn't just want any BA in Biology to join. Maybe we can make new members pay us or rub our feet before they're accepted?

Mmmm I vote foot rub!!

 

[jjmack]

my school only gave BAs (or actually ABs) in biology. It doesn't matter at all.

 

[CalBoi82]

It's a large, top 20 school too... very strange. In fact there's this Facebook group at my school that demands the deptartment granting them a BS for bio... LoL But honestly, I do not think med schools care whether it's a BA or BS...

 

[Saluki]

I'm getting a BA in Biochem. My advisor said that normally it doesn't look as hard core, but since I'm doing a double major in the humanities, that it wouldn't look bad... I don't know much more than that...

 

[FrkyBgStok]

i am getting a BS in bio. i told them i want to go to med school and they said BOOM! BS it is. not sure why!

 

[Em1]

My big engineering school only does BSs. Even the few liberal arts-type people here get a BS.

BS in bio it is!

 

[kalenakai]

At Stanford, they have a BS in Biological Sciences (hardcore) and a BA in Human Biology (softcore). 😀 I chose hardcore.

 

[badlydrawnvik]

I was sort of indirectly told that a BA is really only good if you are doing multiple majors or multiple minors where you need room and flexibility in a schedule. I think a BA in biology with no other major or only one minor is a little easy.

 

[jjmack]

it's only easy if you have the option to do a more hardcore BS. I also think med schools want you to do what you like as long as you get all the pre reqs done.

 

[masterMood]

what looks better, b.a. in bio and b.a. in economics double major or b.s. in bio.

which is better prep-wise for med. school, and long-term wise, and which one is better for admissions.

 

[astrife]

I was under the impression that with a BA you had more elective slots so as to give you a more "liberal arts" education. Is it going to hurt me if I take the "easy" BA route rather than the BS route when applying to top schools?

 

[DrBowtie]

I was under the impression that with a BA you had more elective slots so as to give you a more "liberal arts" education. Is it going to hurt me if I take the "easy" BA route rather than the BS route when applying to top schools?

No.

 

[CalBoi82]

Honestly, I don't think med schools care whether if a biology degree is BA or BS... since in most situations students don't have the opportunity to choose which one they get; the type of degree offered has aready been determined by the school. Bio is bio is bio no matter what the title is after your name.

Case in point, Berkeley only offers BA in biology, people get into top schools like Harvard or UCSF every year.

 

[sunnyjohn]

Med schools won't care.

 

[DeadorAlive]

If you are only choosing in order to maximize chances in med school, choose whatever you prefer, whether your decision is based upon more time for electives, more opportunities for research,etc.

I chose my BS (and yes, I had a choice) because I wanted to broaden my options. In research or industry, I felt that a BS in Bio would be more useful than a BA, especially were I to apply for jobs against other graduates of more science or engineering focused institutions. I now work in a tangentially-related consulting field, and I doubt it mattered, although I still am pleased with my decision.

I tend to disagree with many posters here when they stress that GPA, not difficulty of coursework, is all that matters. It may be true for medical school admissions, but for challenging yourself and making the most of your educational opportunities, I always choose a challenge.

Anyhow to get back to the original question: If you don't have a choice, the point is moot. For med school, the difference is also negligibile. BA in Bio won't hurt you for the purpose of med admissions.

 

[Moto]

BA in Chem and History. But hey, our school grants BS in Psych and BA in math.