biology or biochemistry?

[anna02]

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Hey all-
I am transferring from a community college to a four year college next fall. In a couple of weeks, I visit the college and register for my classes. However, I am uncertain as to if I want to keep my current major, biology or switch to biochemistry. So, I have come up with two fall schedules to pick from, one for if was to stay bio, one for if I was to change to biochem. To you, which seems more interesting or more managable and why?

--Biology--
Organic Chem 1
Ecology
Invertebrate Zoology
Humanities
2 PE classes
or
--BioChem--
Organic 1
Analytical Chem
Calculus 2
Humanities
2 PE classes

So.. which shall it be?? I have already asked whether I should switch or not before on this board, but as my registration date draws near, I really need some more opinions. Thank you.

Anna

 

[vyc]

i'm a lil biased bc i'm a biological chemistry major but i think that a biochem major will be harder than a straight up bio major.
if only bc there are probably more requirements. (at least that's how it is at my school)

also, i don't know which subjects are your strong points, but for me, analytical chemistry freaks me out and pchem was hell enough to last me a lifetime...

but i still think a biochem major is cool bc you get to take classes in both bio and chem.

 

[missMD]

anna02
Which is more interesting really depends on you. However, as a biochemistry major and pre-med I would like to point out that if you do not get into medical school you may have to rely on your degree to find a job. You will usually find better paying jobs in the Chemistry and Biochemistry fields than in just biology. Don't get me wrong, it is certainly possible to obtain a good job with a degree in biology but, from what I have seen it can be a lot harder.
Good luck on your decision! 🙂

 

[FLY]

A biochem degree w/o pchem is always a good deal I think....

 

[anna02]

Thanks for the replies. I believe that biochem would be more interesting than biology, yet as much as I love math, I am afraid that calc 2 and some of the upper level chem classes would be really tough for me. I just need to know which major I want so that I can sign up for bio or chem classes in the fall. I guess I just need a little bit of a shove in either direction. Any more suggestions?

 

[FLY]

Calc II is easier than Calc I, I made a B in Calc I and an A in Calc II...

 

[anna02]

Wow, really FLY? I am taking Calc I right now during summer semester. We haven't really started calc yet, so I don't know how I will fare in the class. That's good to know that calc II is easier.. why is that exactly?

 

[rajneel1]

biology, easier major generally. you want to go to med school right?

 

[FLY]

Calc II was primarily deriving derivatives and antiderivitives using different techniques and if you just get the hang of the technique you should be fine..

But Calc I for me was (although I took AP calc, I repeated it) tough b/c it dealt with epsilon and delta and stuff and I never really got them... plus I think the professor also played a role in it too, I had a hard/not-good-at-english one for Calc I and plus the time when I took it also played a role in making it harder too b/c I signed up for all 8 o'clock classes my freshman year fall semester and never made it to class that many days...

But all in all, Calc II for me was much easier..

 

[Jessica]

I agree with what the others have said about having a biochem degree vs. bio just in case med school does not work out.

There are a lot of bio majors out there, and relatively fewer biochem and chem people, so IMO biochem is a better option (in fact, that is one of the reasons that I chose biochem over bio... does anyone sense a bias here?? :wink: 😛 )

Plus, I really enjoyed both bio and chem, and if I went with a bio major, I wouldn't have a very strong background in chem. Of course, now that I am in P chem, I am *wishing* that I didn't have to take so much chem 😀 (ok, ok, its not SO bad, I just like to complain a lot.)

 

[anna02]

FLY- yeah, I definitely understand what you mean about the teacher playing a role in how hard the course is. I had the most horrible teacher for precalculus.. I worked hard for my B. So, I'm a little apprehensive about taking calculus, but am hoping that my teacher will turn out to be better than my precal teacher.

Jessica- I really enjoy chem, more so than bio right now, and that is the main reason I wanted to switch to biochem- so that I could have the 'best of both worlds'. I have heard so many horror stories about pchem though...yikes.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Thanks everyone.

 

[STi555]

Since you enjoy chem I would say do biochem. Also, I think that A chem helped me on the MCAT physical science just because it helped keep a lot of general chemistry principles in my mind.

 

[randomlogik]

Okie...maybe I am a little biased too considering I am a biochem major, but I think it is a really good major. Be prepared tho, at my school at least biochem is one of the hardest majors which comes with some privileges too...everyone looks up to the biochem majors * :wink: * I choose biochem because I liked the mixture between biology and chemistry. My curriculum is a little lacking on the anatomy stuff, so I would recommend taking that as an elective sometime. Other than that...make sure you develop a fond love for proteins <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[Biochemist13]

Biochemistry hands down!!!!!!

 

[anna02]

Thanks STi, random, and biochemist.
Make sure I develop a fond love of proteins, huh random? <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> Hmm.. and its one of the hardest majors, but comes with respect? That sells me right there.. :wink:

Thanks everyone.
Anna

 

[NubianPrincess]

wow, this thread has me wanting to change my major to Biochemistry!
But, I guess I should take Biochemistry first, shouldnt I. I love the concept, just don't know how my grades would be in the class. 🙂