Changing my major

[butterfli82]

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I am currently a sophomore majoring in biology. I was thinking of changing my major to Exercise Science but I didn't know if dental schools would like that. People on here keep saying that it doesn't matter what you major in but my advisor said that most of the people that get accepted majored in biology. I don't know what to do. I am interested in both biology and exercise science but I think a degree in exercise science would give me more job options should I not be accepted to dental school. I don't know what to do and I need to make up my mind before I register for spring semester classes. Ultimately it is my decision but any insight or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[UBTom]

Biology would be the more generalized major, I would think. Exercise science sounds a bit more specialized and hence I think would actually limit your career options more if you graduate with that.

But to answer your question about whether or not majors matter, the answer is no, most of the time. As long as you fulfill the pre-dental requirements, it's good enough for the majority of dental schools in the U.S. no matter what your major was.

 

[Midoc]

I usually say that it doesn't matter what your major is as long as it is a serious major. Exercise science may be a very serious major but it sounds like one designed so that the jocks can take it and still remain eligible to play sports. That is the only reason I would be leary about this major. The admissions committee might see that you switched from bio to exercise sci and think that you switched just to get higher grades. This doesn't sound like it is the case but it would be better in the long run not to have to explain this in every interview.

 

[saman1]

I know this is off topic, but my molecular science professor had a phd in excercise science.
I doubt being an excercise science major will hurt your chances.

 

[Midoc]

I don't think that there is anything at all wrong with an exercise science degree/major. My only concern would be that it would look a little bit funny <b>on paper</b> to see someone switch from a Bio major to an exercise science major.

 

[jred378]

I'm a kinesiology major, which is close to exercise science. There is actually an exercise science emphasis, but I'm doing the pre-physical therapy tract because it covers most of the prerequisites for dental school. Exercise science is anything but a major for the jocks. And as far as being a limiting major, I beg to differ. What would a biology major get you if you don't go on to dental or medical school? Not a whole lot. You could teach at a high school. Other than that you would need to go on to graduate school. This is with most majors. For example, if you major in business administration, you would most likely need to get an MBA if you want any chance in the business world. Unfortunately in today's world a bachelor's degree doesn't mean as much as it used to.

 

[UBTom]

Originally posted by jred378
What would a biology major get you if you don't go on to dental or medical school? Not a whole lot.

No, A whole lot! 😀

Link: What can you do with a biology degree


If I had not gone to dental school, I would have considered these other VERY interesting careers with my biology degree:

National Park Ranger-- I would love to work in places like Yellowstone or Denali.

Marine biologist at places like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in MA.

Natural History Museum Curator.

Paleontologist! Who doesn't love dinosaurs?

Zoologist. You can be an adrenaline junkie in this business like that crazy Australian crocodile dude. "Dainja dainja dainja!"

Exobiologist for NASA. I would LOVE to be there at NASA JPL when a probe to Europa finds the first solid evidence of extraterrestrial life under the Jovian moon's ice crust.

FBI agent for their Forensic Laboratory Division.

Who says bio majors are boring?

 

[quantumhead]

A Biology degree will allow you to WALK into any lab in this country and APPLY for a challanging job washing the test tubes.

DIME A DOZEN. Same with excercise science.

That said, if a degree in Biology does it's thing for you...do it. If excercise science lets you graduate a little sooner so you can apply a year earlier...do it. If you were smart and got you degree in business, and just took the required science so you could get into school...good for you.

Chances are your job will have little to do with what your "BX" was in. If you want to get into Dental school it will show in the personal statement and interview. Be honest and it will turn out as it should.

 

[RaiderNation]

I think something that we should really point out is that a degree in Bio could be good and bad. If you don't go on to a health profession, there really isn't a whole lot of $$$ in the other fields. Marine Biologist...I would love that job, but it wouldn't pay the bills. Same with the majority of Biology major jobs. Alot of jobs in Bio might require a PhD, but by that time you're 100k in debt and making a whooping 60k a year...deosn't add up. But hey, if that's what you wanna do...do it.

 

[critterbug]

Originally posted by UBTom
No, A whole lot! 😀

Link: What can you do with a biology degree


If I had not gone to dental school, I would have considered these other VERY interesting careers with my biology degree:

National Park Ranger-- I would love to work in places like Yellowstone or Denali.

Marine biologist at places like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in MA.

Natural History Museum Curator.

Paleontologist! Who doesn't love dinosaurs?

Zoologist. You can be an adrenaline junkie in this business like that crazy Australian crocodile dude. "Dainja dainja dainja!"

Exobiologist for NASA. I would LOVE to be there at NASA JPL when a probe to Europa finds the first solid evidence of extraterrestrial life under the Jovian moon's ice crust.

FBI agent for their Forensic Laboratory Division.

Who says bio majors are boring?

UBTom,

These jobs are very rare and very competitive. And the ones that aren't, you will be offered pennies to work. And trust me, the HR department will have a "take it or leave it attitude" becasue a biology degree getz no lovin, so to speak 😀

The truth is, there is just not much demand for a Biology degree and you will probably have to get a job doing something totally unrelated to your degree if you want to make a living. And usually the work is very monotonous and slave driving if you get a job in industry working quality control or product development. Especially entry level.

Thats the truth. This is coming from someone who has a Biology degree and has been in the workforce the past few years.

Biology is a great degree for preparation for medical or dental school, but serves little purpose in corporate america.

"technical" oriented degrees seem to be in higher demand, but are still pretty much worthless in today's economy. Some just off the top of my head include:

Accounting
Engineering


Well, thats about it And with outsorucing going on, engineering has lost its demand. I think an accountant will always be a good solid degree to get, if you want to have the security of knowing that your skills will *most likely* be in demand

It's all about having a marketable skill. And lets face it, most biologists have skills that are only *really* marketable to specific niches such as research and biopharmaceutical. And unless you have a PhD or PharmD, you can kiss a *good job* in pharmaceutical goodbye.

Again, there are exceptions, but this seems to be about the norm for most Biology majors entering the workforce.

 

[critterbug]

And teaching is always an option for any degree you get.

 

[abina81]

To answer the orginal question. Dental schools dont care what you major in BUT most students who get accepted happened to do a biology major. This is because they probably when you do a biology major you are most prepared for DAT, you probably ended taking a lot of the 'recommended' classes.

But remember GPA goes much further. If you think you can't perform well in all the upper level bio courses do a different degree. Dont shot yourself in the foot trying to prove something to dental school.

Just do well in the prereqs and get phat GPA. You'll be set.

My 2 pennies

 

[UBTom]

Originally posted by critterbug
UBTom,

These jobs are very rare and very competitive. And the ones that aren't, you will be offered pennies to work. And trust me, the HR department will have a "take it or leave it attitude" becasue a biology degree getz no lovin, so to speak 😀

Funny, at my undergrad school there were recruiters from the above organizations soliciting job applications during my 4th year of college. 😀

The last thing I would do with my biology degree would be to work for corporate America. I would have had no trouble getting a job as a National Park Service ranger or going into paleontology if I had decided right then and there not to go into dentistry. So they don't pay as much as medicine or dentistry, but who says they have to? Hell, I would *pay* to work in a place like this if I had decided to forego dentistry:

(For those who don't recognize the place, it's Yosemite National Park. One can guess what's on my list of "vacations to take before 40".. Which I will actively start to shorten when May 2004 rolls around! )

 

[ehop24]

switch to exercise!

90% of dent and med are bio majors because...90% of dent and med are bio majors. get my point? it's the thing to do. it's applicable. but better yet, it's the standard.

in my experience, non bio and chem majors draw more attention to their applications. why? because the adcoms want to know what courses were really being taken.

if you look at a bio major from my school, here's the required coursework: evolution, plant bio, vertebrate physiology, comparative anatomy. not bad.

but look at the applicability of excercise physiology: 2 semesters human anatomy and physiology, 2 semesters of metabolism, biochem, biomechanics. all of which will definitely help your career.

do you get the impression i did exercise phys? yep. i switched from bio when i realized that bio wanted me to learn a bunch of worthless stuff (plants, lower vertebrates, invertebrates). exercise phys taught me how HUMAN's work.

the best reason to switch? if you'll enjoy it more! after undergrad, you dont pick your classes. take something you enjoy while you can.

 

[init4damoney]

I too am a kinesiology major. I agree 100% with ehop24. I looked at biology and wondered when I would ever use plant physiology while I'm drilling a tooth? Besides, I like learning about the body. Classes that are required are pretty much the same as exercise science. Chem, general bio, microbio, biomech, human anatomy and physiology, exercise physio, calculus, physics, etc. How can you not love this stuff!?! J/K.

 

[init4damoney]

I probably should add that I understand that these classes won't mean too much when I'm practicing either. Heck, my own dentist told me that dentists are one of the most overeducated people in the world. The only thing he said would be important was pharmacology. He said dentistry was more of an art. Just do your best in whatever you decide, forget all the hoopla about majors. Worry about gpa and dats!!!