Finishing Jr. year, switch major from bio to something else?

[dsoms27337]

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I transferred into Rutgers(SEBS) from a community college as a biology major. I'm finishing my first year here (technically Jr level) and I was planning on medical school. My GPA was only a 3.34 at my old school, and although I should have a 4.0 this semester, a C+ last semester brought my gpa here (starts fresh) to a 3.1.

Anyway, I'm thinking I should probably have a backup in case medical school doesn't work. My question is this-- I'll probably have a higher GPA if I stay biology, but I'd like to switch to molecular bio/biochem or biochemistry. Either one will probably bring my grades down a bit, but I'd at least be more hireable after getting a bachelors/masters. I'd also end up graduating in 2017 instead of 2016. I'm not sure if I should just stay biology and specialize in a master's program after.

I haven't taken the MCATS yet. Can someone give me some advice on things? Ask away and I'll give you more information that would be helpful. I'd still like to go to med school and I'm working hard, I just am trying to be realistic with things. How are my chances?

 

[NorthOfBroad]

As a biochemistry major I am not sure you are that much more 'hireable.' For most life sciences some grad degree will be needed for a good job.

 

[FalconSlice]

For medical school, majors don't really matter unlike the GPA associated with them. There is a guy in my class that majored in jazz performance arts. If it wasn't for med school, I honestly don't know what he would have done.

 

[justadream]

Your major "switch" is not really even much of a switch. Your hireability will be pretty much the same.

Now if you switched to EE/CS, then yes things would be different (in terms of job opps).

 

[dsoms27337]

So I'd probably be better off finishing as a biology major and then going to grad school if medical school doesn't work out? Switching to molecular biology won't be worth the extra year? Salary is a factor (if i don't go to med school) and i've always been under the impression that molecular bio/biochem + grad school or biochem +grad school would be better than biology + grad school

 

[dsoms27337]

Also, thanks for the responses. I appreciate it.

 

[NorthOfBroad]

Salary depends on what you do. Teach at a university, no difference in salary really. In industry molecular bio probably gets paid more because biotechs will likely hire mol bio or biochem. However, a lot of people do bio and then get a grad degree in biochem/mol bio. At most schools bio is a broad degree and you can take cell bio courses instead of a bunch of ecology courses, and 'specialize' in molecular bio. However do what you are passionate about. If you hate cloning or enzyme kinetics I guarantee you, you won't get paid well enough to make a molecular bio job worth it.