Major Confusion...

[TheaterOfTheme]

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Hello all!

I am a first timer here. So anyways, I am having some difficulty in deciding a major. It's a bit complicated, but I transferred from two previous schools (one private and one community college) and am now at a state school. I thoroughly enjoy the sciences and cannot decide between Biochemistry or Biology. How am I supposed to know which one I will like more or find more valuable? This seems like quite the simple question, but I am very undecided.

I have completed gen chem, gen bio, calculus, and am in genetics and o chem. This is the semester when biology students split from biochem students, so its imperative for me to decide. I am also trying to minor in philosophy. The way it may work is that the philosophy minor will only be possible with the Chem major. This is due to less required upper divs. I don't want to spend more than 2 years more for undergrad, so staying a 3rd year is out of the question I think.

ANYWAYS, from a pre-med point of view, I know it really doesn't matter what major to go into, but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts.

Thanks!!!

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

haha, also, I currently have a 3.9 and DONT want to lose it…hahaha

 

[Pacna]

Honestly, I would do biochemistry were I you. More job options should med school fall through.

 

[DokterMom]

Choose the one you enjoy more. If that doesn't help you decide, choose the one with better career prospects if you decide not to go to medical school.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Both points are well taken. The only problem is, I enjoy both equally. I really am a jack of all trades by nature. I enjoy everything… (except anthropology, that's BS). I first started as a music major, then theology… after some serious career reflection and personal development I have been working towards Medicine for the last two years.

So, DokterMom, I am ultimately appealing to that reasoning. i.e. What is more practical? But as far as I can tell from reading, the practicality of the degree does not matter in medicine so much as GPA. So that's my dilemma…I suppose.

Thanks all!

 

[sat0ri]

Biochemistry. You're studying a more fundamental aspect of reality, and more likely to come out with useful and generalizable knowledge. It's more relevant in research as well. While you can read up on biology if you're unfamiliar with a topic, if you're unfamiliar with a biochemistry topic in a journal article you might need a whole course to understand it, not just a browsing of wikipedia. This is all an argument for why one major might be more enjoyable (which you've said you're impartial on). If you liked organic, that would be a good indicator

 

[knv2u]

Honestly, I would do biochemistry were I you. More job options should med school fall through.

This. You could go into industry and it would open up a lot of avenues.

 

[rainbow girl]

+1 for Biochem, agree with all the reasons above. Biochem major here. However physical chem may hurt your GPA

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

haha… p chem is specifically my worry as well 😛
Well, GPA isn't everything, Right??? *hopeful idealism*

 

[frosted_flake]

Evolution, ecology, plant biology, animal biology ---OR--- P chem and calculus 2. It is kind of a 'pick your poison' type of deal 🙂

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

well I already aced calc 2! so does that mean p chem will be easier? from anyone's experience that is?

 

[WierdScience]

Calc two and P Chem aren't even on the same planet in my opinion. Also, I majored in both biochemistry and biology and my vote is definitely for biochemistry. It is much more applicable but quite a bit harder IMO.

 

[487806]

well I already aced calc 2! so does that mean p chem will be easier? from anyone's experience that is?

Pchem isn't exactly "easy" (hint: it's actually difficult) but it's very doable if you put in the time and effort into it. And yes, biochemistry is the better choice for you.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

hmm ok, well I am leaning towards it, think i'll make the switch tomorrow! Thanks guys!

 

[DokterMom]

Honestly, I would do biochemistry were I you. More job options should med school fall through.

choose the one with better career prospects if you decide not to go to medical school.

What I really meant but did not say outright was if medical schools decided you were not going to go to medical school...

In your early years of college, you should always have a viable Plan B, since so very much can go wrong between now and med school acceptances. As you move through your college career and are still a competitive med school candidate (>3.6 GPA, >30 MCAT, research, volunteering, leadership, etc.), then your decisions can safely become more med school-oriented. But there is a reason they call them 'weed out classes' and if you're one of the >50% that gets weeded out, you want to have a good fallback position. Straight Bio is not very marketable.

As to your 'jack of all trades' and wide-ranging interests -- Be fully aware that you don't have to major in the sciences to get into med school. Stats show that music, theology, philosophy, history, English, even art majors generally have higher med school acceptance rates than Bio majors. You'll still have to take all the science med school pre-reqs, though, which may be harder to fit into those degree paths, and it's not like those majors have blistering hot career prospects either...

You want hot Plan B career prospects? -- Engineering major. Good Plan B career prospects and a high GPA? -- Business major.

 

[WierdScience]

Good point, change my vote from biochemistry to chemical engineering. They take a lot of the same classes but Chem Engineering seems to have better job prospects right now.

 

[ThrombinHood]

ChemE has the 2nd highest return on money for your investment. Economics is in first place. Albeit, with ChemE your GPA will be significantly lower if you do decide that medicine is your dream. At my school, there is very little difference between a chem and biochem degree. Typically these students end up working for ChemE managers if the arent looking at professional school

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

I basically have all the prereqs done except O Chem, which I am well above an A+ in so far mid way semester 1.
I was also considering the philosophy major route because of those stats.
I honestly feel that science will help me best once I get there, but I suppose I'm afraid I won't get there with a somewhat lower gpa due to p chem and such! Haha

I have presented research at the Southern California Conference for Undergrad Research and am continuing in research each semester....I am in an outreach club and have to start volunteer work soon...so I am aware of these aspects as well...I am just hung up about the major thing...

I guess, my main thing is, I'd prefer Biochem, but I was just wondering how many people who did well in the lower div. sciences got busted in upper div. (got Bs or lower)

 

[ruedjgtc]

I basically have all the prereqs done except O Chem, which I am well above an A+ in so far mid way semester 1.
I was also considering the philosophy major route because of those stats.
I honestly feel that science will help me best once I get there, but I suppose I'm afraid I won't get there with a somewhat lower gpa due to p chem and such! Haha

I have presented research at the Southern California Conference for Undergrad Research and am continuing in research each semester....I am in an outreach club and have to start volunteer work soon...so I am aware of these aspects as well...I am just hung up about the major thing...

I guess, my main thing is, I'd prefer Biochem, but I was just wondering how many people who did well in the lower div. sciences got busted in upper div. (got Bs or lower)

Finish Organic, keep up a high GPA, I think everyone else has already mentioned Biochemistry would be the way to go. Pure Biology used to be a great major, back when you only needed a bachelors to be a "scientist", and start slicing open mice and what not. Biochemistry has a lot more career paths, biotech, pharmaceuticals, lab scientist positions.

That's pretty crazy that you mention the Southern California Research Conferences, I help coordinate those particular conferences, good luck I'll be at one this Friday to oversee things.

I was a Physiology guy, so I didn't have to take PChem, so I can't help you there, and don't want to muddy the waters on the point.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Thanks ruedjgtc