Potential Degree paths

[roinujo1]

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Hi, I am a high school junior thinking about my career opportunities for the very future. While I know that it is still WAY too early to making important life decisions, I do think it is healthy considering some potential careers. I have done some research on lots of degrees to consider after undergraduate. My career aspirations: biotech entrepreneurship/VC/consulting. My dream job would have been to start off as a scientist and gain lots of experience in biotechnology research,(mainly medicine of some kind) Then I would like to go into a more business like of path such as entrepreneurship, Venture capitalist, or consulting.(If it is even possible) My main concern is the degree paths toward this. So, i was wondering if someone could give me any insight as too what I should do to accomplish this potential goal?


P.S. I am new to this site so I apologize if I put this in the wrong place.

P.S.S. Also, if my goal was a little too vague, feel free to ask for more specific info. I am still a little hazy on this type of stuff so, again, I apologize.

 

[Prophetstown]

Enter college as a double major in biology and business and see where life takes you. You'll learn much more about where your true interests lie once you get into your college courses.

 

[StIGMA]

Work hard, follow your passions, don't get discouraged at the numerous setbacks you will face, and find excellent mentors.

Also, saying you want to be a venture capitalist is like saying you want to be a philanthropist or a playboy. Work your way up and find the best mentors you can. At this point, the desire to be an entrepreneur or a VC is a great aspiration, but they are not 'careers' in the sense that those who pursue them regularly succeed. You might as well say your career goal is to win the lottery and then enter those fields, because the odds aren't much off. If you want to work for a venture capitalist and speculate on companies, that is another thing, but you need quite a bit of your own capital to be a VC!

Find biotech/biology/engineering/etc professors at your institution that have made their own startup companies / are part of executive boards of major biotech companies. Ask them to be mentors for you, in the sense that you can come to them occasionally for career advice. Be toward the top of your class and get into the best graduate school that you can for a masters or PhD, depending on your research goals (PhD of course if you want to have the most depth of scientific understanding). Make learning science your primary goal and consider double majoring/minoring in a business degree, which would be the foundation for a future MBA that you may elect to pursue later. Be willing to be happy if you don't make it to/near the top, and have backup plans to do something you enjoy if you don't get all the proper promotions along the way.

 

[uniqenam]

Find excellent mentors. Find excellent mentors. Find excellent mentors.

In grade school, your path is somewhat set, so there's not much need for guidance, and you don't realize the importance of finding people who can give you the guidance you need to be happy and successful (this applies to your career path, classes, interests, and especially problems that you'll run into during your education). Make sure to do this. Get mentors from varied backgrounds too.

 

[Maebea]

Be aware of your limits. One thing that trips up many scientists/inventors in seeking to commercialize their work is the assumption that they can figure out the business end of a venture. Even with a business degree or MBA this is a foolish conceit. You will be a good scientist because you devote yourself to research. A successful entrepreneur gets that way by being well practiced in the science of business. (To be sure there are exceptions, but it is rare for an individual to move something from bench to market without significant assistance from seasoned professionals.) If you believe you want to work on the commercial side of discovery, you should focus on learning that end of the business. A PhD in science is never a waste, but you have to think of the ROI. Sure, the PhD will help you to understand promising technologies at some level, but unless you stay active in the field your knowledge will become dated. Your value will be in shepherding technologies to the market place, so spend you time and money there. You can hire boatloads of freshly-minted PhD's who know the latest science relatively cheaply. Again, know your limits and let others do the things that are outside of your are of expertise.

 

[Neuronix]

I think I've heard Maebea's argument before... Let me see here...


Be aware of your limits. One thing that trips up many scientists/physicians in seeking to translate their work is the assumption that they can figure out the clinical and research sides of a venture.

You will be a good scientist because you devote yourself to research. A successful physician gets that way by being well practiced in medicine. (To be sure there are exceptions, but it is rare for an individual to move something from bench to bedside without significant assistance from seasoned professionals.)

If you believe you want to work on the medical side of discovery, you should focus on learning that end of the business. A PhD in science is never a waste, but you have to think of the ROI. Sure, the PhD will help you to understand promising technologies at some level, but unless you stay active in the field your knowledge will become dated. Your value will be in shepherding technologies to the clinic, so spend you time and money there.

You can hire boatloads of freshly-minted PhD's who know the latest science relatively cheaply. Again, know your limits and let others do the things that are outside of your are of expertise.