What to do with a B.S. in Biology

[brodaiga]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys, applying to med school this session, I anticipate graduating in December with a BS in bio, chem minor. Is this degree completely worthless in terms of finding a job before med school? Maybe teaching somewhere? A little depressing that the undergrad degree does not go beyond the paper it's printed on...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

You can be a Research Assistant if you have some experience in research or have contacts in the field.

 

[Gleevec]

Have you considered consulting or something related to business?

There are relatively few business people with science skills, and companies do provide training.

 

[vinoyp]

McDonald's.

--Vinoy

 

[bigbassinbob]

Hey guys, applying to med school this session, I anticipate graduating in December with a BS in bio, chem minor. Is this degree completely worthless in terms of finding a job before med school? Maybe teaching somewhere? A little depressing that the undergrad degree does not go beyond the paper it's printed on...

I was wondering the same thing... and wishing I would have been an engineering major because it would have held me over during my year off.

 

[MErc44]

Have you considered consulting or something related to business?

There are relatively few business people with science skills, and companies do provide training.

I like that idea, luckily I don't have to worry about it but I have a friend who is getting a job at a pharm company in bean town. He has a BS in genetics I think from Dartmouth but he also majored in econ. If you are applying to med school you are obviously intelligent so I don't think you should have too much trouble putting your bio degree. Having fun may be a a different story.

 

[RaiderHeisman]

Have you considered consulting or something related to business?

There are relatively few business people with science skills, and companies do provide training.

😕

Don't waste your time going into consulting or anything business related if you plan on going to medical school. As soon as a recruiter hears you're applying to medical school, they'll move on to the next applicant. Think about it... It takes several months just to train a new employee. Who's going to invest in an employee that's going to bail the day after training is over?

Plus I've got over a dozen friends out here at UCLA finishing off their MBA's... all of whom did their undergrads in engineering or the sciences...

You can be a Research Assistant if you have some experience in research or have contacts in the field.

That would be my recommendation as well. Most teaching jobs are set aside for grad students, but research labs only look for relevant experience...

 

[soreed]

how much to lab techs make?

 

[sunni]

I don't have my degree yet, but I work as a research assistant and I make $14 something per hour, but I only work like max 20hrs during school, since it's summer I may work more, but probably not.........I think it depends on who you go to work w/ and how much of their grant they set aside from that

 

[meanderson]

Hey guys, applying to med school this session, I anticipate graduating in December with a BS in bio, chem minor. Is this degree completely worthless in terms of finding a job before med school? Maybe teaching somewhere? A little depressing that the undergrad degree does not go beyond the paper it's printed on...

No it's not completely worthless. Very few undergrad degrees prepare someone well to get a job in a specific field and enter a professional position with little training. Many companies just want to train smart and motivated people, regardless of whether their degree is in bio, lit, finance, or whatever.

Teaching is one option, but the better teaching jobs in the better school districts are obviously going to be taken by people who have undergone traditional certification procedures.

It's not the undergrad degree that is "worth" something...it's the person with it.

 

[NDESTRUKT]

I was wondering the same thing... and wishing I would have been an engineering major because it would have held me over during my year off.

I tell all my friends this. If they like bio so much, why not do bioengineering? You take all the relevant courses and you can still apply biology to something practical. Only a few listened and the ones that didn't listen? They're cleaning lab equipment or running tests for grad students. One however, got a job at Genentech doing research which pays better than any other job I've seen a bio major get. Oh well...such is life...takes all kind to make a world =)

Another option is teaching high school, joining the military, doing sales for a life science type company, or TA'ing. If you're looking to make money and live a life of yuppiedom without your parent's help (like most people our age), that's another story. But if your heart is to serve, you can always do missions or something relevant in terms of serving - like Peace Corps...those things are as noble as it comes.

 

[MoosePilot]

"...joining the military..."

Don't think it's quite what you're looking for, since it sounds like you're looking for something short term before med school, but there's lots of jobs in the military that your bachelor's degree and some military training will qualify you for.

I took my B.S. in Zoo and now I fly planes. Weird, huh?

 

[nina512]

I'd suggest an entry level research job. Most PIs know that most research techs don't stay forever and end up moving on to grad/med school. The only problem is that you'd likely be there less than a year if you're graduating in Dec and most employees don't want to take someone on for such a short period of time.

My 2 cents.
-Nina

 

[Gleevec]

Don't waste your time going into consulting or anything business related if you plan on going to medical school. As soon as a recruiter hears you're applying to medical school, they'll move on to the next applicant.

Who exactly tells businesses how long they truly plan on spending with a company? The answer: no one.

I know people who are working for only a year (maybe two at BEST) before going to law school or med school.

You're under no obligation to commit to a company for a long period of time (you're not a slave or serf after all), and if they ask, they can't hold it against you for changing your career ambitions (or maybe not changing, who knows-- you might just not want to go to med school, it works both ways)

 

[greggth]

I'd suggest an entry level research job.

I agree. Be a lab tech.