Which degree would be better?

[WowzersItsSimon]

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A liberal arts degree or a biology degree, in terms of applying to professional schools afterwards? I'm currently a biology major but am starting to feel like all it does is make me memorize information that I will forget soon after the test. Do you think a major in liberal arts and minor in microbiology would be better? What do you guys think? 🙂

 

[luckyfool]

A liberal arts degree or a biology degree, in terms of applying to professional schools afterwards? I'm currently a biology major but am starting to feel like all it does is make me memorize information that I will forget soon after the test. Do you think a major in liberal arts and minor in microbiology would be better? What do you guys think? 🙂

I strongly believe a major in biology is superior to liberal arts in many ways. If you are going to major liberal arts because you think science major is too difficult, then i don't think optometry school is for you.

 

[KHE]

I strongly believe a major in biology is superior to liberal arts in many ways. If you are going to major liberal arts because you think science major is too difficult, then i don't think optometry school is for you.

I respectfully disagree.

I think students have to try to get beyond the mentality of "what courses do I need to get to point X" and start thinking about how do I want to prepare myself for a full life. Obviously, optometry school requires a strong background in the sciences and those courses can be difficult and they have to be taken.

But I will say that throughout my professional and personal life, I have never been in situations where I felt that I wished I knew "more biology" or "more chemistry." However, I have been in all kinds of situations where I wished I knew more philosophy, ethics, psychology and literature.

If the OP feels that they are getting little out of their biology coursework, then I would encourage them to start taking courses that they WILL get something out of.

 

[Habitual Rx]

I respectfully disagree.

I think students have to try to get beyond the mentality of "what courses do I need to get to point X" and start thinking about how do I want to prepare myself for a full life. Obviously, optometry school requires a strong background in the sciences and those courses can be difficult and they have to be taken.

But I will say that throughout my professional and personal life, I have never been in situations where I felt that I wished I knew "more biology" or "more chemistry." However, I have been in all kinds of situations where I wished I knew more philosophy, ethics, psychology and literature.

If the OP feels that they are getting little out of their biology coursework, then I would encourage them to start taking courses that they WILL get something out of.

That's a very good point... but all seriousness aside, the only thing i got out of a philosophy class was B grades on my papers 🙂

 

[luckyfool]

I respectfully disagree.

I think students have to try to get beyond the mentality of "what courses do I need to get to point X" and start thinking about how do I want to prepare myself for a full life. Obviously, optometry school requires a strong background in the sciences and those courses can be difficult and they have to be taken.

But I will say that throughout my professional and personal life, I have never been in situations where I felt that I wished I knew "more biology" or "more chemistry." However, I have been in all kinds of situations where I wished I knew more philosophy, ethics, psychology and literature.

If the OP feels that they are getting little out of their biology coursework, then I would encourage them to start taking courses that they WILL get something out of.

You have some good points there. However, i still think a student should focus on what he/she is going to be involved with in the future rather than dispersing his/her energy on various interests. If the core science isn't the main interest, then you know optometry is out of the question. A pre-opt student must get used to the rigor of science courses in undergrad because that's mostly what optometry school is about. You can't just get by thinking "I'm going to study harder in optometry school, but for now I want to relax a little". KHE, I agree that a person should be well rounded with all kind of philosophical, ethical and psychological knowledge. But you don't necessarily have to be a liberal arts major for that. Many universities around the country have humanities courses that complement science majors as part of a science degree. I know my school has it because I've taken all those courses.

 

[iiiimonica]

do the degree you find intersting. you still have to take so many science classes for optometry school (1 year of bio, 1 year of gchem, 1 year of ochem, 1 year physics, 1 year of calc, stats, anatomy w/lab, physio w/lab, microbio w/lab) that majoring in a science degree us usually is 3-4 extra classes.

so if you want to do a non science degree, do it! do what intersts you. you still have all those pre-req's to do.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I'll also chime in and agree with the point that you should get the degree that interests you most. Schools appreciate a well rounded applicant, and I don't believe a science major has ANY advantage over a liberal arts major in the application process other than they may be better prepared for the OAT based on the classes they have taken. Search out the classes that challenge you in different ways, and you'll end up with a degree that you enjoyed (or at least didn't hate) getting.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I respectfully disagree.

I think students have to try to get beyond the mentality of "what courses do I need to get to point X" and start thinking about how do I want to prepare myself for a full life. Obviously, optometry school requires a strong background in the sciences and those courses can be difficult and they have to be taken.

But I will say that throughout my professional and personal life, I have never been in situations where I felt that I wished I knew "more biology" or "more chemistry." However, I have been in all kinds of situations where I wished I knew more philosophy, ethics, psychology and literature.

If the OP feels that they are getting little out of their biology coursework, then I would encourage them to start taking courses that they WILL get something out of.

👍

 

[luckyfool]

...other than they may be better prepared for the OAT based on the classes they have taken.

I hope you're not downplaying the significance of a decent OAT score for the OP to get into an optometry school. If OP decides to go for liberal arts, which has significantly fewer science classes, he/shes going to have to study all that science material again for the OAT. I just hope the OP has the time and motivation for that.

Search out the classes that challenge you in different ways, and you'll end up with a degree that you enjoyed (or at least didn't hate) getting.

OP is apparently looking for the easy way out since he/she doesn't seem to retain the information after "memorizing" them for exams.

OP, there are many advises here but I feel that you should understand that optometry school is like your biology classes except it's a little harder and more time consuming to "memorize" information. Do you truly want it?

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I hope you're not downplaying the significance of a decent OAT score for the OP to get into an optometry school. If OP decides to go for liberal arts, which has significantly fewer science classes, he/shes going to have to study all that science material again for the OAT. I just hope the OP has the time and motivation for that.

OP is apparently looking for the easy way out since he/she doesn't seem to retain the information after "memorizing" them for exams.

OP, there are many advises here but I feel that you should understand that optometry school is like your biology classes except it's a little harder and more time consuming to "memorize" information. Do you truly want it?

The ability to perform well on the OAT is not a characteristic unique to natural science majors. Anyone who is motivated enough to do well will. I also think that making the assumption that any liberal arts degree is easier than any natural science degree is dangerous, as they frequently assess different types of knowledge and a direct comparison is difficult.

OP... get the degree that you want to get. Know that you are still going to have to take the prereqs to get into school, and the need for memorization will only get worse once you enter school. If you are truly concerned about the impact of a liberal arts degree on your chances of admission (which you shouldn't be), seek out an admissions counselor and discuss your concerns.

 

[WowzersItsSimon]

Why is it the "easy" way out? It's not like I'm a slacker or anything. I'm a 2nd year undergrad with 3.4 cumulative gpa. I've pounded through 130 units in 2 years and am a bit tired, but thats not to say that switching majors would be the easy way out. I feel like undergrad is the only time you really get to explore other interest and subjects before we have to study our asses off for 4 years in optometry school. Whats making me question whether I want a biology degree is if I want a science focussed education for 8 years straight, or maybe 4 years of mixed undergrad and 4 years of science? Is that so wrong or bad to think of it this way?

 

[IDoctor]

I agree with luckyfool entirely. You may be interested in subjects outside of biology, but what it comes down to is that the optometry school admissions don't really give a ^$#%# about your grades in those other courses.

Yes we all do the same pre-requisites. But being a biology major has more than fulfilling those courses. Other than just doing the same old pre-requisites that everone else does, you have the additional subject matter when taking courses like anatomy, biochemistry, sensory anatomy, neurobiology, etc. And that in turn better prepares you for your first years in OD school.

Also take into consideration that Biology majors find the OAT quite simple, while others find it VERY challenging. True, your Undergraduate is one of the best times to explore your interests, but if your interest lies in optometry, you should be using your time to make yourself the best candidate you can be. If you are still interested in liberal arts, that is why general education (GE) courses were added to getting a biology B.S.

Answer this for me:
Who would you rather take if you were on an admissions committee:

1) 3.8 GPA w/ dance degree, bare minimum pre-reqs
2) 3.6 GPA w/ economics major, minimum pre-reqs
3) 3.5 GPA w/ psychology/humanities degree, bare minimum pre-reqs and some sensory psych courses
4) 3.3 GPA w/ Biology/Physiology degree, fulfilled all pre-reqs including all suggested courses and other upper division science courses

 

[kristian]

So according to IDoc I have minimal chances with an econ degree (3.4gpa) and minimum pre-reqs + one or two additional science courses.... *sigh*🙁

 

[WowzersItsSimon]

I don't believe that you can really make that good of a judgement off of someone just because of their major. If everyone has the prerequisites, then they should be a good candidate for the school. Choosing a student for a future seat in optometry school is more than just major and gpa, it has to do with experience and straight up if they like you during the interview. If I was an interviewer, I would take the student with good grades, meets prerequisites, and has a great personality. Also, people come from different backrounds and situations, so its more about knowing a person rather then just saying, "ok you automatically get in because you got a biology degree and decent gpa."

 

[luckyfool]

The ability to perform well on the OAT is not a characteristic unique to natural science majors. Anyone who is motivated enough to do well will. I also think that making the assumption that any liberal arts degree is easier than any natural science degree is dangerous, as they frequently assess different types of knowledge and a direct comparison is difficult.

OP... get the degree that you want to get. Know that you are still going to have to take the prereqs to get into school, and the need for memorization will only get worse once you enter school. If you are truly concerned about the impact of a liberal arts degree on your chances of admission (which you shouldn't be), seek out an admissions counselor and discuss your concerns.

Please don't twist my words. I never said performing well on the OAT is uniquely characterized to only science majors. I was saying that doing well on the OAT requires a person to spend time and effort to learn the science material that science majors normally get to do in the path of attain that bachelor of science degree. Now if the OP/you think that by getting that bachelor of art degree is more worthwhile, then by all means go for it... i still think it's better to know beyond what's required for the OAT than just barely know enough to get by.

I also never said or implicated that a liberal arts degree is easier for everyone. It was based on the assumption from the tone of the OP's initial post that his/her feels that a liberal arts degree maybe easier or better FOR HIM/HER...not everyone. L.Arts can be harder for some people because the work is graded more subjectively than objectively. But back to what KHE was saying, having a B.A. degree doesn't make you a better person at ethics, philosophy, or make you an expert at human reasoning. I've met some B.A.s who are duller than a piece of wood plus they can not carry on a simple conversation.

OP, i didn't mean to sound confrontational...my apologies if it did. If you have interests in other subjects, then you should definitely take them! I didn't say it's wrong to have interests in other areas. To give you an idea of what i went through- I took Mediterranean music, philosophy, moral reasoning & ethics, psychology, microeconomics, modern civilizations, US and social history, political philosophy, computer art/design, MIDI/electronic music, etc... all those while I was in undergrad with a major in biology/chemistry.

All I'm saying is this, a well-rounded person doesn't need all the fancy liberal arts major courses to mold, rather it's how a person acquires what's learned and use it well.

 

[Spearmint1]

No one is saying having a liberal arts major is terrible thing, but in relation of majors and optometry school. I would say a science background would be beneficial when you're in opt school. For most schools, the curriculum is usually 20-23 per semesters and all of which is science based. While liberal arts might make you more worldly, it's not going to help you pass a biochemistry, anatomy, and etc test. But then again, the choice is yours. If you're a liberal arts major, taking 1-2 science per semester, get accepted, you can either:

1) fail because you can't handle the new science load, then it's your fault (and a very expensive fault that is too).
2) Work your ass off and do well. There have been many people who weren't science majors and have done well.

 

[luckyfool]

I think students have to try to get beyond the mentality of "what courses do I need to get to point X" and start thinking about how do I want to prepare myself for a full life.

I strongly disagree with this notion. "what courses do I need to get to point X" -- this is exactly what students MUST do in order to accomplish goals in life. People will be lost without goals and dreams. And how do you accomplish that goal? Plan it out! Do what's necessary. To attain a "fuller" life is too broad and abstract of an idea for many students to understand. We need to learn how to walk before we can run.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

My intent in posting in this thread is not to debate the merit of a natural science degree as opposed to a liberal arts degree. The OP needs to know that so long as he/she performs well on the OAT and has a decent GPA, it does not matter what type of degree he/she pursues. Pick the major you enjoy, and do well in it.

Good luck,

PGE

 

[IDoctor]

yes im sorry if i sounded like i put alot of emphasis into the major, but ultimately i know it is not only the major that accounts for acceptance. However I do know that OAT and GPA are the most heavily weighted factors. And when looking into GPA you cannot possibly say a person with a 3.5 GPA with a degree is equal to someone who got a 3.5 in liberal arts. I am not saying one major is more difficult than another (although I do believe there is a difference), but that a science major is more useful and is better off to have, if you are intending to goto optometry school. However the question originally posted was which major you think is better, and I stand by my belief that a science degree is better when applying to optometry school. And I still honestly believe that those with a bio degree do better on the OAT. and i suppose the third factor i consider is experience, which is easy to obtain for anyone.

As for people arguing, "oh but at the interview I will distinguish myself and show them I am an all around person, with my excellent and worldly conversational skills". Yes, the interview is a part of the application process, but during my interview at ICO, I was told by my interviewer who was very straight forward with me that, the interview is a very small part of their decision. The main point of the interview is to make sure you are competent and know what you are getting into. If you have a 1-on-1 interview, do you honestly think that the entire admissions committee consisting of 5-20 faculty will want you in their school because you can speak well. If you can speak competently, which I assume "most" of you can, you're considered an average candidate. What will stand out to those other 4-19 admissions faculty are your stats. GPA and OAT scores.

 

[KHE]

I strongly disagree with this notion. "what courses do I need to get to point X" -- this is exactly what students MUST do in order to accomplish goals in life. People will be lost without goals and dreams. And how do you accomplish that goal? Plan it out! Do what's necessary. To attain a "fuller" life is too broad and abstract of an idea for many students to understand. We need to learn how to walk before we can run.

I'm not suggesting that people not set goals or work towards them. I'm saying that if someone is pursuing a degree a biology but getting nothing out of the coursework, then I see little point in continuing on taking those courses beyond what the requirements are for optometry school admission.

I also disagree with the notion that a natural science degree is superior to a liberal arts degree. Obviously, many of the concepts of a natural science degree can be difficult to understand, but most "liberal arts" courses are just as rigorous, and require just as much time and research to succeed in than any biology course. In fact, I would say that for many of the humanities courses I took, it required MORE time and effort to do well than in many of the math and science courses I took.

I think many people make the mistake in thinking that people with liberal arts degrees are all busy taking "Bowling Apprecition 101" and "Advanced Fingerpainting." While there may be some of that at some schools, I think that that is the exepction and not the rule.

One of the things that students need to realize is that the journey to the goal is just as, if not more important than the goal itself. Far too often, students fixate on the "goal" and not the process of getting there. If someone is taking biology courses and getting little out of them, they should be taking other courses.

 

[luckyfool]

I'm not suggesting that people not set goals or work towards them. I'm saying that if someone is pursuing a degree a biology but getting nothing out of the coursework, then I see little point in continuing on taking those courses beyond what the requirements are for optometry school admission.

I also disagree with the notion that a natural science degree is superior to a liberal arts degree. Obviously, many of the concepts of a natural science degree can be difficult to understand, but most "liberal arts" courses are just as rigorous, and require just as much time and research to succeed in than any biology course. In fact, I would say that for many of the humanities courses I took, it required MORE time and effort to do well than in many of the math and science courses I took.

I think many people make the mistake in thinking that people with liberal arts degrees are all busy taking "Bowling Apprecition 101" and "Advanced Fingerpainting." While there may be some of that at some schools, I think that that is the exepction and not the rule.

One of the things that students need to realize is that the journey to the goal is just as, if not more important than the goal itself. Far too often, students fixate on the "goal" and not the process of getting there. If someone is taking biology courses and getting little out of them, they should be taking other courses.

Not to pick on your words or anything..but if people are getting little out of science courses then perhaps isn't it time to choose other careers that don't require that much of science related material? Don't tell me optometry school has liberal arts classes for students to choose over its science/core optometry classes. either way, this should be a wake up call.

 

[still_confused]

college courses are useless. just take the ones that gives you a good chance of getting into the grad school you want. the things you learn about life in college is what matters. history of rock and roll? virology? politics of east burma? college age students need to learn about life !

just pick a major and stick to it. hangout with friends, make new ones, interact, learn, and adapt. along the way do some research, volunteer, and attend some odd events. itll give you an idea of what is out in the world and how you need to conduct yourself. that is the primary reason for college and dont dwell on what whether you want a BS or a BA.

and yes i know, i got a C- in english and grammer and capitalization

 

[still_confused]

Answer this for me:
Who would you rather take if you were on an admissions committee:

1) 3.8 GPA w/ dance degree, bare minimum pre-reqs
2) 3.6 GPA w/ economics major, minimum pre-reqs
3) 3.5 GPA w/ psychology/humanities degree, bare minimum pre-reqs and some sensory psych courses
4) 3.3 GPA w/ Biology/Physiology degree, fulfilled all pre-reqs including all suggested courses and other upper division science courses

ill take 1) because despite doing a totally unrelated major they had the confidence to apply because they knew that they were dedicated to this profession.

i would not take:
4) becasue they are probably a medical school reject (this should make the MDs happy)

 

[eyelectric]

A liberal arts degree or a biology degree, in terms of applying to professional schools afterwards? I'm currently a biology major but am starting to feel like all it does is make me memorize information that I will forget soon after the test. Do you think a major in liberal arts and minor in microbiology would be better? What do you guys think? 🙂

I personally think it is pretty cool that you want to pursue other interests while you still have the time. I think it will build character and make you a more well-rounded person. It will also give you the opportunity to explore things outside the realm of biology/optometry. Who knows, maybe you will find something that interests you more...maybe you won't. It can't hurt to find out. As a student who will be attending optometry school sans a biology degree, I can tell you that it is definitely possible to be admitted. Will you be at a disadvantage once you get into optometry school? Maybe, but that depends on what other classes you decide to take. Obviously you have to take all the prerequisites, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to find out what other biology classes would be most beneficial to you in optometry school. Take those courses and do well on the OAT and you will have no trouble getting accepted and doing well in the program. Somebody said in a previous post that biology majors find the OAT very simple, but everyone else thinks it is very challenging. If you think about it, however, the majority of the OAT has absolutely nothing to do with biology; it is only one section out of six! Just because most students go into optometry school with a biology degree doesn't make it the holy grail of degrees. I'm definitely not bashing biology majors here; I have the utmost respect for their coursework, but there are plenty of degrees which can make you just as competitive.

As an afterthought, have you considered getting a business degree? If you know optometry is right for you, then a business degree could be very helpful in starting and maintaining a private practice later on. If I had the chance to do undergrad all over again, I would have definitely considered getting a business degree. As it stands now, I will probably go for an MBA once I am finished with optometry school.

 

[Canadian26]

I think a doing Bio courses is definatly going to help you in your future if your planning on going into Opto. First 2 years are heavly bio based. But in keeping that in mind, if liberal arts is what intrests you the most thats what I would do. Im in my last year of school and I made a point of taking some courses that Ive always wanted to take but never had the time. I enjoy bio alot so it is my major, but I also loved the philosophy course i took and kinda wish I had done atleast another class in it.

With a minor in Microbio, you'll be fine in terms of memorizing skills and what not. And Liberal arts does have alot more writing skills, which you would get in higher level bio courses anyways. So I dont think you'll be lacking in any skills in those areas.