Biology major
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Anonymous
Not everyone can afford to do what they love. At this point I think parents basically have to bankroll PhD candidates if they want a shot in hell of ever being financially stable. |
Anonymous
I worked in a research lab of a university with a med school. There were zero spots for undergrads. While that is not true for every university, it is true for at least one. My friend runs a lab in a different university with a med school. She's generally too busy with the PhD candidates and lecturing to take on undergrads. I have to agree with those who say a biology undergrad with the intent to get a PhD is a long process with probable low pay. If your kid really loves it then at least find a college that does research in the area your kid is interested in. If she loves herpetology or desert ecology or thermopiles or anything, that should already narrow her choices. No point going to a school strong in immunology but weak in your kids area of interest. Biology is super broad. Research is very narrow. |
Anonymous
Not if they are attractive and charismatic. They can be a pharm sales rep or medical equipment sales and make more than doctors |
Anonymous
You also don’t have to major in biology for those jobs. Op specifically said kid wanted to do research. |
Anonymous
She said possibly work at a research institute- but with only a BS, her job and salary will be underwhelming. |
Anonymous
Why? |
Anonymous
You will get a crappy lab job paying $20/hr |
Anonymous
What about for med school or dental school? |
Anonymous
| Serious question - what should the student major in instead? Meaning they like bio, hear the feedback here, what should they do that is peripheral to bio? Chemistry? Maybe something science plus business? Thanks. |
Anonymous
No idea…chemistry isn’t bio…nothing close…maybe biomedical engineering. Bio is an instance of a difficult degree that doesn’t have much marketability if you want to work in bio. That is why many go to med school. |
Anonymous
What about molecular biology or microbiology majors? |
Anonymous
Almost all need PhDs and also low paying careers if you go the research route. I think you can do OK working in big pharma but it’s a slog to get your PhD. |
Anonymous
You need to tell us what area of biology they like before we can give recommendations. I'm not sure if your kid should be a nurse or a park ranger. |
Anonymous
PhDs in the Sciences are typically fully funded with either TA or RA positions. There's no issue until you graduate with a biology PhD after 6-10 years of living on $45k a year while working 60+ hour weeks and think you deserve to have a good salary and to live like an adult, only to either not find a job or find one that pays $60-80k. |
Anonymous
Those majors are better than straight bio, especially if you focus on an area related to an important disease area. Just keep in mind that the timeline is very long: 6-10 years for a PhD while making $45k per year, followed by 2-6 years of post docs while making $60k per year. Then you can apply for "real jobs." You have to really like research to survive that slog. And science is super competitive and hard so lots of people wash out before they ever get the PhD. |