I am currently entering my sophomore year at UF majoring in Biotech. Well the thing is that it is technically a Biology major with a specialization in Biotechnology. I don’t know if the stigma of being a “Biology” major will hurt me or not, which is why I’m thinking of switching to Biochemistry. Honestly though, the two degrees do not deviate form courses much. Biochem has Inorganic and Biophysical while Biotech requires a few more biology/genetics courses instead but other than that they’re almost the same, and I still think the Biotech one is slightly more rigorous but maybe somebody can tell me whether it is or not.
I’m not looking to go to med school but I definitely do want to go to grad school (not sure on masters or PhD yet though) to either prepare myself for getting in the biotech industry or doing research. As far as what I want to do, I suppose I’d say I’d like to work in the field of molecular genetics, epigenetics, work with iPS, those sorts of things. Any advice on the subject?
Is one more “desirable” than the other? Should I stay with Biotech or switch to Biochem?
PS- I’m minoring in Business Administration and am going to pick up a Bioinformatics minor in the Spring
It’s not so so much that I’m assigning a negative connotation to Biology, but rather I’m insecure of the notion that others portray it as a “weak” degree, when in reality you can make it as easy (e.g. Pre-med Bio) or difficult as you want based on specializations.
And yes Gator88NE that’s essentially the sort of thing that’s been getting into my head, even though I keep trying to tell myself that what I’m doing right now will better suit me for the biotech world. But I reckon you are right about the grad school really being the thing that matters, appreciate the feedback.
I am planning on doing something similar! However I am not doing epigenetics, but rather a slightly different route. I was debating between going with Integrative Biology at CLAS (with Bioinformatics/Chemistry minors) or Biotechnology at CALS (with Bioinformatics/Wildlife Conservation minors).
I made a chart of the courses I would be taking for either and I added Biochemistry in as well. It is run on the assumption that all pre-reqs and orgo have been completed, but I think it could be of use to you if you factor in your minors and get rid of my Wildlife Conservation minor (WIS courses and an ecology course). It also doesn’t include the two electives for Biotechnology, since there was no specification on which courses they were. My assumption is they are the immunology/virology courses. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B96zMzz0RZ2EdnNJYTZsdXlWXzQ/view?usp=sharing
As for your question, I don’t believe there is a stigma for graduate schools against biology. Most schools I have been looking into state they would like a biology major, or something closely related. I feel (and hope) they are going to look at the courses you have taken and their application towards what you are going to be doing.