<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm currently a sophomore in college trying to figure what major I will be switching to from environmental science. I'm looking into bioinformatics and computational biology right now, and my school offers an undergraduate program in it. It combines a lot of computer science, mathematics, and biology which is a huge plus for me. While it seems like a solid major, does it seem like getting an undergraduate degree in bioinformatics is limiting my career options too much? I guess I really haven't thought about what I want to do after I graduate besides going to graduate school with that degree. It seems like a lot of my options right now are in the medical field, which I have about zero interest going into. I'm also fearing that since it's a bio-based major I will have a hard time finding a job like most other biology students. Would I be better off majoring in computer science or mathematics with maybe a minor in biology instead? </p>
<p>I should also keep in mind that I'm also looking into a geology minor because I'm interested in combining biology with the earth sciences like paleontology, but I'm not sure if I want to go through an undergraduate major for it because I wouldn't consider myself a real outdoorsy person.</p>
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<p>I think you answered your own question right there. Why would you want to get a degree in Bioinformatics when it typically channels you into working in the medical/health care fields, of which you have no interest in?</p>
<p>Computer Science seems like a better/broader degree, if you are unsure what your ultimate goals are. </p>
<p>You might look into programs in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which seems to fit your interests a bit more.</p>
<p>Get a BS in Computer Science then a MS in GIS, if you want to attend grad school.</p>
<p>With a bioinformatics major there are some options in the biotech and environmental fields which i actually have quite a bit of interest in compared to the medical field, but you do have a valid point. With that, I’m thinking if I want to do bioinformatics I could do it in grad school later.</p>
<p>Here in San Diego, we have a pretty big biotech industry so there is a demand for bioinformatics students. However, I would be a little hesitant to recommend the program to a friend.</p>
<p>The impression I got about the bioinformatics program is that it’s designed to churn out helper programmer monkeys for research labs and biotech firms. I have a friend who did the bioinformatics program and currently works at a famous Biological research institute here. He’s sort of been stuck in the same, low paying job for five years and it seems like he has little upward mobility. Part of the problem is that he was a mediocre student and couldn’t get into a good graduate program. The other problem is that all of his colleagues and supervisors are life-science phds – it must be lonely being one of the few computer science persons (albeit with a bioinformatics specialty) working there. Technically, he could try to get a job outside of the biotech industry. I’m not sure why he feels compelled to stay at his current job. Perhaps he prefers a more academic setting to a corporate one.</p>
<p>I knew another bioinformatics guy who went on the graduate school path. I’m assuming he’s finishing up his phd now (lost track of him). His career will probably turn out more fulfilling (not to mention financially lucrative) than my other friend’s.</p>
<p>In any case, I think you should do a little more research before you commit to the program.</p>