<p>I need honest answers because I'm on pins and needles and ridden with anxiety. I'm a sophomore in college, haven't yet declared a major. Right now, I'm on track for Biological Science with a minor in Chemistry with NO INTENTION of going to med school (I might pick up another major). Now, before you say "Why would you declare this major", please realize I had a game plan, and, unless advised otherwise, will stick to it. I know a BS in BIology is nearly useless now, however, this was my plan:</p>
<p>I want to become a Reproductive Scientist to focus on human reproduction, the problems that arise and possible innovative things to overcome reproductive problems. I was going to get a pHD in Reproductive Science or Biological Science with a focus in Reproductive Biology.</p>
<p>Is there absolutely any point? I've seen so many people say that Biology is a waste of time (and seen the same said for chemistry and physics), but I don't have the skill set to become an engineer or computer scientist and don't want to be a corporate drone. I'd love your advice on what to do if this is a damned plan. It's the only reason I'm in college...Else I'd be doing something else since college seems to be something to grab money from people (I've seen almost every major shot down but about 4 larger themed ones). Thanks.</p>
<p>Any employment path based on Research and Development is likely to be a real awful and unstable one in the USA.
I’d find at least one of the healthcare professions you can go into PA, PT, MD, Pharm, Med etc or plan on getting a grad degree in something nonrelated.</p>
<p>Actually since you are only a sophomore it is not too late to change course. Determine which majors are marketable, which you could do for a paycheck without being completely miserable and go from there. SOme of the good majors are nursing, accounting/finance, some of the other more specific business majors. Do some interning or shadowing. I cannot overemphasize how valueable an internship could be. </p>
<p>However, you heard correct. Most sciences have abominable employment prospects especially biology which frequently makes the list for most underemployed majors. </p>
<p>I’ve never quite understood how business majors still get jobs when at least 3 out 4 people I know go for that degree. Accounting/finance will be a struggle because of the mathematical component. Maybe I’ll look into nursing, but my current GPA is probably too low to start our school’s nursing program. My social anxiety is really bad so interacting with the public on a large scale might not be the best as it’ll be stress inducing. </p>
<p>What if I were to say I wanted to move to a different country? Would my degrees even be useful? I don’t plan to stay in the US, especially with the current economic depression.</p>
<p>There isn’t that much high level math in accounting. It is mostly interpreting and applying laws to specific financial situations. Most of the math nowadays is done by computer automatically and consists of a lot of simple arithmatic.</p>
<p>@confusedsoul94, If it is what you want to do, go for it. Men and women are having babies later rather than sooner nowadays so that would be in your favor. And if you are not opposed you could go into the unethical (in my opinion) “designer babies” which is basically picking what traits your baby has. </p>
<p>Or you could go to med school for OB/GYN and devote your life to research, </p>
<p>@Ultimablade I messed up severely last year and my GPA is too low to go to medschool. I was, at one point, planning to be a Urologist/Andrologist, but I didn’t feel doctors necessarily did enough on the end of making innovative discoveries…Maybe I should’ve kept on that track…Idk anymore.</p>
<p>@confusedsoul94, It is still possible to go to med school. The masters degree, if done very deligently with a high GPA can demonstrate a “rising student” scenario as well as give you a GPA boost. Not to mention you can go to a DO school as they are less selective than MD schools but basically the same in every other respect besides extra training (in message therapy basically) and reputation (DO schools are considered lesser by many because of the ease of getting in). It will take extra time and commitment on your part though.</p>
<p>Also I have a thread about the benefits of the agricultural major. The course work is similar but the unemployment rate is sub 5%. for reference, it has nearly as good employment as nurses, without the hospital setting and more “scientific” things such as soil and water testing,chemical development,resource studies,livestock breeding, and even sales. Not to mention it is a good pipeline for veterinarian school.</p>
<p>@Ultimablade Yes, I’ve certainly heard of agricultural majors definitely being on the rise (understandably), however I don’t know that I’d thrive in it. At the moment, I’m considering taking a semester off to really think about it, however, I think that’d do more harm than good. </p>
<p>@confusedSoul94 The larger part of my career has been as an academic scientist researching reproductive biology. If your goal is to get a PhD and head a lab, two thoughts come to mind: 1) this is possible and 2) you better love the field and more importantly writing because that writing is mostly what you will be doing in the attempt to publish and secure funding for your research. Your undergrad major isn’t quite as important as going to a quality grad school and choosing the right mentor… a mentor respected in the field with connections to the greater scientific community. Your postdoc is really the make or break time of your scientific career.</p>