<p>Hey guys, Im not interested in medical school AT ALL but one of my friends is doing Biology but recently she has thought about changing her major in case she doesnt get into medical school. She doesn't want to be a teacher and I was just wondering if they are other oppurtunities for someone with a biology degree.</p>
<p>how about getting a masters or phd and then working for a company or government? - can also become professor or lecturer at a univesity - can get another degree on top like a law degree or MBA and go into management, patents, etc. - i heard that professionals who hold a degree in life or physical science and a degree from law school are highly sought for</p>
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how about getting a masters or phd and then working for a company or government?
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<p>Well, the truth is, if you can't get into any med-school, then there's a good chance you can't get into a PhD Biology program either. Master's degrees in the sciences are not significantly more marketable than are science bachelor's degrees. </p>
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can get another degree on top like a law degree or MBA and go into management, patents, etc.
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<p>Yeah, but law school also presumes that you have decent grades. I agree that it is easier to get into a low-end law school than a low-end med school, but the fact is, having a law degree from a low-end school won't do much for you. MBA programs generally want to see solid work experience. </p>
<p>So the fact is, majoring in bio with the intent of going to med-school is very much a high-risk, high-reward strategy. If you get into med-school, then it obviously worked out very well for you. But if you don't, you have a problem, because the sad truth is, a bachelor's degree in biology simply isn't very marketable.</p>
<p>How about biochemistry or chemistry?</p>
<p>what about a Phd in biology?, thats got to be marketable.</p>
<p>A quote from the post two slots above yours:</p>
<p>sakky:
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the truth is, if you can't get into any med-school, then there's a good chance you can't get into a PhD Biology program either.
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<p>"Well, the truth is, if you can't get into any med-school, then there's a good chance you can't get into a PhD Biology program either. Master's degrees in the sciences are not significantly more marketable than are science bachelor's degrees."</p>
<p>this is not true because biology and chemistry PhD programs are not as competitive -- top med schools accept 5-10% applicants while top PhD biology and chemistry programs accept 10-20% of applicants</p>
<p>GPA tends to be lower for PhD applicants because grad schools don't orient by GPA in the first place -- so if you do not have very good stats for a school of medicine (lower than average MCAT and GPA that is not like a 3.7-4.0), your chances of getting into grad school in biology or chemistry are higher -- you don't need a stellar GPA and GRE is easier than MCAT (this test is shorter and checks only 3 areas: verbal, math, and subject) -- unless you have GPA that is below 3.0, you will not encounter significant problems getting into at least one PhD program in biology or chemistry, which cannot be said about getting into any med school</p>
<p>getting in into such PhD program is less of a problem than staying in -- when you get into med school, retention rates are higher compared to grad school -- so for PhD applicants for biology or chemistry it is recommended that they worry less about getting in and more about keeping in the program</p>
<p>"Master's degrees in the sciences are not significantly more marketable than are science bachelor's degrees."</p>
<p>that is not true because employment rates are higher for those who hold MS in chemistry or biology than for those who hold a PhD -- it is a well-known fact that it is harder to find a job with a PhD -- so a masters is more marketable</p>