Choice A Or Choice B?

College Life
1

<p>Alternative A: Biology with a second major in computer science, qualifying for a Bachelor in Science - Consequently, restricting the total amount of time allotted towards research/work experience. </p>

<p>Alternative B: Computer science degree with several minors (possibly math and biology) - equivalent of a Bachelor in Science, with far greater availability to devote towards research/work experience. </p>

<p>Considerations:
- Work directly subsequent to earning degree in computational bio/bioinformatics
- Complete a master's in molecular chem/Ph.D biomedical engineering</p>

2

<p>B: with minor in bio and applied math (not real math). Bio minor is just a couple of core classes with some relevant electives. you’re saving yourself some time and money by not having do deal with those redundant classes that you won’t need.</p>

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they are in a completely difference field from everything else you listed. If that’s what you want to do, it wouldn’t benefit you to major in com sci at all.</p>

3

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<p>Bioinformatics wiki description: “deals with the study of methods for storing, retrieving and analyzing biological data, such as nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) and protein sequence, structure, function, pathways and genetic interactions. It generates new knowledge that is useful in such fields as drug design and development of new software tools to create that knowledge.” </p>

<p>Molecular bio/chemistry can provide a background for studies during Ph.D program - could eventually specialize in tissue, genetic, and/or neural engineering</p>

4

<p>first a word of advice: don’t ever site from wikipedia</p>

<p>if you want to get into bioinformatics, do com sci. but like I said, that’s completely different from tissue engineering (multi-disciplinary), neurological engienering (neuroscience + bio eng). There are a whole bunch of things you can do in genetics alone.</p>

5

<p>what about the trade-offs between bachelor of science vs. accumulated research work? </p>

<p>the bachelor of science (double major) is far more rigorous in comparison to comp. sci. with minors in bio + math </p>

<p>I would prefer a greater guarantee for both promising job outlook and securing graduate admission in department of interest</p>

6

<p>This is actually something you should be discussing with your professors and perhaps with your academic advisors—not a bunch of random, even if well meaning, people on the internet.</p>

7

<p>The first one, all the way.</p>

<p>Regards,
BettyfromCA</p>

8

<p>Or, how about Choice C, be flexible. </p>

<p>There’s no reason to have your entire life mapped out before you’ve even chosen a major. I’m guessing whichever major you choose will have a decent overlapping of classes. So go with the one that appeals most to you and see how the courses go. You might decide you completely hate it and go in a different direction. You wouldn’t be the first one.</p>

<p>Major =/= career.</p>

9

<p>double major or bachelor of science won’t mean anything. Research or meaningful work experience will take you much further.</p>