<p>I graduate this august. I can’t take courses over the summer at a CC because I have 3 courses left that I am taking to finish my psychology degree now and my university does not allow you to be enrolled at any other college during your last term (term of graduation). </p>
<p>wayoutwestmom, thanks for the advice! I do appreciate it; however, I do not want to go into a teaching/academic position with immunology. I’m not even sure that’s entirely what I want. I’m still contemplating genetics counseling or molecular and microbiology. I just know I hate psychology and everything about it. None of my state universities even offer immuno undergrad degrees, so the graduate coursework won’t be an issue. All of the programs I am looking at are extremely competitive. I realize that getting a PhD isn’t a joke.</p>
<p>bluebayou, that sounds amazing! but there is no way I could afford that and as far as I know they aren’t offered at any universities where I live. I will look into it though.</p>
<p>What are your ultimate goals? Do you want to be a researcher? A college/upper level high school teacher? A lab tech/research asst? Clinical study manager? </p>
<p>Have you had any significant (2 semesters of longer) experience working in a biology lab? It’s not for everybody. Are you comfortable with the idea of sacrificing (killing) animals for study results? (I work in a medical research lab and it’s a big, big issue with the techs and probably the #1 cause of non-professional staff turnover.)</p>
<p>If you don’t want to do research or be a college teacher, then a PHD and probably a MS will be a waste of your time and money.</p>
<p>Genetic counseling is MS degree, but it must done at an accredited program.</p>
<p>Here’s the list of accredited programs.</p>
<p>[ABGC</a> Accreditation - Accredited Programs](<a href=“http://www.abgc.net/Training_Program_Accreditation/Accredited_Programs.asp]ABGC”>http://www.abgc.net/Training_Program_Accreditation/Accredited_Programs.asp)</p>
<p>I think you best option right now to grad with the psych degree and look for jobs in clinical studies or case management. There are jobs like this at many medical centers. Entry level positions require minimal previous experience, but good people skills, persistence and good follow thru.</p>
<p>This type of job would also be a good place to get a feel for genetic counseling since alot of what genetics counselors do is case management.</p>
<p>(One of D2’s sorority sisters–who had a psych degree and weak GPA-- started out doing low level case management 4 years ago and is now managing a major autism study on clinical outcomes at a top research U.)</p>
<p>I am interested in research. Teaching is not my thing and case management does not appeal to me at all. Maybe I will reconsider the genetics counseling if that’s the majority of the job. I don’t mean to sound heartless, but I would definitely be ok with killing animals if it meant that I was making progress towards research. </p>
<p>I love being in a lab. I thrive in those types of environments. I have had only 2 semesters of experience working in a bio lab, but I also received all As in my other lab coursework for chemistry, anatomy and genetics. I doubt I would be successful enough to do what your d’s sorority sister managed to do. I don’t see myself being able to do that in 4 years.</p>
<p>Right now I’m looking for jobs in human resources because when I say I hate clinical psychology, I mean I REALLY hate clinical psychology. Its not my passion. The only classes I have found stimulating in psychology have been research based classes like research methods, psychological measurement, etc. I’ve looking into industrial and organization psychology as well and that somewhat appeals to me, but at the end of the day, I’d rather be a biologist.</p>
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<p>See how logical your statements are?</p>
<p>No, “right now” you need to ‘get a grip’. HR will not help you get even close to a wet lab, nor is HR anything resembling research; it is a total waste of time. If you want bio, spend 110% of your time targeting bio. Working at Starbucks and taking bio classes at juco looks better career-wise than working in HR. Absolutely no academic will be impressed with an HR gig. None. However they might be impressed by someone who found a new interest in wet labs and is working his/her way towards that goal.</p>
<p>Yeah well its not exactly like I have the means to get a biology related job right now. Nothing in psychology is going to appeal to ANY academic in the biology field.</p>
<p>However, there is this thing called tuition reimbursement if you work full time in HR. They will pay for you to go to school, its a part of a full time employee’s benefit package. Then I spend time taking biology classes and saving so that I can do biology internships. Right now I don’t have the means to get into a biology school right away. This isn’t going to happen overnight. And I don’t have any money. Working full time makes sense right now. Starbucks isn’t going to pay my rent. or student loans. And gaining interest on these loans is silly when I have the means to work full time.</p>
<p>And bluebayou I think you are misinformed. Working at starbucks or HR is the same thing. Not related to biology whatsoever. It doesn’t matter where I work as long as I finish the correct coursework.</p>
<p>Do you want to be a lab tech (work in the lab under the direction of a supervisor) or do you want to be the PI? </p>
<p>It makes difference in your path. If you want to be lab tech, you may be able to do that with an AA in biotechnology from your local CC. (You need to check job listings in your area to see whether a AA or BS is a requirement for entry level lab tech jobs. It really depends on the local market.) Lab techs can and do get promoted to lab managers/supervisory positions, but they will never direct the research program.</p>
<p>And working full time in a bio lab really isn’t like a college once-a-week lab. It sounds somewhat like you’re romanticizing the lab experience. Working in a lab still requires good interpersonal skills, an ability to work well in groups and adeptness in navigating “office” politics.</p>
<p>I’d prefer to be the PI but beggars can’t be choosers. I realize I can’t start at the top.</p>
<p>Maybe I am romanticizing it. But I really do well in lab environments, I like working in labs. I have great interpersonal skills which is why so many of my professors and advisors recommended psychology as a potential major for me. Office politics are a component of any job really. If you work with a group of people you will always have to deal with office politics no matter what occupation you have.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, anyway. Its nice to have some outside perspectives on things.</p>