<p>I'm a senior biology major, with less than two semesters left. Last semester I came to the unpleasant conclusion that I simply do not like my major... and have little interest in pursuing the field, or any science field, for that matter. Completing that semester was incredibly tough, especially because my head would go into the clouds during every bio-class lecture.
I'm not sure what really set me off. I had moved pretty far from home (3 hours) to attend this university a year and a half ago. I really feel that moving here, experiencing a different style of living, surviving on my own and paying my own bills have led me to have a HUGE change in heart in what I want out of life and my education. Maybe not so much a change, rather, but just really starting to understand myself.</p>
<p>Anywho...
I'm stuck with no options, really. I am at a point where dropping out of school would be insanely retarded; especially because I have 4 bio classes left. The budget crisis in my state have made it impossible for me to double major, or switch my major (because I have earn 90+ units and they want us out). And as of now, re-entering as a second bachelor-seeker is also not an option. </p>
<p>If I could do it all over again, I would most-likely pick a more liberal arts major. My biggest issue is that I feel my education is suffering from 'tunnel vision'. I'm not necessarily worried about picking a specific career, but I do feel like I could have learned more worthwhile knowledge if I stuck to a more liberal curriculum. </p>
<p>Is anyone else in a similar situation? How do you deal with it? How can I continue going to class and not fill myself with regret?</p>
<p>Finish off the degree, then go to grad school for a different area. I don’t know how that would work, or if it would work, but just finish what you’ve started! At least you’ll have a hard-earned degree.</p>
<p>Do you have enough credits from some of your electives to put towards a specific minor?
At this point, I would recommend completing your current major (only 4 more classes to go) and try to incorporate a minor in a different field. It may mean taking a couple of extra summer classes and winter session classes. If you find that you’re enjoying your minor more than your major, continue on to graduate school and get a Master’s in that field.</p>
<p>School policies have become very strict in the past year. At the point where I am at (90+ units) I can’t add anything to my curriculum. I’m pretty sure this includes a minor.
The best I can do is add some classes that I think I will enjoy, for the sake of enjoying them and maybe finding a new passion. I’ve done that this semester, but I’m still feeling a ton of regret and finding it very hard to get out of bed knowing I have classes to go to.</p>
<p>I’d like to hear from some people that maybe have gone through the same thing. How they felt at graduation, what happened afterwards, etc? What can I expect, and is there an upside to all this or did I really just waste a few good years?</p>
<p>Why did you pick biology in the first place?</p>
<p>Biology is arguably the largest and most diverse of the scientific fields. If you haven’t explored all avenues of the field, you might want to do some research and see if you can find anything to spark your interest.</p>
<p>That said, if your post-graduation goals are not academic there’s little reason to fret. Most graduates will find that their degrees (exceptions: engineering, accounting, et cetera) are unrelated to their careers.</p>
<p>Stop stressing, relax! Science degrees are very flexible. Do you think most liberal arts majors get careers related to Pol Sci or History or whatnot? Of course not. Most people end up doing jobs unrelated to their careers.
Wrong, so wrong - you can apply for most jobs in fields that don’t require specific degrees (like nursing, engineering, etc). You’re eligible to apply for the same jobs those Liberal Arts majors will apply for after they graduate; except you’ll also be eligible to apply for jobs they won’t be eligible for, like biotech or science related careers. Your BA/BS in Bio will show you worked really hard in Undergrad and weren’t just going for an easy major. That’s really all most employers want: someone who’s hardworking and smart.</p>
<p>You don’t need to stop your education, ever. You can read. You can take communtiy college or extension courses throughout your lifetime. This isn’t the end of your knowledge. I see the fact that you came out of college wanting to learn more as a wonderful endorsement for your college experience.
I’m still learning and taking courses ( loved my recent Art History course at a local CC) and I hope my kids will do the same. Hey, my 57 year old husband actually took a calculus class last year because he managed to get through high school and college without one, and he wanted to have that knowledge. He’s been in the business world for the last 30 years, and makes a good living.
Stick with your courses and get that degree so that you’ll be employable. You have your whole life ahead of you to continue your education.</p>
<p>Thanks for the messages guys, they have been very uplifting.</p>
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<p>That’s a long story, but I guess I should get use to the question if I expect to start applying to unrelated jobs, right? hah.
I’m a first generation college student in my family, so maybe the problem began there because I never really had guidance about what I was setting myself up there, and all the options I didn’t even consider because I didn’t know existed.</p>
<p>Funny that I didn’t enjoy biology class in highschool, but I loved my chem class. Took a few classes in community college which were pretty good. I initially claimed my major as biology, yet I always knew I did not want to go to med school or work in a lab. Later on I switched to psychology, philosophy, english (for maybe a week)… Then took a zoology course and loved it. I had a field trip where we visited field biologists and I was sure I had found my calling. Changed my major back to biology. I graduated community college, moved hours away to a new university and planned to major in marine biology. Took a field trip to a local marine lab, and although I was intrigued, I knew I hadn’t the passion to dedicate so much of my life to studying it. Started considering more stable jobs in the health care business, but not so sure I’d feel comfortable in that position. Lots of family/personal issues later got me to where I am today… very far removed from biology. </p>
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<p>Guess I figured after my bachelors that I would be done forever and never step inside a classroom again. Yet, I always had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I would never, ever be completely done with academia… guess I’m proving that right, haha. I am, however, definitely giving myself a break before I step into my next bright idea, lol.</p>
<p>Again, I appreciate all the replies. Any other people out there in a similar position; I’d love to hear from ya!</p>
<p>THe way I see it, you’re in a great place. If you would have found your love for the liberal arts earlier, you may have switched your major to something on the “other side”, and then graduated college, had a hard time finding a job in something remotely related to your education, and then posted on this forum complaining about your useless degree. This way, your under no illusions. If you ever want to get a job related to biology, you can (provided you stick out four more classes), and if you don’t, you’re no worse off than the fellow with the liberal arts degree.</p>
<p>As far as self enrichment and education go, you can always take more classes at your local community college, or just study on your own, using the public library, for free. </p>
<p>What you should realize is that any subject you study intensely for years, take difficult exams on, etc., becomes a chore. You get sick of it. Had you majored in something like English lit., there’s a good chance you’d hate it now. Lucky you, you’re graduating college with an unspoiled appreciation for the arts, and since you’ll always be studying those things on your own, without the pressure of grades, etc., you won’t get sick of it. Enjoy!</p>
<p>I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY share your sentiments. I am also a bio major, have only one year left. the only reason i became a bio major at first was because i thought it would help me for medical school, and i wasnt aware of all the other options out there…</p>
<p>i even devoted a whole summer to the mcat, took honors science courses that led me to hate myself, went on a medical mission trip, etc… 3 years later, i regret my decision to ever major in science. i want to spit on every science class i’ve taken because i could have spent time and several thousands learning about voltaire and writing and aesthetics instead. </p>
<p>however, i am going to finish off my degree, which allows me to either a) find a job related to my major b) go to grad school in my dream non-science field (whatever that is- i’ll have to figure this one out over the summer), or c) suck it up and get professionally trained in a science/health field. </p>
<p>the only choice that appeals to me is b).
but practically speaking, i dont know if liking liberal arts topics is enough reason to pursue a career in it, because it may seem more like a chore once i actually have to, you know, do stuff. </p>
<p>which makes me wonder if academics is even for me if anything i have to work for seems tedious and uninteresting. maybe i’m lazy? but that cant’ be, i do have a brain, and i do want to use it for something… so maybe i still need to figure out where this so-called “passion” of mine lies…</p>
<p>do you have any advice for me about steps i can take this summer to find my passion?
career and personality tests have not helped me in the past. basically i dont quite understand myself…</p>
<p>Eh, I’m kind of in a similar situation. I’m planning to be a science major (bio or biochem…haven’t declared yet) but after a whole year of running to labs and sitting in PowerPoint lecture classes…I’m kinda sick of it lol. I was thinking medical school, because I could never ever see myself working in a research lab. I don’t want to do field work either…like counting beech trees…The problem is I don’t know what I would major in, if not science. I want something practical…something that will guarantee me a job :p. Maybe I should consider a business minor…</p>
<p>At the same time, I think I would enjoy writing sciency novels…but not too sciency. Similar to Jurassic Park :p. Or do something with chemistry to make it easier to learn for students…like Bill Nye :). </p>
<p>I took a personality test and found it unhelpful. (go figure) </p>
<p>Sometimes I dream about all the wonderful things I could be doing in the time wasted away in labs… :(</p>
<p>It’s really very simple. You should spend one year of college, which should definitely be your first year, just picking classes that you think sound interesting and you think you would enjoy. People on CC in general just don’t do this, and it’s just so dumb. Picking a major before you have any idea *** that major is about? (and how are you going to know before you get t college?) I mean, absolutely ■■■■■■■■. </p>
<p>1 Sky Pilot, it sounds like you should spend your next year just taking random stuff it you might actually be interested in. </p>
<p>There’s actually a great bit of advice I picked up and dismissed at first, but now I realize it is sheer GOLD. Figure out where you want to be in 5 years and go figure out what you need to do to get there.</p>
<p>Plus, unless you want to work in a lab or in health care, a bio major is really not worth it over something you might actually be interested in. Too much work and it’s not THAT broad. </p>
<p>There’s so much to learn in college, it’s ridiculous. But really, what you learn isn’t really determined by your major, it’s by what difficult upper level classes you take. Find something interesting. Go for it.</p>
<p>I’d say finish up, then contemplate what to do next.
Even if you don’t do a days work in Bio. The degree will help you in the future.
At the very least it says you are educated.</p>
<p>Some of the hours you collected towards your Bio degree should be applicable to
other degrees. It might mean a couple more years, but if you really hate it and
can’t see yourself doing it, it’s worth considering another major. Especially if it’s required for the field you want to go into professionally.</p>
<p>Note, many people, with the exception of highly specialized areas such as medicine, end up working in a field that isn’t tied to what they majored in College. You can go out, get some real world experience. If it turns out your career of choice needs a different major, you can go back and get the masters degree.</p>
<p>However, by this time, you should know that you like the work you’ll be getting into.</p>
<p>About a year ago , i was in same situation with you guyz . My major was electronics engineering ; when i graduated my high-school , i had no idea what to choose even though my bro was always telling me ,“this is the moment you need to choose your major,” . I think i chose electrical because i was imagining myself building robots and all them staffs . But my freshman year did not go well for me , me and friends were addicted to DotA(Defence of the Ancients) . So in my sophomere year , i decided to change my major and dropped the college because the college don’t offer the major , i have chosen .</p>
<p>With a biology major, you don’t have to go into a science related workfield. I know a person with a biology major from UVa and is now simply an analyzer for a company (might be a company related to the sciences, I forget, but her job is not).</p>
<p>I’m in sort of the same situation. Luckily I’m a freshman/rising sophomore who discovered she could not stand biology, clinics, the labs, the doctors’ offices, and was actually good at calculus when she studied (GASP). So, guess who’s keeping her options open? LOL. I’m still going to act as if I’m a premed, but am going to sit in on the senior engineering and chemistry classes while she’s at it in case she decides she’s going to stay away from doctors’ offices unless she is sick. :)</p>
<p>Anyway, pretty much what everyone else said: finish the major, and go to grad school in a different field. :)</p>
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