HS Junior thinking about grad school already...

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>...kinda. I've always wanted to get a doctorate in some science/math field (yes.. even since I was little). So occasionally when looking at a school's website I'll look at graduate degrees. I see a lot of interesting PhD options such as- Chemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, Anatomical Sciences, Microbiology, Biochem and structural biology, Geosciences, Materials Science, Oral biology, and I can just keep going lol. </p>

<p>So I wanted to know what would be the best thing for me to do undergraduate? I was thinking just to major in Biology or Chemistry. I love both of these subjects so would that be a good pick that would enable myself to lead me to those graduate options? (assuming I keep a good gpa, etc.)</p>

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<p>Well, you want to do a few things to make grad school easier. It’s really good you have decided that you want to pursue this and have an idea of your field early.</p>

<p>Major in either chemistry or biology or some closely-related subject. If you have interests in both these areas, you can look for interdisciplinary programs or special programs or for things like double, dual, or joint majors. Take a challenging course load that has enough breadth to give you an idea of what you like while at the same time eventually focusing on the kinds of things you want to end up doing. Emphasize the former… you can always specialize in grad school.</p>

<p>As soon as you have narrowed down what you are really interested in - and try to be quick about it - you should try to get involved in undergraduate research. This should be feasible for a decent student at a reputable research university… just ask around the department(s) you are interested in and see if anybody is doing interesting research and looking for students. Take a position making coffee, if that’s what it comes to, anything to get your foot in the door early. If your school lets undergraduates do a thesis (honors program, perhaps, or something) do it. Try to publish papers, that is, to make substantial contributions to projects which get published. Go to some conferences and either present or participate in volunteer programs.</p>

<p>Some teaching experience wouldn’t hurt either. Tutoring or undergraduate TA positions can be useful for (a) preparing you for a GTA role in grad school or (b) for teaching as a professor at a research university later on.</p>

<p>Internships should ideally be of an academic nature… that is, either get internships at places which are well-known for R&D (national labs, government agencies, universities, etc.) or with companies in positions where you will have the primary role of conducting or contributing to a research project.</p>

<p>Keep your GPA high and study hard. Don’t worry about extracurriculars, just do whatever comes naturally and do it well. Apply for awards, especially scholarships, fellowships, and research awards.</p>

<p>If you can manage to do all that, and provided that you go to a good school and get some good references, you will be good.</p>

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<p>Why do you want to get a doctorate? The reason I ask is it only makes sense if a) you have a real passion for a particular area of study and b) love doing research in that area. From what you’ve expressed, it doesn’t sound like you are coming at it from the right perspective. So if you want this goal for other reasons, such as you love the concept of it, your parents would be proud, you want to get the ‘highest’ degree, you want to be called a doctor…these are not good reasons. </p>

<p>Now that should not discourage you. But you can slow down a bit and start at the beginning. Focus on developing an intellectual interest in HS in a few areas (outside of your regular cousrework), try to get access to a lab to experience research if you haven’t yet (like Auburn suggests…the coffee thing…can start in highschool!), and when you get to college, take the course that interest you most. What interests you most. That is the key. If you fall in love with one area, enjoying asking and answering questions in that area,seek out research opportunities on campus, and discover you enjoy doing research and are good at it while an undergrad…then you say I want to get a PhD, that would be fabulous.</p>