I have no idea what I want to do for my major.

College Majors Science Majors
1

I’m currently a biology major. I have to take 12 more biology classes to get a bachelor’s in biology.

The only thing is, I don’t wish to become a doctor, do pharmacy or nursing. I dropped out of pharmacy and continued taking science classes because no one else really knew what I should do. I do enjoy taking science classes and the labs are somewhat enjoyable.

As you can tell, I’m a very confused and indecisive person.

What really puts me off from finishing this biology degree is the amount of self studying that has to be done outside of class. The amount of self teaching that has to be done is a lot. If the professor isn’t good, you’re going to fail. This is making me super nervous because studying takes up so much time. Even with 3 science classes, you still have a lot of spare time, but all the time has to be devoted toward studying. And when you’re studying, it looks like you’re doing nothing in your room to your parents. It’s not normal studying either. It’s intensive studying. You pretty much have to read the textbook if you want to pass.

Biology classes are limited and spots are limited. So some students really need the biology classes. Unlike me, I’m only in biology because I have no idea what else I want to do and I prefer learning organic chemistry over writing essays. I really do not like writing essays. I don’t want to take other student’s spots because spots are limited in biology classes.

I thought about accounting (because I don’t like writing essays) but I looked at my college’s catalog for accounting and it’s either 120 credits or 80 credits for a bachelor in it. At this rate, I’ll be in college for another 3-4 years. Also, if I do drop biology major, I wish to at least get a biology minor degree, so that all those science classes I took are “worth” something. The reason I thought accounting could be possible for me is because my sign is a virgo. Also I’m not a creative person so I cannot become a teacher, or do philosophy. That’s another reason why I stuck to biology, all you do is learn and solve problems. It doesn’t involve writing deep essays. You don’t have to come up with anything creative.

What do I want to ultimately get a job in? To be truthful, I don’t have much skills or capabilities. I will probably never make $50,000 a year. I want to get a college degree because I pretty much have to. I cannot drop out. I have to get a degree, in something. My parents never got a college degree so I have to get a college degree. I like doing repetitive work. The only skill I have is I’m proficient in typing. I don’t want fancy cars. I want to get married and live in a small clean house. I want a job where others lead me. I am not good at making decisions. I’m currently a technician, and it’s a suitable job for me. I don’t want to be anyone important or significant in the workforce.

I thought about getting a biology degree and doing lab work. I thought about being a biology teacher but I have no leadership qualities nor an authoritative style. I really don’t know. Does anyone have any advice?

2

With the biology degree you can be a laboratory technician in various fields. Check out job websites such as http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=laboratory+technician&l=.

It could pay to take courses in fields that correspond to the industries that prevail where you will want to live, for instance food science and microbiology in an agricultural/food processing region.

Any opportunities to become proficient in the use of HPLC, GC, GCMS and/or ICP-MS analytical instruments are precious, because that will give you great job security.

You can be a medical laboratory technologist with a little more than a biology degree (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm#tab-4), should that interest you. Exact requirements vary by state. However, it’s possible to work in labs that have relevance to health with just a bachelor’s degree; I did.

I worked in analytical laboratories for almost 30 years, including before and after getting a chemistry degree. Many of my co-workers had biology degrees (or less).

Laboratory work seems to match your orientations. It’s very much laid out what you have to do.

3

I have taken computer programming before and it was challenging for me.

I’m thinking of either doing business or psychology major. It doesn’t matter if I’m in school for another 3-4 years anymore. I just want to do something that doesn’t require intensive studying like biology. Biology classes require a lot of discipline to do the labs, read the chapters, do homework problems, and it’s so much self studying, and it is really overwhelming me.

Ty for your advice. I really don’t know though.

I really want to just get a bachelors degree, any degree, and work an office job, or be a pharmacy technician at a hospital. So I’m leaning towards psychology right now, although it looks like I might need to write essays. I don’t want to have to study hard anymore. I’m not that smart to begin with. As you can tell, I have no clue as to what I should do. I don’t know if I can even pass those 12 biology classes as you really need intelligence and discipline to read the chapters and self teach.

Is the general consensus that I should just stick with biology?

4

I currently have 70 credits already.

Originally, I was going to be a biology major (I have 12 science classes left to get the a bachelor’s in biology), but I don’t know if I have the intelligence to even pass the science classes. So I don’t want to be a biology major anymore.

As for my skills, there’s not much. I’m fast at typing. I know I’ll never make $50,000 a year. I prefer working under a supervisor. I don’t have leadership skills. I am not good at making decisions. I prefer repetitive work. I want a decent paying job. I want to be able to afford to live in a small house. I don’t want to work in a lab. I don’t want to be a teacher. I don’t want to go to grad school.

I was thinking I could be a pharmacy technician at a hospital, do medical coding and billing, or medical transcription. But for those jobs, it looks like I don’t really need a bachelor’s degree. I have taken anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology courses already.

Should I get a bachelor’s degree in an “easy” major? People tell me it doesn’t really matter what you get a bachelor’s in, as long as you get a bachelor’s degree.

Should I forget about getting a bachelor’s degree and get an associate’s degree instead?

If I do get a bachelor’s degree, I was going to switch my major to psychology, business, or communications. Something that’s more doable than biology. I am not very fond of essay writing.

I do intend on getting at least a minor in biology, even though I know that doesn’t mean much.

Do you have any advice?

5

I think so. Community college tracks are more suitable for you. Some of them have high job security and quite decent pay (http://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2014/12/03/4-degrees-that-are-better-to-earn-at-a-community-college).

If you’re interested in getting ideas for specifically what you ought to do at a community college, these things would be helpful to know:

  1. any additional information on what you do enjoy doing
  2. the specific courses you have completed (preferably with grades)
  3. what specific community college you would be attending

I’m curious: why is that? I can tell you from my 30 years in it, you don’t have to be highly intelligent to do it. In fact, it’s better if you’re not, as it’s hard to access work that isn’t highly routine.

6

I wouldn’t go to college hoping to be a lab technician. It isn’t worth it. Biology is also frequently listed as one of the most underemployed majors (ie retail low pay jobs).

Analytical is turning into a staffing agency infested race to the bottom. Also most of the better companies want chem majors and even chem majors with an MS. However, some of the bottom feeders are less fussy ie Aerotek, Kelly, Medix, various Indian contract agencies. They will pay you $15 per hour with no or substandard benefits with no raises, PTO and eventually you will receive a phone call telling you your job has ended and the staffing agencies are notorious for trying to bleep you out of unemployment compensation by either lying or offering you crap jobs and reporting you when you say no.

If you are not going into healthcare I’d switch professions now to business, accounting, finanace, computers or whatever gives you good employment prospects. Don’t worry about your wasted tuition. Spending 7 years in college and graduating with a good major is infinitely better than graduating in 4 with a worthless major.

7

I think you should visit an adviser and get a career interest inventory taken or possibly take classes at a community college instead as you are wasting a lot of money at the university trying to find direction.

Given the cost of tuition I would avoid going to a university without definite plans and drift around for years racking up huge debt.