I love Mendel... Now what??

<p>So last year I took bio and it was great I liked it especially genetics and cell reproduction. This year I have AP Bio and I've become obsessively in love with genetics and especially after doing the dihybrid cross. </p>

<p>The thing is that I've always wanted to be a writer because I love writing, and even though I will always write I'm starting to look a genetics as a major instead of English. </p>

<p>Question is what schools are good for genetics, they don't necessarily have to have he major but they have to have a strong department in it. I'm sort of confused a bit, I just want to do more with genetics. Where should I start, do you know any schools. Thanks</p>

<p>You shouldn’t start. That’s my best advice. There are no careers in Biology simply because biologists don’t do much. Any high schooler can follow Biology lab procedures and memorize a sheer amount of information.</p>

<p>English majors are probably just as, if not more, bad as Biology majors. The major up side is that you end up mastering the English language. This comes in handy when you apply for jobs, get interviewed, or have to write personal statements/essays for professional schools. So I guess you could say that English > Biology to some extent.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in Biology and English, I think a Biomedical Engineering major/English minor would be a best fit. Engineers have the skill set necessary to carry out genetic research and much, much more. As I said before, science majors can’t do a lot. You need a PhD if you want to do your own research and even then the job prospects are very bad.</p>

<p>Genetics is more of a course than a major at the undergrad level. You should probably major in biochemistry as that will cover the structure of DNA the cellular signaling involved in genetic regulation, transcription, translation, and the actually Mendelian genetics itself. In grad school is when you can specialize in genetics.</p>

<p>I agree with the previous poster though. If you are interested in genetics go to med school and specialize in genetic diseases. Pure science = poverty in the USA.</p>

<p>Take some computer science and statistics with your biology. Biostatistics and bioinfo are still doing well and not overflooded, and this is where the genetic research is done; plus the “quantitative” skills you get out of those are much more easily transferable than knowledge of biology. And it’s less of a hassle to get into a biostat or bioinfo grad school than into medical school.</p>

<p>Since when does an interest in biology and English → biomedical engineering? And you don’t “master the English language” as an English major with a focus on writing. </p>

<p>You don’t major in genetics, you major in biology or biochemistry and specialize once you enter graduate or professional school. The economy isn’t great right now for pure scientists. But you’re only in high school and things can/do/will change by the time you graduate college and prepare to enter the work force. I say this as a Biology major( although, genetics is not high on my list of things I love in biology). I look all the time at company employment websites for researchers and I have found plenty in my area, so don’t let the bitter nay sayers try to sway your opinion because they haven’t landed their dream job or because they’re cynical. </p>

<p>You could be a pure researcher or a physician or an academic. The money is probably gonna be at the end of the MD path, but that’s not for everyone. Look around the web for information about geneticists. Try Wikipedia (seriously) for starters.</p>

<p>Thank you guys for information. I really appreciate it and it helps alot. I think I will try wikipedia and not really job search but majors. And your right I’m in high school (junior though), but I still have a long way to go. By this time next year I’ll probably still have no clue, but I like that. Because I also love learning about French Recolution. And this is exactly what freshman year of college is for. I’m going to take some classes and see what fits best :)</p>