<p>I'm not entirely sure where to post this, but I figured here would be the best spot to get advice. Needless to say college has been quite rocky for me. I started out pre-med and went downhill from there. After doing poorly in a few important pre req classes I questioned my dedication and passion and switched my major twice-once to political science and then again to psychology. After completing coursework in psychology I am totally aware that I do not want to do this for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>My passion and heart lies in biology. I love it. Although I'm in trouble. Because in summer I will graduate with a degree in psychology. And I am not excited. I thought I would be interested in Industrial and Organization psychology; however, I am doing an internship and taking I/O classes. I know now, it is not what I want to do. What would be my best course of action at this point? Should I just graduate and go back to take pre reqs at a different college? Should I tack on a bio minor, stay in school and try to get most of them out of the way? The problem is my financial aid is at its max. I've borrowed all the loans that I can apart from hitting up a private lender. I know once I graduate I will not be able to get any more financial aid for a second bachelor's degree either. I'm stuck and I have no idea what to do. Any advice for my situation? I want to go into a grad program for genetics, immunology or microbiology eventually.</p>
<p>Graduate. In your last semester(s), take as much biology as you can fit into your schedule.</p>
<p>Then find a job. Perhaps you can work at a pharmaceutical company, or a biotech firm, or something else related to the field of interest. You may be able to get a job doing some limited bench research, depending on how much science you have.</p>
<p>While you are working, take a few classes a semester. Take some undergraduate biology classes to beef up your bio background, and take some cognate courses in chemistry and math as well. Once you have the background, take some graduate-level classes in one of those three fields you mentioned. This may take a few years, but that’s okay.</p>
<p>After you have racked up the background you need, then apply to programs. You may have to apply to master’s programs first, and then PhD programs, but immunology, microbiology and genetics MS programs are often funded.</p>
<p>Do you think I should tack on the bio minor to have a chance to take more classes? I am scheduled to graduate this august, but I could probably prolong it until fall.</p>
<p>No, not if you are already hitting up against the limit of your financial aid. You don’t have to stop taking classes just because you aren’t in a degree program anymore, and it may be far cheaper for you to just take them once you have graduated at a public university local to wherever you begin working. You may even find a job that will pay for you to take those credits.</p>