<p>I'm going to be a senior in high school this year, but I'm having trouble picking a major. (I know millions of students switch majors in college, that's not what I'm asking about.) I've been saying I'll be a nurse for a while now, but I don't think I'm as interested in it as I thought I was. I've always loved biology and think that will be a great major for me, because the classes I'll be taking seem very interesting and I can see myself working in the field. Nursing, to be honest, has what looks like boring classes and though it looks like job security is guaranteed, even in a nursing shortage nursing jobs are hard to find. I feel as though biology is a better match for me, but I'm unsure of how I should tell my parents, who are really excited about my previous decision to be a nurse. I also wonder about when I apply to schools, should it be as a nursing student or should I go biology or undecided.</p>
<p>Sounds like you should major in Biology. A lot people have been majoring in nursing for the financial reward, however, due to the overflow of graduates nursing salaries are halting. The same thing happened to the pharmacy job market. Plus nursing isnt for everybody; I know a few people who are currently in nursing programs and a few who are currently working as RNs who are regretting their decision to go into nursing field. Furthermore, a bachelor degree in Biology will give you tons options, and you can always enroll into a 2 year 2nd degree nursing program or even medical school after obtaining your Bachelor in Biology.</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s what I was thinking. If I have a change of heart, I could always go back for nursing. Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>Actually, while it is true that there is a glut of just-graduated nurses and jobs are harder to come by than they were four years ago, there are a couple of things to point out.</p>
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<li>A four year degree in nursing is FAR better for career prospects than a two year degree (we’re talking double the school, but the average that I’ve seen is that it’s close to, if not more than, double the salary).</li>
<li>Nursing degrees at reputable programs involve classroom instruction, yes, but they also require clinicals - you actually work in hospitals and get legitimate experience before you even graduate. Biology can only offer lab work, so if it is interesting that you’re after, nursing might actually provide a lot of variation in the types of “studying” you actually do in college.</li>
</ol>
<p>It’s a little tougher for you since generally, nursing and biology are in two completely separate schools. Generally, in my and some friends’ experiences, it’s easier to transfer from a nursing program to an arts & sciences program (such as biology) than it is to do the opposite. The reason is that nursing programs’ requirements often overlap with A&S programs’, but nursing programs have some REQUIRED first year classes that A&S programs simply don’t have. If you transfer out of a nursing program after a year, you can still feasibly graduate in four years total; if you do the reverse, it’s highly likely to take five years.</p>
<p>Actually, it seems that the job opportunities currently for someone with an undergrad biology degree are, sadly, pretty limited.</p>