To double-major or not to double-major? That is the...

<p>Question.</p>

<p>I'm interested in pharmacy and I will most likely be applying to pharmacy school after getting my bachelor's degree (currently a sophomore with an undeclared major). However, I do NOT want to choose pre-pharmacy as my major just in case I end up not going to pharmacy school for some reason. That's where you all come in...</p>

<p>I've been searching other majors that I'm interested in and meet most of the pharmacy pre-reqs and they are:</p>

<p>Biochemistry
Chemistry
Biology
and even Cardiovascular Technology (who would have thought)</p>

<p>In order, which major has the best job placement rate with just a bachelor's degree? Would it be worthwhile to double major? </p>

<p>*Please try to stay with the majors on this list. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>None of biology, chemistry, or biochemistry has job and career prospects that are that great, according to various <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

<p>So basically I’m looking at some type of a graduate degree, pharmacy or not? Any other majors that are somewhat related to the ones that I mentioned that have better placement rates?</p>

<p>Is there any reason why you couldn’t do a degree in something more marketable and just use a few of your free electives to do the pre-reqs for pharmacy school? I had friends in engineering that went to med school after undergrad, so I’m sure you could work something out.</p>

<p>I could definitely do the engineering work, that’s not a problem, but I’m just not interested in engineering or business. </p>

<p>I should have been clearer with my question. Graduate school IS IN my future, but I just do not know when, it could be right after undergrad or five years from then (Depends on my financial situation).</p>

<p>Any other suggestions as far as majors go? What about a language? Or is that worse than an undergrad in one of my previous choices?</p>

<p>For pharmacy, a biochemistry or chemistry degree would probably be best. For the latter, a focus on organic chemistry with supplemental courses in biology/biochemistry would be best/necessary. As for career opportunities with just a bachelor’s degree, a degree in biochemistry would open a number of doors at various kinds of laboratories doing research in biochemistry, molecular biology, etc. Laboratory positions in hospitals would also be a possibility. For the latter, courses in clinical laboratory sciences and/or microbiology could be helpful in getting a lab job with only a bachelor’s. If it is what you want to do, I would not worry too much about the statistics on job outlook and such since it will be years until you are actually looking and those statistics are always changing. Plus, there are always job openings if you are willing to look. I know a guy who got a job in a biomedical research laboratory when he graduated from undergrad and he got a bachelor’s in biochemistry. As for majoring in a language, unless you want to teach it or go teach English in a place that speak your language of study, it is not a worthwhile degree. Also, with a degree in biochem, there is no real need to double major: it combines some chemistry and biology already, though you may want to take extra classes here and there for interest and whatnot.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for the extremely informative reply! I think I know what I’m going to do now.</p>