<p>I am a college freshman majoring in Biochemistry. I want to go to grad school for a similar science, perhaps continue w/ Biochemistry or switch to Genetics, Food Science, etc. What are some things that I can do now and in my next 3-4 years of college to build my application for grad schools?
Are the same things that were important in my undergrad application (volunteer, extra curriculars, leadership, grades) equally important for my grad school app?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Don’t major in Biochemistry. The job prospects are very poor for BS, MS, and PhD.</p></li>
<li><p>Apply to professional schools such as pharmacy, medicine, or dentistry if you are concerned about getti a job.</p></li>
<li><p>Good ECs, gpa, and MCAT/PCAT/DAT scores.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>To back up csh123, take a look at this link. While their will be high percentage growth, the competition for those jobs will be fierce.</p>
<p>[Biochemists</a> and Biophysicists : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm]Biochemists”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm)</p>
<p>I concur with the two posters. But if you insist on going the route you want to, grades will be important. Also, research will be very important. Try to get involved in as much research as you can. Also, GRE scores will be important if you even want to be admitted into a graduate program. Also, apply directly to a Ph.D program, as they are usually fully funded, and a consolation prize is a masters if you fail to make it all the way. But honestly, the best thing to do for good prospects, is to major in something that already have great prospects, like economics or finance.</p>
<p>I know what I want to do. I do not want to do something that I don’t like and be bored with my career and thus do not want to go to those professional schools. I don’t really care if I can make more money with a different major or if another major is easier. Life isn’t supposed to be easy and there’s more to it than just money</p>
<p>
No. None of those except grades matter.</p>
<p>Grades and GRE scores are important for fellowships, but beyond a reasonable level (say, 3.0+ overall and 3.3+ major), you’d be surprised how little weight grades are often given in the admissions process. GRE scores are generally used only to winnow the poorest performers (in other words, it hurts if you do poorly but doesn’t help if you do well). </p>
<p>What will help you get in:
[ul][<em>]Finding a good lab/professor with research interests relevant to yours
[</em>]Having a lot of research experience
[<em>]Having strong letters of recommendation
[</em>]Writing a well-crafted statement of purpose
[li]Taking challenging courses (preferably a few grad courses) and doing well in them[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Basically, take a wide range of courses in your major. Get involved with research. Start developing good relationships with a few faculty members. </p>
<p>This was written for computer science students but should help you anyway:
<a href=“http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf</a></p>
<p>Jenny, I understand your position, as I was in the same situation. At first, I wanted to be a chemist. Get my bachelors, then my Ph.D and work in the energy sector. However after doing some research about prospects, I changed my path. I want stability in my career. I don’t want to be jumping from post doc to post doc in hopes to get tenure at a college. So I thought, what else am I good at, and offers financial stability. Then, it hit me. Something in finance. I grasp concepts of economics very well, and I do investing on the side as well. So, I decided to major in Economics, and take finance courses as electives. I know life is more about money, but when you start having responsibilities, that equation is thrown out of the window. I’m not saying you have to ditch what you want to do, because that is important as well, but do give it a long thought. What you decide, will forever be set in stone.</p>