<p>Just recently decided to switch to a biology major... staying at CC for a little longer for those purposes. But anyhow what can I do with it in terms of post-graduation?</p>
<p><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</a></p>
<p>Go to professional school, business school, be unemployed, or get a $12 an hour temp job and live in poverty for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Hm… lol okay…</p>
<p>Go to some sort of graduate school, hopefully…</p>
<p>and hopefully not a science graduate program as those just put you deeper in the hole.</p>
<p>@ sschoe2</p>
<p>According to Payscale (via Forbes), not all science graduate degrees are that bad. Computer science and physics master’s degrees are actually very good. Not that many biology undergraduates would choose those for graduate school, but it is certainly possible in theory, and they are still “science” master’s degrees.</p>
<p>Biology and chemistry master’s degrees…I agree, not such great choices…</p>
<p>I cannot see how a biology or chemistry undergrad could possibly go to a physics graduate program. Seems like that is not feasible.</p>
<p>@ aGGieENGiNeeR</p>
<p>Probably not easy - but definitely not impossible -</p>
<p>[I</a> have so-and-so degree, can I get into Physics?](<a href=“Can I get a Ph.D. in physics if my bachelor's degree isn't in physics”>Can I get a Ph.D. in physics if my bachelor's degree isn't in physics)</p>
<p>Sure not impossible as that article mentions, but where in a chemistry or biology degree program are you going to be getting any “foundation” in physics that would allow you to even be able to get through the Physics GRE? The article you posted was directed mainly towards Electrical Engineers and Mechanical Engineers who would have a much easier time with the switch to phyiscs (maybe have to take a couple of upper level undergraduate courses to catch up). I am watching the physics seniors at my university prepare for this exam, and as hard as they are having to work I cannot imagine how a bio/chem major could succesfully make it through this highly comprehensive exam without an unreasonable amount of extra preparation and at least some undergraduate courses. Even if they do pass, this does not mean they are capable of physics graduate school (as said in your article above) since once you pass the standardized test you must be capable of hitting the ground running the second you walk into your first graduate level class.</p>
<p>Many biology majors stop after freshman calculus and a year of physics for biology majors, which would leave them very unprepared to do graduate study in physics. Chemistry majors would likely have the lower division math and physics courses, as well as upper division courses covering (from a chemistry standpoint) quantum theory, thermodynamics, and nuclear chemistry. But that would still lack upper division courses in electricity and magnetism, mechanics, and optics, as well as upper division math courses that physics majors often take.</p>
<p>So switching to physics would likely require less “catch up” from chemistry than from biology. It still wouldn’t be easy.</p>
<p>My roommate is a chemistry major. He will have 2 courses in intro physics, 1 course in physical chemistry (basic quantum theory), and math covered to calculus III. In my waves/optics/thermo course this semester as a SOPHOMORE, I am relying heavily on differential equations a class chemistry majors at my school don’t take in the 4 year program. Beyond the normal calculus sequence (which mind you many chemistry programs do not make you finish to completion), you would need to have taken linear algebra, complex variables, and theory of Partial Differential Equations along with maybe a class in theoretical methods. So like ucbalumnus said, you would be lacking the knowledge from every single upper level physics course (I am not counting the chemistry majors quantum theory since many physics programs will make you take two courses in quantum mechanics) Thus, the catch up would be immense and that is not even mentioning getting research experience in the lab and solid recommendations. </p>
<p>Again to reiterate, not impossible since I am sure there is someone in this world who would have the brains to pull it off, but said person should at least expect to be taking around an extra year and a half of courses (probably more like 2 years) to catch back up and reach a level of competence necessary for graduate programs.</p>
<p>Many of my fellow students stuck around for a master’s in environmental management and are starting great jobs in DC this year. Policy is not my cup of tea, but it could be well worth a look if you’re not dead set on doing lab/fieldwork.</p>