What should I major in if Science is a useless degree/career?

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>VidelXoxo, I’m sorry but the Biology degree sucks. I’m glad I’m changing majors otherwise I would end up using my degree as some crappy toilet paper to wipe my ***.</p>

<p>and yodelo, to answer that question, there simply aren’t any jobs for them. The best job you can get with a BS or MS is a crappy lab tech job that pays minimum wage with no benefits.</p>

<p>This is probably because anyone can be trained to do HPLC and any other tests done in a lab. </p>

<p>Also PhDs are much worse off. America is no longer driven by science. Science is a dead field (in the US). It’s pretty sad because science is the only way we will advance and make cool **** in the future such as robotic prosthetics that actually work or time machines (not so much of this).</p>

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<p>Yodelo,</p>

<p>Science degrees may provide psychic rewards for those interested in how the natural world works, most science degrees are worthless in the sense that they do not have any economic value for the person who obtains one.</p>

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<p>Yeah, even I can do HPLC, dialysis, cleave proteins, etc., and I’m still in high school. I’m also planning on majoring in either biology or neuroscience though, and I really hope I can get into med school. I don’t know…maybe I should switch to a more beneficial major and still take the med school prerequisites.</p>

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<p>Videl, you don’t need a science degree like chem or bio to enter the health profession. All you need are some pre-reqs,which you can complete on the side, a good GPA, and good scores on the appropriate tests. But what happens if somebody can’t get into med school? Then they’re stuck. It’d be more beneficial to a person to major in something worth while.</p>

25

<p>

Maybe you should actually do some research instead of going by what you’ve “heard.” Geology has by far the best job prospects of the sciences, and I don’t know any majors who didn’t have at least one job offer come graduation. That said, it typically draws a particular type of person that rarely includes pre-meds. </p>

<p>As for what you should switch to, well, I’ve heard endless amounts of nauseating whining and sob stories on these boards from pretty much every major except business and nursing.</p>

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<p>[Chemjobber:</a> Well, that’s not good news](<a href=“http://chemjobber.blogspot.com/2011/03/well-thats-not-good-news.html]Chemjobber:”>Chemjobber: Well, that's not good news)
Here is a good place to start. </p>

<p>Chemistry grads less than 40% are employed full time and 1/2 are in crappy dead end tech jobs in academia. I can assure you Biology is even worse as there are 10 fold more graduates, much few jobs, and many of those jobs prefer chem majors.</p>

<p>There are also the college where graduates ended up surveys that are posted frequently. They typically show BS grads in the sciences end up in low paying tech jobs.</p>

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<p>Warblersrule is right. With Gasoline nearing $5/gallon every oil company out there is going to be beating the bushes for graduates with degrees in Geology to find more oil deposits. My older son is a Geology major in his junior year and he has had to take a lot more Calculus and Physics courses than the typical pre-med major would be comfortable with.</p>

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<p>I feel as if math opens up a lot more options than geology though. So in conclusion, I think it’s safe to say Mathematics Major or Computer Science major or Engineering Major > Geology major.</p>

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<p>Although Geology is currently a hot thing to do, it is also cyclical and jobs usually reflect with the commodities market.</p>

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<p>The amount of negativity in this thread is a little inappropriate.</p>

<p>When I talked about biology degrees in my last post, I made a point to say “My degree is honours Health Sciences, which is basically a cross between Kinesiology and Cellular/Molecular Biology.” The reason I made that ‘point’ was because I know the field and have a job in it. I am not a graduate yet, but I do work as a research assistant in my universities neuroscience lab and as an SFR (Sports First-Responder).<br>
I do not deny that it’s difficult to get a job as a research assistant, but if I could do it, I think it’s unrealistic to say others cannot. I also make more than minimum wage, I make closer to $30.00/hour for part-time and full-time. </p>

<p>It is true that most medical schools have a series of prerequisites that you have to complete and you can do that with any degree. However, statistics on most university websites state that most of their applicants have a BSc majoring in a scientific discipline like biology (I’ll reference Harvard, but research other schools as well):
[Harvard</a> Medical School: Class Statistics](<a href=“http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=statistics]Harvard”>http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=statistics)</p>

<p>Is it worth majoring in biology if you want to go to Medical School? No. Your third and fourth years will be advanced biology that isn’t present in medical school. Also, don’t forget that an MD is offered through professional school and is equivalent to an undergraduate degree. If you are only interested in medicine, I would complete my prerequisites in two years and apply after that.
The reason students are completing BSc’s now is because Medical School has become so competitive. However, I know many students who got accepted to Medical School after two years (myself included). If you’re not interested in biology research or a specific application of biology, don’t do a biology degree. Mostly because you won’t be successful at it and it’s not going to get you ahead in the world of medicine.<br>
However, if you’re like me and love biology and medicine, then a BSc is fun and I have a great job now because of it. In the long-term I may go into medicine, but I also have the option to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience, to get a MSc in Physical Therapy, or countless other options. </p>

<p>I didn’t mean to apply you NEED a biology degree to go into health care, what I meant was that you CAN go into health care with a biology degree. Medical school is not the “be all, end all” of health care, that is why I listed these multiple fields:
BSc in Pharmacy, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, Doctor of Chiropractic, Doctor of Dentistry, BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy, MSc in Physical Therapy, MSc/PhD’s in hundreds of fields, etc…
You’re not ‘stuck’ if you don’t go to Medical School; I have all the pre-requisites for any of those fields and could easily transfer to Kinesiology/Athletic Therapy or Nursing. I reference myself in this post, but ANYONE in a biology degree can do what I can do. </p>

<p>In conclusion, don’t do a biology degree if you don’t love biology, because it’s true you can get into most health care fields with other degrees. However, don’t limit yourself by saying you can’t get into other fields with a BSc in biology. It’s not a dead end.</p>

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<p>Videl, things in life come up though. Some people may feel that they don’t want to go on beyond a bachelor’s. Maybe financial obligations come up. What happens if you don’t get enough in pell grants, but can’t qualify for a scholarship? Your only path are loans. Many people are already having trouble paying off their loans. Do you really want to be left with 10’s of thousands of dollars in debt? Healthcare in this country is deterioating at a rapid rate. If Obamacare is not repealed, that may do it in. I know many x-ray technicians, nurses, etc that are out of work and can’t find a job. Healthcare has already been outsourced. People go to India for major surgeries because the costs are low, but the quality of healthcare is superb. Although the finance industry is currently shaky, due to the Dodd-Frank bill coming in, once people realize how toxic it is to the economy, it will be repealed, so go towards a financial related degree. Besides, knowledge of Economics is very important in healthcare.</p>

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<p>Scientific mind, would you recommend going the managerial economics route or the applied mathematics with Econ minor route?</p>

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<p>Scientificmind,
I will identify my biases on this topic as I am a Canadian citizen at an Ivy League university in the USA. I also had the financial grace to cover all my tuition, so loans/scholarships I have never had to personally apply for.<br>
I do agree that not everyone wants to go beyond a Bachelor’s degree, which is perfectly acceptable. I also understand loans are not always an option and that health care in the USA is not a perfectly stable system. </p>

<p>However, my post was directed at students who were pursuing Medical School through a BSc in Biology and felt there were no other options. I do assume that anyone who seriously considers Medical School meets the average standards of a 3.5-3.6 GPA, 30+ MCAT, and volunteer/extra-ciricular/work experience.<br>
*Typically, higher academic acheivements are required and you can get in with less, but that seems like an appropiate reference line. </p>

<p>We are not talking about the same ‘people’ or ‘students,’ in the sense that my advise was directed at those who meet the academic standards and want to pursue professional/graduate/post-graduate education. There is nothing wrong with doing something else, obviously, but my advise wouldn’t be appropiate for them.
My reference to nursing and athletic therapy was to say that if after the BSc, someone wants to go in another direction, that’s an accessible option. That isn’t limited to a BN or BKIN, but it was a simple example.
Employment also varies between the States, so it’s not fair to say that degree ‘A’ won’t get you job ‘B’ anywhere in the USA or world.</p>

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<p>Ah, see I was not aware that you were a Canadian citizen. Miscommunications can happen though. I was not sure whether you were addressing certain individuals in particular or everybody. I will agree on one thing, and that’s the advice part. I wouldn’t tell someone who is subpar in mathematics to go into Finance.</p>

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<p>So instead of making a meaningful difference in this world with the small amount of time you have on Earth you are going to get a drone job with an Economics degree? No. Science needs to push people like you out and leave room for everyone who wants to work hard (no matter what the pay) and actually be happy with finding new discoveries and moving forward. Find a spouse who makes a decent salary and you will be fine economically.
Good riddance to people like YOU in the science field.</p>

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<p>You can do other jobs with biology degree, you know. I’m a consultant at a top financial consulting firm and I had a B.S. in biology and a minor in poli sci</p>

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<p>Outbreak, I love science, especially astrophysics. However, science jobs in the US is declining. There are already tons of young people with Ph’D’s that will replace the older TT Professors. But I wouldn’t be satisfied doing grunt work for half my life. I’m a very hard worker, as are many people in the finance industry. They don’t all get there because they know somebody. Have you ever worked 110 hours a week? Shunning your social life? Having to cancel dinner plans because you will have to work at the office until 1 or 2 am, or even for a couple of days without going home? Yes, I can find a spouse that makes a decent living as well, but it’s a pride thing. Society is still male dominated, so I am expected to bring home the majority of the “cake.” I do my “research” now in my backyard with my telescope. It is far more rewarding, and less aggravating. BTW, science programs and companies are funded by financial institutions that invest millions or even billions of dollars. Science is a business, only thing is you don’t get the pay that you deserve with all the investment that you made. How much do you get paid for the amount of money you put into the education? It’s not a good ROI(Return on Investment). people may say that money doesn’t mean anything, but, honestly that is pure BS. Everyone is driven by money, because it creates opportunities.</p>

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<p>Biology and chemistry produce a surplus of graduates (many of them pre-meds who did not get into medical school) relative to the number of major-specific jobs.</p>

<p>Physics does also, but physics majors’ math skills tend to give them job possibilities in finance, computer software, and some types of engineering, although they are more like second choice candidates compared to those who majored in those subjects.</p>

<p>Applied math and statistics majors often find their way into finance or actuarial jobs; computer software is another possibility, though they would be second choice compared to computer science majors.</p>

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<p>I think you should do whatever you are most interested in. If you love biology and psychology then stick with it. If not, then go do neuroscience. There are plenty of jobs out there for people who are passionate about what they do. Go be one of those people and you won’t have any issues. A biology degree is only useless to those who think that it’s a soft subject for people who want to be doctors and that, outside graduate school for medics, is a complete waste of time. That is not the case if you want a career in it. If not then why are you doing it?</p>

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<p>That is the most trite BS ever offered on this forum. I guess all the Liberal Arts grads working at Walmart and Starbucks just lack passion in the subject they studied. Employment in the US is about having useful and in demand skills not “passion.”</p>

<p>Pick a major that has strong demand and business relevance. That isn’t science (due to demand).</p>