Anyone a bio major/pre-med?

[dr.tran]

Just curious, anyone else here is a bio major or has their bachelor in science for the purpose of going to medical school?

I graduated with a BS in bio and man its hard as hell finding a job in this field without having your masters. Trying so hard to pay off all my debts and studying for the MCATS sometimes I wonder if its worth it.

How about you guys? Hows your journey? I hope you guys have it easier than me.

[DerekFF]

Work for fish and game as a wildlife biologist?

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[Wicket_lfe]

I started bio/premed in hopes of going into biotech. Now I work for a Bank. go figure. Damn you economics!!!!!!!

[wetworks]

I have a pre-professional bio degree- honestly this degree is only useful as a step to grad school. I ended up with two grad degrees in liberal arts (Psych and Humanities) that are equally useless. It sucks when I apply for jobs; most companies see multiple grad degrees and then have an on-the-spot sticker-shock-related aneurism.

[thechibi]

I have a General Studies degree. Most employers just e-mail me with a 'wtf is that, oh well I made a cool paper plane out of your resume'. So ... I'm hoping this Aquatic Biology MS pans out. Most of the folks like me so far and someone even volunteered to write me a letter of recommendation. On the upside, you can rearrange the letters so I have a BSG degree. It's equivalent to a BS and I did... Forensic Anthro, Biology, Chemistry and History.

Frankly, I'm just sick of working in a call center. I feel like a verbal punching bag and the stupidity wears you down after awhile. Some people have legit issues and some people... can't be bothered to read, so it becomes my job to do everything for them. Whee.

So yes. I feel your pain. A lot. But I'm crossing my fingers hard. I find out this summer since the deadline is June 1.

[dr.tran]

Originally Posted by DerekFF

Work for fish and game as a wildlife biologist?

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I thought about it and I sent in my resume. Wish me luck!

Originally Posted by Wicket_lfe

I started bio/premed in hopes of going into biotech. Now I work for a Bank. go figure. Damn you economics!!!!!!!

Hahahahahaha! You know in some ways I wish I did business. I know its not the same as your field but come to think of it now, NYC is one of the major business capital. Anything with finances has amazing opportunity here.

Maybe some day you can move up on the ladder and live a comfortable bank life. lol

Originally Posted by wetworks

I have a pre-professional bio degree- honestly this degree is only useful as a step to grad school. I ended up with two grad degrees in liberal arts (Psych and Humanities) that are equally useless. It sucks when I apply for jobs; most companies see multiple grad degrees and then have an on-the-spot sticker-shock-related aneurism.

Do you plan to work as a professor? I'm only saying that because I think that would be your best bet.

Hahahaha too qualified for the job? I use to work retail and I remember there was this girl that was trying to get hired and she had her masters in psychology. So over qualified to sell clothes. She intimidated her managers. It was pretty cool.

[thechibi]

It's sort of a cruel trap. Too qualified for the jobs that generally open up. But not qualified for many private openings... or someone who knows someone already got in. I suggest making sure you have a LinkedIn account set up and networking your brains out if you can.

[dr.tran]

Originally Posted by thechibi

I have a General Studies degree. Most employers just e-mail me with a 'wtf is that, oh well I made a cool paper plane out of your resume'. So ... I'm hoping this Aquatic Biology MS pans out. Most of the folks like me so far and someone even volunteered to write me a letter of recommendation. On the upside, you can rearrange the letters so I have a BSG degree. It's equivalent to a BS and I did... Forensic Anthro, Biology, Chemistry and History.

Frankly, I'm just sick of working in a call center. I feel like a verbal punching bag and the stupidity wears you down after awhile. Some people have legit issues and some people... can't be bothered to read, so it becomes my job to do everything for them. Whee.

So yes. I feel your pain. A lot. But I'm crossing my fingers hard. I find out this summer since the deadline is June 1.

I know that feel bro.

Working with the general public can be amazing but mostly sucky. Especially on the phone. They think your not human and they can say what ever they want to you just because they have money. After I worked retail, I had a new found respect for everyone who deals with the public. I always am nice to them now.

Good luck man! I hope you reach your endeavors!

[radioman]

I was Bio but switched to psych but still like science so I am getting a B.S. in Psychology.

[Couesfanatic]

I graduated with a Bachelors is Biology. Minor in Chemistry. I am now attending Chiropractic school and working on my DC.

If you can get into/through med school it will be worth it.

[crazydaz]

I have a Bio degree; started off as a Science Teacher out of college. Hated the Administration, so I left after a year, became a Chemistry tech for an Automotive Supplier in the Detroit area. Got hired on direct as a Prototype Engineer filling pre-launch Vipers as Cameros with 2 part structural foam prior to crash testing. Left that job to take a Marketing position; was laid off four months into that job. Took a position at Wayne State University running Flow Cytometers and testing clinical/research samples. Did that for five years, and took a job in Field Applications for a start up out of Ann Arbor selling a new type of flow cytometer....did a lot of travel, doing demonstrations, pre and post-sales support, experimental design. Now, I am the salesman at a pretty big Biotech selling flow cytometers and antibodies to research institutions, pharma, CRO's, and so on.

The paths we take......it's been exhausting. You'll get there my friend.....even if you don't see the path right now. Try to enjoy the ride.

[xenxes]

My fiance's in med school, almost done with 2nd year and taking step 1 boards. Didn't get in the first year and had to work a temp job for a year. Competition is pretty fierce, but persistence eventually won out.

Some of our friends in med school are just doing it out of obligation and are fairly unhappy (not to perpetuate a stereotype, but a lot are Asian, some Jewish students too, following parental wishes). Do it if that's what you want to do with the rest of your life, otherwise save yourself $60k/year in debt and do something you love.

Off-topic but saw crazydaz's sig, I'm a Kiva lender too

[genomer]

I have my b.s. in Bio with a chemistry minor; I concentrated in physiology and zoology. My plan was to go to P.A. school, but my little guy came along and changed those plans...for a bit. Currently working in R&D for a smallish biotech company-molecular bio isn't my forte, but I'm capable and it pays the bills. Biology was the only option for me, ever. Nothing but science holds my interest for all that long.

Good luck on your quest!

[crazydaz]

Slight Threadjack

Xenses:

Tran....I don't know if you will find something that you "love." Every job has it's down side. I would "love" to run around being paid to do scapes for clients, a la Tom Barr or Jason Baliban, but the realist says that it won't pay the bills. Especially since I am in Middle Tennessee. Find something that will lead you to a job that you could enjoy aspects of....if you like to travel, you could try going the route that I did and do field testing for a biotech firm within a territory or region. I had a 22 state territory at one time, and covered everywhere from Fargo to Boston. I saw a lot of things.....and it is fun to meet new people in different states, or grab an authentic Irish whiskey from an authentic Irish pub in Beantown. It's tiring, especially if you are married or have kids. But, I'm not tied to an office desk either. You live in a very concentrated area of biotech between New York and Northern Jersey. There could be plenty of opportunity all around you. Have you looked at getting in contact with a recruiter or head-hunter? Would you be willing to relocated from Queens for the right opportunity?

If you go back to school, I would suggest another Bachelor's in Nursing. That's a very flexible degree....you could get into Clinical trial studies as a CRA or CRM, you could choose to work as a Pharm. Rep (they LOVE nurses!!), you could work as a nurse and pick your hours from anywhere around the country. My Dad had a friend that was a senior-level CRA....she worked 4 or 5 months out of the year, and pulled in close to half a million in income. She was never home during those months, and she had put in her time to become extremely reputable in the industry. Or, you could probably work in any clinical lab that you wanted to. So, that could be another avenue to pursue.

[wetworks]

Originally Posted by dr.tran

Do you plan to work as a professor? I'm only saying that because I think that would be your best bet.

Hahahaha too qualified for the job? I use to work retail and I remember there was this girl that was trying to get hired and she had her masters in psychology. So over qualified to sell clothes. She intimidated her managers. It was pretty cool.

I intend to finish my doctorate in the next few years (7 classes and my dissertation needed), then work in clinical psych. The MA in humanities was sort of just because. The pre-med degree was a wrong turn for me- that occurred before I really understood how the politics of psychiatric medicine and drug reps worked. Because I have two grad degrees I have been able to moonlight in the education field as an adjunct several times over the years- enough to know that I don't want to do it for a living. My education definitely stands in the way of most jobs, and, sadly only really qualifies me to teach. Poor planning on my part and perhaps not the best use of my GI Bill...