Biology major

[AHeartLikeHis]

Is majoring in Biology a bad idea? The reason I ask is that I really would love to teach college Biology, but not sure how common finding a job as a college professor is....

My other choice is nursing...

[Marian]

Teaching college biology means getting a PhD in biology. This involves extensive independent research and a lot more years in school than a nursing career does. Also, not everyone who completes a college biology major successfully is a viable candidate for graduate school. One has to have a good GPA, good scores on the GRE (the graduate school equivalent of the SAT) and usually, some significant undergraduate research experience.

How do you feel about that? Does research appeal to you? Does spending perhaps five years in graduate school after obtaining your college degree seem OK to you, or do you think you might find it a burden? And how would you feel if you completed the biology major but turned out not to be PhD material? Would you be able to find other career paths that would interest you, or would you regret that you hadn't chosen nursing instead?

If you can think through your answers to these questions, it might help you to make a decision.

Edited to add: If biology still does appeal to you, don't worry about the cost of graduate school. Most graduate students in PhD programs have teaching or research assistantships, which pay their tuition and provide them with a (barely adequate) stipend to live on. So you wouldn't have to pay for graduate school, although you would have to live on a tight budget while you're there.

[WayOutWestMom]

The poster above is absolutely correct, but there is a point or two I will add.

There are many more biology Ph.D.s graduated every year than there are college teaching positions available--even counting positions at small teaching colleges.

Once finished your Ph.D, unless you are superstar, have great connections or have gone to a tippy-top program (and these things are themselves not guarantees of success), you will probably end up in postdoctoral program first. Or maybe twice or three times. A postdoc is typically for 2 years and pays a stipend which covers your [frugal] living expenses. The other possibility is that you may become an instructor or adjunct faculty. These are like full or part-time temporary professors. An adjunct teaches, but usually will not have an on-going research program. Adjuncts/instructors are non-tenured tracked and are typically hired on a year-to-year basis. They are paid a modest salary and usually have no benefits unless they are full-time. They may stay at the hiring college for many years--or they may be let go the next year. I know some 'academic gypsies'--individuals who move on to be non-tenured faculty at a different university every couple of years.

I am not trying to discourage you. I'm trying to inform you. College professorships in biology are extremely competive. Have a Plan B in the back of your head.

D of a friend who graduated w/her UG molecular bio degree from MIT, and is finishing her PhD in at Berkeley is now looking for a new career track because she doesn't want to be 35 or 40 before she finds her first permanent job. She's 27 right now....

[crm86]

I would suggest that you go to the career center at your school and talk to them about what people do with a Biology degree. You might hear some good ideas for your "Plan B."

I have a dual degree in Zoology and History (don't ask!) and work in instructional design. My most recent project was creating a multi-media elementary science curriculum. I've done other projects in education and for corporations. It's not something I would have known about as an undergrad, but it is perfect for me.

[mathmom]

DH did a biology PhD. He did his post-doc in Germany and we probably felt richer then than at any time since! I know few people who work as hard as my husband. His teaching duties are minimal, but he seems to either be writing grants or evaluating other people's grants, or writing papers, or evaluating other people's papers during all his free time. He comes home and is on the computer for another 2-3 hours every day. I know a fair number of people who have gotten tired of the routine and have gone into industry or have become patent lawyers. I also know at least one bio PhD. who teaches at our local high school. He was a wonderful AP Bio teacher and makes a pretty decent salary.

[Masquemom]

If you truly want to teach at the college level, nursing professors are very much in demand. Think about whether you're more interested in people/patient contact vs research. Whether you want to go into a Biology major, nursing, or any type of pre-health, at many schools you'll all start out in the same biology and chemistry classes.

[Marian]

Masquemom's suggestion is quite inspired.

It is entirely possible that you could combine your interests in nursing and teaching. Not only are there people who teach at nursing schools at universities, there are also nurses with advanced training and experience who teach, orient, and supervise new nurses hired in hospitals.

However, being a biology major in college is not necessarily a dead end. I was a biology major, and I ended up with a career in science writing that I like very much.

[Biomom2B]

I really didnt realize how beneficial biology was in our everyday life. It truly is a huge part of our life. When my daughter started studying biology I just took it as another science class and also found out that there are a lot more jobs available with a biology degree than I ever I imagined. She is a biology major and has a great highly rated job in Kansas. She loves her work and the employees she works with. I wish you all the best. Oh I almost forgot, when she was earning her degree she went through a couple specific sites and I can only remember one of them but I thought the information on it might help anyone of you out.

Have a great day!

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