I'm graduating in 7 months and hate my major (Microbiology)

College Confidential Community
1

Hello! A little background first: I started school as a Biotechnology major, but then changed to Microbiology because I wanted to go to a school far from home and that was the closest thing to my original major that they had. Now, I find that I absolutely hate my major and that I would like to go into something else for graduate school. However, I just don’t know what. I’ve already done 2 REU’s in Ecology and decided that Ecology Research is not for me. I thought about getting an MS in Biotechnology, but I just don’t see myself working in a pharmaceutical industry (which is where I would most likely be employed due to my geographical location). I also considered getting an MPH in Epidemiology, but I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be able to get a good job in that area since, I’m in Puerto Rico and our healthcare system is just ridiculously messy. A masters in anything Biomedical is basically off the table also, because I’m not really that interested in it. I love opening up bodies and anatomy, however, I don’t think I could bear the responsibility of having someone’s life in my hands if I was a doctor… If you keep saying any other science-related careers, I will always find something to say that disqualifies it from being my ideal career. If I start looking outside of science, things don’t necessarily get easier. I considered law school because I enjoy knowing the system and being able to help people by guiding them through it, (Also, here in PR the job openings for lawyers are supposed to take off during the next 10 years), but I don’t really enjoy writing that much (which is also something that drove me off from becoming a research scientist). I’m also in Student Government at my university, and absolutely love what I get to do there,so I considered an M.Ed. in either Biology Education, Educational Leadership & Management or Counseling, being these last two the most appealing to me. However, I don’t know if I can really do anything with those without a teacher certification.

At the end of the day, I think that my real passions are music and education. I feel like I’m already too far from being able to have a career in either of those, but I don’t know if I should try to pursue them, either of them or just find something else that, at least, gives me enough free time to sing at night or something.

This is my dilemma, I like a lot of things, hate a lot of things, have a very versatile mind and don’t like specializing to much on anything. Can someone suggest me what options I should consider for grad school or a career in the long term?

2

It sounds to me like you could/would be happy and successful with some sort of educational / academic job. It’s not the most glamorous life but it should pay the bills and that looks like it should do for you. I’m no expert in the field sadly, but there’s plenty of them on here. Try posting on the forum below with some questions and your thoughts on it and explore your options there!

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/education-majors/

This reminds me a bit of my high school college counselor and senior English/Philosophy teacher: He taught only a single class and did college advising, and played in a relatively successful reggae band on the nights and weekends. He was one of the happiest people I’ve met and he did it all with a degree in Philosophy.

One thing is that yes, you can always find something that disqualifies something from being the ideal career, but do you need to be in your ideal career or one that allows you to pursue your broad range of interests and feel as if you have time to live?

Also, props for posting a very nice post with a lot of relevant info and thoughts on your situation - a lot of people come on here with similar concerns but yours is one of the better ones I’ve seen. I hope this all works out: it’s seems like despite your dilemma your head is on straight.

3

Take a look at your ( normally it would be “state”-- I’m guessing that Puerto Rico has its own??) education website under “teacher certification” and then “alternate certification” to see how to get from your current degree to state certification to teach high school.

Let me warn you though: ever wannabe doctor or nurse who ever changed his or her mind has looked at teaching biology. The job market can be tough.

Your odds of getting hired would be much, much higher if you could become certified in Chemistry and/or Physics. So take a look at how far you are from either of those two certifications.

For what it’s worth, I’ve taught high school since 1980, and there’s not another career in the world for me. I get such joy from my job!!!

4

You are definitely not too far into it to change to education. Education graduate degrees like Ed Admin don’t have prerequisites. You don’t need a teacher certification to get into one. And if you do want to teach there are 1 year science education master’s programs that will help you get certified.

Since you like the human body, you could go into something in healthcare that doesn’t require as much responsibility like nursing, radiation therapy, optometry, etc. Some of these would require a second undergrad degree or an AA instead of a higher degree.

5

You say you’d consider being a doctor but don’t want to have the responsibility of someone’s life in your hands? You like anatomy and dissection?

Have you considered med school and then specializing in forensic pathology? All your patients would already be dead.

6

You will rarely see me advise law school, but have you considered something related to intellectual property or patent law? With your love for anatomy, and the likely growth of bio-tech (is that even the right word?) maybe you could work in the medical device or pharma industry? If I remember correctly patent attorneys generally need a science background. I went to law school with a friend who had a Biology degree and then went into patent work. Got a great job right out of law school (though this was years ago). Not sure what the market is like now.

I missed my calling (teaching) so I love that idea too.

7

Microbiology jobs should be available in different industries, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, also medical labs.

I would maybe work for a while and see what you may like to do.

How about coroner, forensic science?

8

You remind me of my sister’s friend in college eons ago. She had majored in Computer Science, which was a new major back then in the 1980s, and she was graduating and going on to a lucrative job she already landed with an international company. Yet on graduation day she ways crying and saying, “I hate computers.”

Don’t worry! You have plenty of options. Even without a graduate degree, you can look for educational type positions at museums. For example, my daughter spent five years volunteering to staff educational carts at a natural history museum, and she reported to a staff person at the museum who had a science degree. There are numerous science museums, natural history museums and botanical gardens that all have educational components, and typically someone on staff who oversees that education.

There are also nonprofit groups that advocate for better environment, better food, etc., and you might find that your knowledge and skills are a good match for a position there. Also consider science writing – there are loads of print and online magazines about scientific topics geared toward the general public, and also those geared toward people in the industry. Hospitals have PR departments as well, and university science departments hire staff for all types of roles, including recruiting and grant writing.

Another graduate option is the Masters in Patent Law (the University of Minnesota is one place that offers this), which would prepare you to be a patent assistant and prepare patents or help with lawsuits relating to them. You could also just self-prepare for the patent exam and take that to launch a career in that area.

Foreign service is looking for people with a science background, so you could look at graduate degrees that help you prepare for this area. Georgetown is worth looking at, and also the University of Minnesota school of Public Affairs has a program that mixes science and government affairs. (Many universities I’m sure have such degree programs, but these are the ones I know of.)

Elected officials and government offices also sometimes hire people with a science background to help with legislation related to science and technology. Trade associations also do this, because they are always advocating for or against legislation, and need people who understand the issues.

You could also take exams in insurance to become an actuary, or in financial planning, or stocks, etc. These options would not require another degree – just self study. Or consider pharmaceutical sales, or other types of sales positions that use your knowledge. PR and ad companies might also consider you if they target STEM industries.

You could also look at the companies that offer after school and summer STEM programs, and see what kinds of jobs they have available, or become a self-employed tutor. Many people hire science tutors, and often pay a premium for them ($40 and up an hour).

Then there are national parks that hire people to deal with the public, and they often prefer someone with a science background who can explain the nature all around. Just start thinking creatively of all the possibilities that build on what you have already learned.

If you really can’t stand the idea of any science component whatsoever, and just want a complete change to music, then jot down all the possibilities based on your existing musical skills and where you want to take that. Just make sure you are not starting over with academics as a means to avoid entering the real world!

9

Become a Physician Assistant which is basically a doctor with less responsibility. You have a great background for it. Great salary.

10

Thanks for the input. I honestly had not thought that all I really need is a job that gives me the freedom to do other things that I like. Recently I’ve been considering switching to Medical Technology. However, due to the fact that I’m so close to graduation and need 3 specific classes that are offered in my school only once a year, if I try to switch to MT and they don’t take me, I’m pretty much screwed until next may.

I also checked the masters in education, but after really being explained about the job prospects with them and their real applications, I decide against pursing a masters in education.

11

I have also considered becoming a physician’s assistant however, here in Puerto Rico, PA’s are basically unheard of, and I’m pretty sure that there isn’t even a law regulating their practice.

Patent Law is another really interesting field to me. I just don’t know if I have the writing skills to be successful in it.