For a student who is considering Neuroscience at UNC and UMD, which would you recommend picking? (student likes research but wants to get a job after college either in biotech or consulting - does NOT want to do med school, does NOT want to go the MS/PhD route).
Cost is about the same for the student, student would prefer to pick the option that has leads to better career path and opportunities. (student is considering a minor in Data Science, or a minor in Business).
Either.
UNC will likely be seen as more a “consulting” pipeline school - but consultants come in all shapes and sizes - so it depends what kind of consulting.
Given the major, the more likely outcome is a low paying role or grad school.
Here, for example, is the UNC career outcomes - with 83% working at a median salary of $39.5K and the following jobs.
UMD doesn’t show this info but likely similar.
Good luck.
| Research Assistant | 6 |
|---|---|
| Medical Scribe | 4 |
| Research Technician | 4 |
| Undergraduate Research Assistant | 3 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | 2 |
| Medical Assistant | 2 |
| Research Fellow | 2 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 1 |
| Clinical Research Assistant | 1 |
| Clinical Research Coordinator | 1 |
| Coach | 1 |
| Crew Member | 1 |
| Emergency Department Technician | 1 |
| Field Ambassador | 1 |
| Intern | 1 |
| Laboratory Teaching Assistant | 1 |
| Medical Assistant and Phlebotomist | 1 |
| Neuropsychologist | 1 |
| Neuroscience Specialist | 1 |
| Nurse Aide | 1 |
| Nursing Care Assistant | 1 |
| President | 1 |
| Project Manager | 1 |
| Registered Behavior Technician | 1 |
| Research Analyst | 1 |
| Research Pharmacologist | 1 |
| Research Scientist | 1 |
| Restaurant Server | 1 |
| Software Engineer | 1 |
| Strategy Analyst | 1 |
| Teacher | 1 |
| Teacher Assistant | 1 |
| Technical Specialist | 1 |
| Volunteer | 1 |
Many of the jobs listed above don’t require a bachelors degree…at all. I’m a little suspect that grads of UNC are doing jobs that require an associates degree or a certificate program. Is this accurate?
Is it possible that some of these folks are doing these jobs during a couple of gap eyes while preparing to apply to medical school or the like. Many of these students work as scribes, EMT, CNA, Medical Assistant, phlebotomist, volunteers.
Not sure how a grad would even be an undergrad research assistant.
Is this list for folks who have bachelors degrees in neuroscience?
You can ask UNC - but this is their data - yes, for grads.
You are talking about a major that really doesn’t relate to careers at the undergrad level. It’s not even a focused major - it’s interdisciplinary so less focus.
So there’d be no reason to doubt it - and don’t forget, many college students (especially those in an Arts & Science type major - end up in jobs technically not requiring a degree - although organizations often seek degreed students.
Here’s another - UVA from 2021-23, the average salary is under $37K.
Not a lot of grads but any school where I’ve seen neuro grads in database, it’s been similarly low salaries. I think it’s a more education type major.
It doesn’t mean OP can’t pursue their goals with it - but how does one explain it to an employer?
Collective Surveys (lightcast.io)
Career Data - Student Outcomes | UVA Career Center (virginia.edu)
Exactly. Which is why I don’t recommend someone major in neuro unless they’re positive they’ll be getting their MD or PhD.
Most entry level biotech roles require a bachelor’s degree, but a degree in biochem or biology will be more versatile than a neuro degree. Some (but not all) more senior biotech roles require a PhD. But honestly, it’s hard to break into biotech unless you start at the entry level. Neuro PhD’s with no industry experience even struggle to land senior roles.
A degree in data science or business is more employable. So one of those could be done as a double major (difficult). Or as a single major, along with a minor in bio/chem/neuro, coupled with some research/internships in the fields of interest.
There are many possible pathways into biotech or consulting, and a neuro degree is certainly one of them. But it’s not hard at all for me to believe the data about what neuro majors are doing after graduation.
My guess is that the jobs that are posted for neuroscience grads are for gap year positions and grads who are deciding what career path to pursue. There are many recent grads working in these types of jobs who plan to return to school.
If you major in neuroscience be prepared to go to grad school.
I know that UMD Neuro program is small. (DD considered and friends’ child considered it). Because of that friends’ child went to Pitt OOS. For DD it was not that big issue since she is firmly premed, but she went for private.
And as noted…many of the above listed jobs are for those with bachelors degrees who are taking a year or so to apply to these advanced degree programs.
I seriously doubt some of these are the final jobs/careers for many of these grads.
Either, but honestly, majoring in neuroscience as an undergrad, he has to have a plan for a way to earn a living, because an undergrad degree in neuroscience is not going to earn them a living wage.
If he does not plan to go into medicine, or get a PhD in neuroscience (and even with the PhD, he’d still have trouble finding a job), he’s going to have to do a career change to get a job. Probably better to major in Data Science, with a double in neuroscience or a minor in it, and plan for working in scientific stats number crunching for research facilities. And even then, he’ll need a graduate degree in stats.
But these are the jobs and salaries the schools are showing.
It may be as you say - I don’t know - but OP is planning to finish at the Bachelor level and is " prefer to pick the option that has leads to better career path and opportunities".
Obviously, nothing is absolute - but this major may not offer that - was my point earlier.
Interdisciplinary arts/sciences majors aren’t necessarily giving you hard skills that are needed for the real world.
This doesn’t mean OP shouldn’t study Neuroscience but they should at least know what the past outcomes have been so they can make an educated decision.
These jobs are very, very typical of the types of positions that new grads accept when they take gap years. Some are gaining additional experiences before applying to grad/med school…while others are deciding their next move and need some time…. For various reasons.
This is very, very common.
Also- I can’t seem to locate this job information.
I posted these two upthread. Where I pulled from. You may have to re populate if the neuro bachelor and year stil isn’t there. It seems to be though…at least UNC (I just checked). UVA looks like you’ll have to repopulate. I used all years (21-23) I think, Bachelor and the two majors that show neuroscience.
I couldn’t find UMD but thought UVA would be another validator for OP at least.
If you take a look at the organizations where they are employed it will add some context: UNC Health, Massachusetts general, Carolina Center for neurostimulation, pediatric dentistry, National Cancer Institute, UNC Children’s, Teach for America… etc.
At least 1 restaurant is in town, probably 2. This tells me that the students are staying at UNC while they figure out their next move.
This also tells me that most of these grads are planning to move on to some type of grad school. My UNC grad did TFA- it is very highly valued by med and grad schools (she wanted to do it for her own reasons). Then she was a CRC at a teaching hospital.
You may be right - but when you say they’re working on their next move - what about these kids that don’t apply to med or grad school or they plan to apply but don’t get in.
Then what?
We always read people saying most who go in pre-med either lose the desire or aren’t given the opportunity.
So while you may be right - what is the long term plan for most of these kids?
OP should consider that.
I mean, kids might want higher paid jobs - such as medical sales - even while they’re applying to med school, etc. although I understand some of these jobs are giving the experience they need.
I guess I’m saying I wouldn’t try to dismiss the data if that makes sense. The OP should consider it - if they truly end up with a Neuro major so at least they’re going in all eyes open.
It is common to work for a few years before applying. That is not unusual… at all.
The info you provided also included 2 financial institutions- not sure what that’s about.
Maybe these grads are applying somewhere, maybe they are figuring out a plan B… etc
I would not dismiss the data, but I think it’s important to look at the whole picture.
I also think most neuroscience majors end up in grad school.
Understood but it’s why OP needs to study. They didn’t say no grad school (maybe an MBA one day 
or law school - but said no Med or MS/PhD.
Of course, one may start in neuro and end up in - whatever major.
Good stuff - appreciate your insights.
Hopefully the discussion is helpful to OP.
My D was a neuroscience major (and econ minor) and works in investment banking (immediately after graduating undergrad.) She loves neuroscience/bio and the intersection with psych, but knew she didn’t want to work in a lab, or become a healthcare provider. She is happy she studied what she liked and generally it seems students who study what they like do relatively well across many dimensions (grades, happiness, quality of life, etc.)
I also know any number of undergrad neuroscience majors who are doing well in careers in clinical trial mgmt (at pharmas or hospital systems), research assistants/analysts, and pharma/biotech/med device/diagnostic sales.
For OP, I would let their student pick the school they like best in terms of vibe, location, classes offered in the major, research that profs are doing and the like, and less of a focus on outcomes. A minor in DS or business also makes sense. If the student does well at either school, they will likely have ample job opportunities.
My daughter actually worked in clinical trials with her bio degree.
I agree that the OP should pick the school he likes best!
I don’t believe this is helping the OP at all.
It’s very possible in these gap years, these bachelors are also formulating their plan b for if they don’t get accepted to professional or PhD programs. This is also very common with this population.
Also, developing relationships is often a good way for PhD applicants to move forward.
These jobs are very much in line with what many bachelors degree holders do during gap years preparing for med school or PhD applications. I would wager that many of these are not the permanent jobs these grads plan to keep forever. They are transition years jobs.
To @notnotnine i hope your student has chosen an undergrad school for what it offers to undergrads. Both UNC and UMD are fine choices. In undergrad school, your student will be able to hone in on their interests more. And both of these universities offer many options should they change their mind. Either one is an excellent choice.
My D was an OOS graduate of UNC 10 yrs ago with a biology degree. She actually held 3 of these jobs when deciding what graduate degree program to pursue. She was CNA(undergraduate), a CRA, and a CRC.
She is currently a clinical trial manager .