I'm so lost in Biochem Honors...

[sbin]

Hey all,

After coming back from my three month vacation, I started to panic about my decision of finishing what is seemingly useless Biochem honors program. I'm just finished my 1st yr, and wasn't anything that I have expected. just whole lot chemistry and biology integrated all together. Plus, seeing all the boring lab work that's ahead, I don't think I can surivive a life time of lab work as I'm more of a social person.

A few friends of mine suggests it's not too late to make the switch to Business considering I have only done my 1st year. Business is probably more interactive and make a bit more money in the long run, if I'm successful.

So what should I do?? I mean, I wanted to have a skill first, where it could be my back plan knowing that Business has it's up and down sides. Should I continue with my biochem degree, and get a after degree in business? So that at least I have a choice at end? Or should just completely drop biochem and focusing into business? By the way, I would prefer doing Accounting/Finance/Marketing in business.

Please!! Any suggestions or inputs are greatly appreciated!

[Time_Keeper]

Hey all,

After coming back from my three month vacation, I started to panic about my decision of finishing what is seemingly useless Biochem honors program. I'm just finished my 1st yr, and wasn't anything that I have expected. just whole lot chemistry and biology integrated all together. Plus, seeing all the boring lab work that's ahead, I don't think I can surivive a life time of lab work as I'm more of a social person.

A few friends of mine suggests it's not too late to make the switch to Business considering I have only done my 1st year. Business is probably more interactive and make a bit more money in the long run, if I'm successful.

So what should I do?? I mean, I wanted to have a skill first, where it could be my back plan knowing that Business has it's up and down sides. Should I continue with my biochem degree, and get a after degree in business? So that at least I have a choice at end? Or should just completely drop biochem and focusing into business? By the way, I would prefer doing Accounting/Finance/Marketing in business.

Please!! Any suggestions or inputs are greatly appreciated!


Hey bud;

I'm a biochemistry major too. What university are you at?

There has to be a reason you chose science in the first place. If it was money, pretty much science is a bad choice. If it is money, go to buisness, its not guarenteed there, but the average starting salary is better then science.

And to your comment about biochemistry being useless.
The new wave of everything is Biochemistry.
- a lot of sought after research is all enzymatic and proteonomic (enzymes and proteins)
- all pharmaceutical companies are doing enzyme and protein drugs
Biochemistry has a huge future. The top 2 programs in science that I feel have the biggest future would be Biophysics and Biochemistry.

Yeah, first year is boring, I hated it because I didn't like the courses, and I didn't want to start second year because i was taking 4 chemistry's and a biochemistry. Once I started that semester I realised that Biochemistry is nothing like biology OR chemistry.

However, there is a big problem with getting a great job right out of your undergrad. The most exciting jobs in science need some sort of graduate schooling. There is also a problem of faking your way through university (it's possible, believe me) just to get through it. If you feel you just want to get through your undergrad and be done with it, DO NOT GO INTO SCIENCE. As a science degree, you need to be fully happy with what you're doing. Business you'd atleast pick up some things that will help you after your undergrad.

Also, not all science degree's lead to lab work. In fact, not very many do. But if all lab work is boring to you, get out of science now. A lot of courses you'll take will include some hardcore analytical and organic chemistries, along with multiple types of biochemical labs.

[sbin]

Thank you so much for the comments!!

For Time_Keeper, I think I'm in a dilemma right now and very confused about biochemistry, I mean, I never actually liked the chemistry or biology, or any science related subjects for that matter. However, I'm scared to only get a BCom as it offers no sense of security of a stable job. But I do have a geniune interest in Business, and I think I will be successful in that field. So what's my best option?

1) Finish my biochem degree, then get a BCom after degree in Marketing/Finance.
2) Drop biochem for next year and only go into BCom.
3) ?????????:confused: :confused:

[Time_Keeper]

Thank you so much for the comments!!

For Time_Keeper, I think I'm in a dilemma right now and very confused about biochemistry, I mean, I never actually liked the chemistry or biology, or any science related subjects for that matter. However, I'm scared to only get a BCom as it offers no sense of security of a stable job. But I do have a geniune interest in Business, and I think I will be successful in that field. So what's my best option?

1) Finish my biochem degree, then get a BCom after degree in Marketing/Finance.
2) Drop biochem for next year and only go into BCom.
3) ?????????:confused: :confused:

If you don't really have much of an interest in science, don't finish it because you think job stability is better. It is most definatly not, atleast not that I know of. I only know about research (academia/health research like sick kids) and pharmaceuticals. Acadamia is always stable, but not many jobs, whereas pharmaceuticals, atleast at the moment, is crashing. I'm going to take an educated shot in the dark, but I think world wide, about 20,000 people have lost their jobs in pharmaceuticals because of them loosing money. Or as some will say, to make the CEO's richer.

I'd say, if you don't like science, go to Business. It may be a little bit more unstable in terms of the job market, but if you don't like science now, you probably won't later.

A thing to keep in mind, some people may say its hard to get a job, or that just something in general is hard, but they usually aren't working hard enough. If you work hard enough at something, you'll succeed no matter what.

Also, I HATE biology, with a passion. And I did hate chemistry until I reached 2nd year taking the harder chemistries. Biochemistry is very unlike both chemistry and biology. There's no reading and memorizing boring stuff with biology, but there's none of the chemistry type learning, where if you understand that type of question, you're good, not much memorizing.
Biochemistry is part understanding what's going on, and memorizing the basics. But mostly it's applying what you know to questions that you've never seen before.

Don't pick number one, whatever you do. Do one or the other. I don't think you meantioned what school you go to. If its U of T, from another thread, i understand it's pretty easy to get a double major. Or if you're somewhere else, most Biochemistry Degree's is a speciality or whatever U of T calls it, so that won't work.
I say your options are
1) switch to BCom
2) Try it out one more semester and see what you think.

What courses are you taking this fall btw?

[flygo]

Time_keeper gives some pretty good advice! I'd warn against one thing though:

The new wave of everything is Biochemistry.
Biochemistry has a huge future. The top 2 programs in science that I feel have the biggest future would be Biophysics and Biochemistry.

I listened to a talk recently where the guy gave a nice counter-example of this - his parents (in the 50's and 60's) both went into physics as undergrads, thinking it was the next big thing, and learnt russian thinking it was going to be English 2.0. You can probably guess how both those choices turn out.

But anyways, I'm in the biochemistry program at UofT (just finished 2nd year), and I can assure you biochemistry isn't just a blend of biology and chemistry, but it's surprisingly different.

For you, if you really like business and science to a degree, you can try the biotech, life science or pharaceutical industries. You get very little exposure to it in university (unfortunately), but there are some great job prospects in there that earn big bucks, provided you enjoy some field of science

[DeltasInTheSky]

Your options

1) Go through BioChem
- Who knows, maybe 2nd year you revitalize your love for biochemistry. You get amazing marks, go on to find the cure for cancer. On the other hand, maybe you flat out hate it, and you know it. End up wasting two, three even four years of your life to switch into Commerce. However, perhaps you lose your passion for education after all that torment and end up just flat out dropping out of school.
2) Go through BioChem and then get a BCom
- Spend four years getting the BSc, and only then do you get to start 1st year of probably a four (maybe three, cause of transfer credits) BCom. 8 years of your life..
3) Go through BioChem but get an MBA
This is a good idea, but you'll have to love BioChem to get the sufficient GPA for getting into an MBA program. If not...no idea.
4) Write off 1st year and get the BCom
You get to study Business, you love it so much - you have an amazing GPA, you feel confident and happy. Interview with a top bank, that's how she goes. Worst case scenario, you hate it - switch back to BioChem...


I hope this lays it out, anyone else have any options?

[Time_Keeper]

Time_keeper gives some pretty good advice! I'd warn against one thing though:


I listened to a talk recently where the guy gave a nice counter-example of this - his parents (in the 50's and 60's) both went into physics as undergrads, thinking it was the next big thing, and learnt russian thinking it was going to be English 2.0. You can probably guess how both those choices turn out.

But anyways, I'm in the biochemistry program at UofT (just finished 2nd year), and I can assure you biochemistry isn't just a blend of biology and chemistry, but it's surprisingly different.

For you, if you really like business and science to a degree, you can try the biotech, life science or pharaceutical industries. You get very little exposure to it in university (unfortunately), but there are some great job prospects in there that earn big bucks, provided you enjoy some field of science

Actually Biochemistry is almost guarenteed to have a bright future, atleast in research and pharmaceuticals. I can't speak for any other job market.
I'm actually working at a pharmaceutical company right now for co-op, and for the most part, all of the newer/younger scientists are biochemists. Companies are no longer hiring chemists because they don't know enough about proteins another other biochemicals.

The problem with physics though, is that you don't know anything about it until you have your Ph.D. Actually, scratch that. An auditor in my lab has his Ph.D in chemistry, while his colleuge has an English degree or Writing degree.

[Rishi]

I'm just finished my 1st yr, and wasn't anything that I have expected. just whole lot chemistry and biology integrated all together.
What did you think biochem was going to be?!?

[licious]

I was in a similar position going into university (kinda torn between science and business), so I opted to try both to figure out which I preferred. In first year, I took bio, chem, physics, calc and economics. Calculus was required for both business and science, so I figured that I would decide after first year what I wanted to follow up on.

Perhaps instead of doing such a specialized degree, you could take some business and science courses that you think you would enjoy. Just because you are taking science courses, it doesn't mean that you'll have to do a phd and work in a lab for next to nothing. Conversely, just because you do business in undergrad, it doesn't mean that you'll be some CEO making 7 figures. Just keep your options open and focus on figuring out what you would enjoy more.

[Sniper001]

Your options

1) Go through BioChem
- Who knows, maybe 2nd year you revitalize your love for biochemistry. You get amazing marks, go on to find the cure for cancer. On the other hand, maybe you flat out hate it, and you know it. End up wasting two, three even four years of your life to switch into Commerce. However, perhaps you lose your passion for education after all that torment and end up just flat out dropping out of school.
2) Go through BioChem and then get a BCom
- Spend four years getting the BSc, and only then do you get to start 1st year of probably a four (maybe three, cause of transfer credits) BCom. 8 years of your life..
3) Go through BioChem but get an MBA
This is a good idea, but you'll have to love BioChem to get the sufficient GPA for getting into an MBA program. If not...no idea.
4) Write off 1st year and get the BCom
You get to study Business, you love it so much - you have an amazing GPA, you feel confident and happy. Interview with a top bank, that's how she goes. Worst case scenario, you hate it - switch back to BioChem...


I hope this lays it out, anyone else have any options?
All those options are correct. Now, there are only 3 reasonable ones.

1) Stay in the biochem program and than pursue sciences or whatever.
2) Stay in the biochem program and once you finish get an MBA.
3) Drop out of biochem program and go into business undergrad (BBA/Commerce).

I, personally, feel you should do the second option if you decide to put your mind into it. You just need to ensure you are able to get the marks to get into an MBA program.

[licious]

All those options are correct. Now, there are only 3 reasonable ones.

1) Stay in the biochem program and than pursue sciences or whatever.
2) Stay in the biochem program and once you finish get an MBA.
3) Drop out of biochem program and go into business undergrad (BBA/Commerce).

I, personally, feel you should do the second option if you decide to put your mind into it. You just need to ensure you are able to get the marks to get into an MBA program.

Fair enough, but generally, people don’t get stellar marks in programs that they despise. The OP seemed to hate first year, so won’t it just be harder to excel as the material becomes more advanced and specialized?

Also, it seems like an MBA is the backup plan for anyone who hates their own program yet has delusions of grandeur. It’s my understanding that in order to get into a good MBA program (read: prestigious enough to justify the cost of doing the program) you have to have two years of relevant work experience. I’m not sure if the usual laboratory scut work will cut it…

[steevee]

Actually Biochemistry is almost guarenteed to have a bright future, atleast in research and pharmaceuticals. I can't speak for any other job market.
I'm actually working at a pharmaceutical company right now for co-op, and for the most part, all of the newer/younger scientists are biochemists. Companies are no longer hiring chemists because they don't know enough about proteins another other biochemicals.

The problem with physics though, is that you don't know anything about it until you have your Ph.D. Actually, scratch that. An auditor in my lab has his Ph.D in chemistry, while his colleuge has an English degree or Writing degree.

You seem to imply in your post that with a BS in biochemistry, you are capable of doing research in the pharmaceutical industry.

[helium]

Okay, so, what exactly can one do with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry?

I'm a biochemistry major as well but I'm looking into med school because I don't know what else I can do with such a major :S

[Time_Keeper]

Okay, so, what exactly can one do with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry?

I'm a biochemistry major as well but I'm looking into med school because I don't know what else I can do with such a major :S

If you're entertaining med school

Then consider grad school.

Grad school makes the jobs a lot more interesting.

You can go into
- Pharmaceuticals
- Government
- environment
- health
- General research
- Academia
- Commercial
- Bio-Nano Jobs

Basically biochemistry leads you to where ever any biological program does as well as all places that chemistry does, with the exception of material science and anything inorganic.

[sbin]

Hey Thank you so much guys!! Well, now that I have registered for my 2nd yr biochem courses, one thing rests my mind that I'll be staying in biochem for at least a another term. Maybe this yr will be much more interesting than 1st yr.

Like many of you have suggested, I'll keep a competitive GPA in biochem so that I could possibly get into MBA after getting my degree.

Thanks alot for your suggestions!!

[Time_Keeper]

Hey Thank you so much guys!! Well, now that I have registered for my 2nd yr biochem courses, one thing rests my mind that I'll be staying in biochem for at least a another term. Maybe this yr will be much more interesting than 1st yr.

Like many of you have suggested, I'll keep a competitive GPA in biochem so that I could possibly get into MBA after getting my degree.

Thanks alot for your suggestions!!

Mind if I ask what courses your taking/school your at?

Any chance its Guelph?
If it is I could sell you all your 2nd year first semester text books for pretty cheap. :)

[sbin]

lol!

TRUE RDF spirits! I LIKE! haha, but unfortunately not, I'm from UofA.

Thanks alot for your valuable insights!:)