I do think that majoring in biology provides a great return on
investment for the university system. I do think our advisors misled us
quite a bit. Let say that you are premed. You can still major in medical
technology, nursing or something else, take all of your prerequisites
and still become a great medical school candidate. Now, let say that due
to some circumstances, you have to take
a couple of years off, your friend who majored in nursing or medical
technology would be making good money working at a hospital or a lab,
respectively, while you, who majored in just biology, finding yourself
struggling to even land an entry level position.
Here is how it is now.
Student: advisor, I need to go to medical school.
Academic Advisor: Well, the most popular degree now is biology or biomedical sciences.
Student: OK. Should I major in biology then?
Advisor: You should.
Student: Ok. I will. What classes will I need to take.
Advisor: I will prepare you a degree map.
HERE IS HOW I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
Student: advisor, I want to pursue a career in medicine.
Honest Advisor: You know something, most students do major in biology.
The problem is that sometimes, some students do not go right away to
medical school. They decide to take a couple of years off. Now, if this
student want to work as a biologist, it would be very difficult because
they do not have enough hands-on experience. We have others alternatives
for you. We have degree X (medical technology or nursing, for
instance), which you can also choose while still fulfilling your premed
per-requisites. These programs lead to licensure, which looks very good
when you want to take some times off but work in a health science job.
And, the starting salary is great too.
But, the reality is you
would probably the last person that this "honest/quality advisor" would
advise because the department chair would fire him or her because she
could not meet her department recruitment quotas.
Enough of
this biology nonsense MARKETING TOOL. Don't become part of STATISTICS.
Folks, be smart about your career. Take responsibility of your own
destiny. Nowadays, universities are inventing all kinds of degrees. No
degree is promising you acceptance to graduate school. If you are going
to spend money in a degree, please ask yourself, what if you decide to
change your career path? What if you want to work right after graduating
in job that relates to your four-year degree? How is the job market for
your 4-year degree? If you struggle to answer those questions, you need
to consider a degree that leads to a license or certification because
employers are not looking for diploma, they need licensed and
experienced professionals.
Don't become a victim of the
MARKETING strategy that the university system is using. You will find
yourself struggling to repay massive student loans while working a low
paying job that can barely be used to pay your car insurance.
My advice is that when you go to see your advisor for the first time,
don't just walk there without having a pile of questions to ask. Be
smart about your questions. Take control of your destiny. PLEASE AND
PLEASE do not let your advisor choose your career. You should have
already been researching your degree way long before you show up at your
advisor's door. One more think, please DO NOT listen to all the crap
they have to say about the most popular degree. You need to focus on
what is best for you. Do you want to work at McDonalds after 4 years of
biology/biomedical sciences or do you want to work in a hospital or a
lab or a research facility with a good paying salary?????
This is my advice to all of you out there entering the corrupted university system that is out there.
Wedlin Sainval, M.S.M.S
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