General Advice

What can I do with a Biology degree?

I had an sophomore advisee, a 'straight' biology major, come in to my office on one occasion, and he asked me quite exasperatedly, "What can you do with a degree in biology other than be a doctor or a teacher?"  This student loved biology, but he didn't want to do either of the two options he knew about.  He was facing a decision point, and the answer he got would in large part determine whether he stayed in biology or not.

And I got an education right then also.  Several students also told me that the reason they went into biology was to become a doctor, and part of their motivation for being a doctor is because they did well in High School, and various figures in their lives encouraged them to be a doctor.

They know they have to go to medical school after college, and that they have to take a test (many know the acronym: MCAT) to get into medical school.  They also have a good idea that graduation from medical school is not the end of their formal 'training', and that they still have several years of residency ahead of them from that point.  So in general, most students coming in to our department have a good deal of knowledge about how to become a doctor.  

What they don't know enough about, are the other things that they can do with a biology degree.  Other than various types of medical schools, here is a short list of some of the fields you can go in to with a biology degree:

bulletGraduate Schools - leading to research positions in academia, industry or government, or into college-level teaching.
bulletAgricultural Science
bulletAgronomy
bulletBiochemistry
bulletBotany
bulletCellular Biology
bulletEcological Studies
bulletEnvironmental Studies
bulletFood Science
bulletForestry
bulletGenetics
bulletHorticulture
bulletImmunology
bulletMicrobiology
bulletMolecular Biology
bulletMycology
bulletPlant Pathology
bulletPoultry Science
bulletVeterinary Medicine
bulletZoology
bulletAllied Health professions - most of these opportunities require additional, specialized schooling.
bulletDentistry
bulletMedical Technician
bulletNursing
bulletOptometry
bulletPhysical Therapy
bulletPhysician Assistant
bulletPodiatry
bulletSecondary Education 
bulletPublic school systems - these usually require teacher certification in your subject area
bulletPrivate schools - often don't require teacher certification
bulletDirectly into a job in Academia, Government or Industry
bulletmany technician-level positions are available at the bachelor's level
bulletminimal amounts of responsibility (compared to positions requiring more formal education)
bulletincludes laboratory and field work
bulletmany technicians go back to graduate schools after working a 'spell'

How do I decide what I should do after college?

bulletPray about it
bulletRealize you can change your mind.  Many students are unsure what their major ought to be when they come to college.  Others change their mind once they arrive.  It's best to settle on a major before you start your junior year.  Later decisions than that usually mean extra semesters to pick up all the required courses.
bulletGet informed about what options there are.
bulletDon't rely on just one source of information.  Ask around.  This is the same advice you've probably heard in other settings.  Perhaps you've heard it said about medical advice: 'get a second opinion'.
bulletFollow your interests and your strengths - these are gentle hints of what our God has in mind for you.  But of course, you will not be able to thwart the will of God - the Bible makes that plain.