Careers of Biology..?

Question

Hi, I have been intrested in studying biology for a long time, ever since I can remember, but since this is my last year in HS, I am wondering if you could help me with something. My parents do not have enough money, so I would like to know out of all these, which one requires less schooling (not really less schooling, but something that I can attain a master's in), yet pays well:

-Geneticist (Human genetics)

-Pediatrician

-Wildlife Biologist

-Biological scientist

-Micro Biologist (Food or medicine)

-Study abroad (any thing pretaining to Biology)

Answer 1

You could be a pharmacist...there are now a few pharmacy schools that accept students right out of high school.  It is usually a 6 year program and they typically make over $100,000 a year.

Answer 2

well, you're going to have to get your BS first for any of those and that will cost money, but you can do what I did and do the student loan route.  Unfortunately, I that probably won't get you that far. Then if you want to go the masters route you'll want to get a job where they'll pay for that.  If you want to do the PhD then you can find a school that will pay you a stipend to do it.  I make a pretty decent money just for being a grad student.

Answer 3

Get a scholarship and don't worry about money.

There are millions of dollars out there for people like you.

I have had dozens of students with no money who were economically disadvantaged and who's parents did not attend college at all.

They have gone on to be doctors,  dentists,  geneticists,  engineers -- some from prestigious schools like Rice and Duke.

There is money out there where you won't have to pay a dime.  You have to want to put in the hard work though.

Answer 4

You could be a genetic counselor with a master's degree, which would take about 6 years.  All of these fields would require a four year undergraduate degree in biology.  If you go to a school with a big department you might be able to get an undergraduate degree in a specific field of biology, such as botany, zoology or neuroscience.  A degree in biochemistry and/or molecular biology is sometimes offered as a joint program between biology and chemistry departments.  While 4 years is considered the standard for undergraduate degrees, in reality it increasingly takes people 5 years to complete an undergraduate program and this is not generally frowned upon or considered bad.  After that you could enter a master's level program to become a genetic counselor, which is someone who works with people who have been diagnosed with a genetic disorder or have some other medical issue relating to genetics.  You would probably work with doctors and nurses as part of the health care delivery system.

Here are some links with more information about the career of genetic counseling.  Genetic counselors are not geneticists who carry out research or perform lab work.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_n...

http://www.nsgc.org/career/

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Hu...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_cou...

Becoming an academic or research biologist almost always requires a Ph.D., though people with master's degrees do teach at some four year schools and at two year (community).  PhD programs usually take at least 4 years and could take longer depending on your research project.  Some people get a 2 year master's degree and then go on to an additional 2+ year program to get their PhD, while others enter PhD programs right out of undergraduate school.  There are pros and cons to either approach.  If you know you want to complete a PhD at a particular institution or in a particular field there may not be any benefit to getting a master's degree first.  A 2 year program is less of a commitment and many people decide to get their PhD in a different field; you might get a BS in general biology, an MS in cell biology and then decide you want to get your PhD in botany.  Geneticists, biological scientists/biologists, and microbiologists are generally people with PhDs.  Depending on what you want to do exactly as a wildlife biologist you may or may not need a PhD.  Some people are hired as "naturalists" for zoos and parks with only a bachelor's degree in biology.

Pediatricians are physicians who attend four years of medical school after their undergraduate degree and then complete 3 years of additional training in pediatrics before taking a licensing exam.  You would earn either the MD or DO degree.  Pediatricians can further specialize in things like pediatric psychiatry or pediatric cardiology or practice general pediatrics.  US medical schools generally have the same requirements, and while they do not require a specific major, many applicants major in biology or chemistry to meet the prerequisites.  The required courses include general biology and chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and calculus.  Some require additional specific courses in biology like biochemistry or physiology.  To get a biology major at most schools you will have to take these same courses, though med school might require a little more math and physics than the undergrad biology program at some schools.  It is possible to take these courses and then major in something completely unrelated that interests you, or another "human science" like psychology, anthropology or sociology, which might come in handy as a doctor.

You can probably study abroad during your undergraduate program.  If you want to work overseas or in exotic places like the wildlife biologists on TV you would probably need at least a master's degree.  Of course you can do plenty of field work without being on TV :)