Worried about my biochemistry degree.

That line sounds like it came from a bitter medicine reject. Medicine is an applied science, without the pure biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, engineering, etc. medicine as we know it today would not exist. Think about all the latest technology used in hospitals, all the new "smart" gene therapies, etc. It's not the pill-prescribing "whitecoats" that are to thank for that, it's the scientists. I really don't understand why medicine and medics are held so high up on the pedestal considering that in the grand scheme of things they're really nothing more than "tools" (no offense) for scientists to execute their findings.

And finally that there are more posts available for honours graduates than there are for Masters because labs just aren't willing to pay for that level of expertise...

I think i love you.....

(even if i plan on going into medicine after i finish my pharm chem degree ^_^ )

I'm a Biochemist, and it was the best thing I ever did with my life. Medicine doesn't and can't exist without basic science. It takes an army of biochemists, biologists, synthetic chemists, and bioinformaticians to find even one potential drug target! I'm going into pharmacology, have my MSci done, and working towards my PhD. Whoever said you can't do much with a simple BSc is entirely correct. No-one will hire you for a research post without a PhD. Pharma companies used to take candidates with MSc degrees, but with the current decline in pharma investment, they only want doctors now.

Please don't give up on biochemistry, it's an amazing course. I wish I could explain properly in words how utterly beautiful biological chemistry is. The job situation will take care of itself eventually. You're not going to fail at life!

EDIT: Also, the person who said there are more jobs for BSc graduates than MSc graduates is, quite frankly, talking out of their ****. I looked for jobs after my BSc, and nearly every position mentioned that a MSc was desirable. MSc degrees are the difference between a failed application, and an interview. Most jobs that REQUIRE a scientific degree, WANT a Masters. They won't pay you extra for it, don't get me wrong. You'll get the same sort of salary as a BSc graduate, but you're more likely to get the job in the first place.

I've just finished my Biochemistry degree and it's true that there aren't many jobs out there. All the pharmaceutical and biotech companies are cutting back on research and the only jobs there are, are either lab tech jobs that only want A levels or jobs that require a PhD. I really don't want to do a PhD so I'm looking at doing a second undergrad degree in a subject with a much higher employment rate.

It is a really interesting subject and I enjoyed studying it but unless you're willing to do a PhD at the end there aren't very many jobs.

That line sounds like it came from a bitter medicine reject. Medicine is an applied science, without the pure biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, engineering, etc. medicine as we know it today would not exist. Think about all the latest technology used in hospitals, all the new "smart" gene therapies, etc. It's not the pill-prescribing "whitecoats" that are to thank for that, it's the scientists. I really don't understand why medicine and medics are held so high up on the pedestal considering that in the grand scheme of things they're really nothing more than "tools" (no offense) for scientists to execute their findings.

Now the thing about the job market being smaller for those with just a BSc is true, but this applies to all sciences. Also, a lot of how well you do in the job market is down to more than just the degree. Initiative, experience, contacts... you can start building all that on the day you get to campus.

I will start a biochemistry degree in a month as well and I am damn proud to be doing so!

I honestly don't know what to do anymore

If I do an MSc will it be a waste of time?

What is the degree may I ask?

I don't know of an MSc will be a waste of time. I haven't looked into post grad study because I struggled with my dissertation so I don't think I'd do well in an MSc or PhD.

The degree I'm thinking of doing is diagnostic radiography. The fees are paid by the NHS and they only take on as many people as they think they'll need in 3 years time, so most graduates get a job with the NHS very soon after they finish.

The degree for Biochemistry at Essex isn't acreditted but the biomedical sciences course there is. Should I go for Biomedical Sciences instead, does it have more job opportunities?

I intend to apply for my MSc at Imperial for Biochemistry and Science Communication and Oxford for MSc Biochemistry (as well as 4 medical schools but we'll leave that for another day). Would it be best if I just apply for a PhD rather than a MSc.

Is it true the biological scientists are paid the least out of all scientists?

Ok, it all depends on one question really: What do you want out of your degree? Do you want to go into medicine, since you talked about medical school applications, or do you want to go into pharmaceutical research?

If you want to go into medicine, an MSc won't help much. Your best best would probably be to see if you can transfer onto the accredited Biomed course at Essex. That'll provide more relevant modules to medicine, which'll look good on a med school application, and the accreditation means you can work in the NHS to gain hands on medical work experience for a year or so. Then, you'd have a pretty awesome med school application.

If you want to go into research, pharmacology, or academia (lecturing), the MSc is pretty much useless tbh. That's because you're not going to get far in that career unless you have a PhD, and if you get a first in your BSc, you can apply for a PhD straight, and forgo the MSc. That'll not only save you a year, it'll save you some cash too.

Now where it gets tricky is if you decide you want go into a very specific area of biochemistry. So for example, you may want to go into cell technology, or nanotechnology, or maybe synthetic chemistry. In that case, an MSc is really useful as a specialisation. Like for me, I did biochemistry, but because I did a joint hons with psychology, I missed out on key chemistry modules. Because I want to go into pharma, for which you need certain chemistry knowledge, I did a MSc in Drug Discovery and it opened up several options for me.

I hope that helps a little, but feel free to ask again if I didn't answer specifically about what you wanted to know.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?