[BeingCatherine]

I'm trying to decide which course to apply for and I'm pretty set on the life sciences but I can't decide which is a better course in terms of employment after graduating and which is a more interesting course (I know that just comes down to personal taste but it'd be good to see other people's opinions). If anyone is studying/wanting to apply for a life sciences course which one and why? I was considering biochemistry/psychology/maybe physiology but I dunno lol

[Jackkkkk]

Psychology for sure - you have the option to study hard science within in (neuroscience and biological modules). Ita the most Intereting as you link both genetics and biology to social organisation and society.

The carear prospects after seem far more appealing - remeber you will likely be working for 40/50 years !
Clinical, educational, neuroscience etc and also the opportunity to do further study in neuroscience (cognitive/clinical) or any other discipline related to psych !

Biochemistry etc is good but unless your really keen to work in a lab or pharmaceutical industries for the next 40 yrs don't do it !


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[BeingCatherine]

Thank you! Are you studying psychology?
I keep going between psychology and biochemistry really but I think psychology is probably better - i think lab work would get a bit boring :P but for psychology don't you really need a PhD to get a good job? And I was also thinking the work might get quite depressing

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by BeingCatherine)
Thank you! Are you studying psychology?
I keep going between psychology and biochemistry really but I think psychology is probably better - i think lab work would get a bit boring :P but for psychology don't you really need a PhD to get a good job? And I was also thinking the work might get quite depressing

I'm hoping to study it at uni from September (depending on results day aha ). To become a clinical or education pathologist you need to get a doctorate yes which is 3 years normally. These are normally funded by the nhs though but are competitive.
There are so many other routes though - you can go into health psychology and go into smoking etc and the gov to help promote health. There is marketing, behavioural economics, research etc !
There is a lot of stats involved so banking or finance is an option.
Take a look on the BPS website too!
I doubt any of it will get depressing - maybe clinical or forensic (working with criminals).
But if your interested in the more science aspects eg neuroscience of psychopharmacology then thats more lab work and I doubt you'll get depressed by that


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Pride]

oh no not psychology...

read a little psychology before you take somebody's word for it. It's not necessarily as fascinating as it sounds lol. It's a lot of reading and conducting of studies, not necessarily reading people's facial cues like they do on Big Brother. You might like it, just do your research before you apply or you'll be surprised

what are you interested in? I take it you do biology at a-level. Do you enjoy biochem elements of that? How about you check in prospectuses to check the topics on each course. Also, if you're thinking about career prospects, is it research you want to go into? (perhaps neuroscience, genetics) ecology? (perhaps zoology) lab work? pharmaceuticals? or an NHS career, applied healthcare stuff like podiatry, optometry etc...?

and with psychology, to get onto any psychology related jobs, you'll need to do further study. You might need to apply for a competitive masters program and/or doctorate, you might need work experience. Lots to think about

[BeingCatherine]

Aw cool where you hoping to study? thank you very much

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my HTC Desire

[oddsox]

(Original post by BeingCatherine)
I'm trying to decide which course to apply for and I'm pretty set on the life sciences but I can't decide which is a better course in terms of employment after graduating and which is a more interesting course (I know that just comes down to personal taste but it'd be good to see other people's opinions). If anyone is studying/wanting to apply for a life sciences course which one and why? I was considering biochemistry/psychology/maybe physiology but I dunno lol

Can I ask which uni you'll be going to?

Personally I study genetics, so I won't give an opinion because it'll probably be slightly biased... But any questions about genetics/ university of machester/ life sciences in general I'd be happy to answer. I've also taken mainly biochemistry and developmental biology units as my optionals.

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by BeingCatherine)
Aw cool where you hoping to study? thank you very much

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my HTC Desire

Hopefully Bristol if I get the grades aha ! Where are you looking at ?


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[nicatre]

Take at this point which course looks the most interesting to you, perhaps with the largest range of optional modules. You have plenty of opportunity to transfer to different disciplines once you graduate. I, for example, will graduate with a degree in Human Biology and will be applying to schools of psychology, biology, and medicine for PhD. A lecturer of mine is a specialist in structural biology with no undergraduate experience of the area.

It doesn't matter hugely at this point for your prospects, what matters is you achieve well and are determined and passionate about what topics you wish to move on with.

[rattusratus]

i have an offer for biomed but i know exactly what i want to do.... im going to be a viral epidemiologist for the HPA (if everything works out )

but im glad i waited, god only knows where id be if i rushed into uni when i was young - i would of probably ended up in either music, beauty or health and safety (just because i love music but im crap at it or the other two looked easy) when i was 20 and decided to start trying for uni i was very set on zoology (which i still love) but realized quickly there are no practical jobs at the end of it, then i set my hopes on biotechnology (which would be my back up plan in life now) and then virology

dont rush a decision think it through, look through jobs and pick the one you want and then see what you need to get it, also consider courses where you dont have to specialize instantly so you have longer to think over your options

hope that helps

[graddentist'13]

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
Psychology for sure - you have the option to study hard science within in (neuroscience and biological modules). Ita the most Intereting as you link both genetics and biology to social organisation and society.

The carear prospects after seem far more appealing - remeber you will likely be working for 40/50 years !
Clinical, educational, neuroscience etc and also the opportunity to do further study in neuroscience (cognitive/clinical) or any other discipline related to psych !

Biochemistry etc is good but unless your really keen to work in a lab or pharmaceutical industries for the next 40 yrs don't do it !


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I know at least a dozen psychology graduates (mainly through work) who have all said job prospects aren't great following graduation. For some reason most want to go into clinical psychology, but you need experience and vacancies are rare. The ones I know have either gone on to do mental health nursing or a masters in neuroscience etc.

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by graddentist'13)
I know at least a dozen psychology graduates (mainly through work) who have all said job prospects aren't great following graduation. For some reason most want to go into clinical psychology, but you need experience and vacancies are rare. The ones I know have either gone on to do mental health nursing or a masters in neuroscience etc.

Yeah I know it's ridiculous how competitive post graduate professions In psychology are ! However someone's got to do it and get in
A higher percentage do get into post grad courses from Russell group universities (which may be flaw in the system but that how it is) - that said the stats are only around 20-25% entering further study. But, lots of options outside psychology are available.
I think what's more important that the public, or lay person may not understand is the level of statistical training that psychology degrees provide especially experimental courses (eg Oxford and Bristol). More so psych has a name in society for being quite a week discipline however once you actually look at graduate possibilities a 'good' degree in the subject from a good uni can lead to an array of options !


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[hjradley1]

In personal opinion, I love psychology. I've started reading books from my reading list and it's just fascinating. My mum is also a psychiatrist and her job is really interesting. Although its a difficult subject and the career prospects often depend on you having something to make you 'stand out' I.e lots of experience etc. I couldn't imagine myself pursuing any other career path!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[jukebox123]

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
Psychology for sure - you have the option to study hard science within in (neuroscience and biological modules). Ita the most Intereting as you link both genetics and biology to social organisation and society.

The carear prospects after seem far more appealing - remeber you will likely be working for 40/50 years !
Clinical, educational, neuroscience etc and also the opportunity to do further study in neuroscience (cognitive/clinical) or any other discipline related to psych !

Biochemistry etc is good but unless your really keen to work in a lab or pharmaceutical industries for the next 40 yrs don't do it !


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

You are very unlikely to get a job with psychology, therefore I'd strongly recommend not studying it at university. I know people who finished their psychology degree 3-5 years ago, and they still don't have jobs.

[kevin s]

I picked biological sciences for my uni course and its the same as biology just without all the ecology crap :P which was the bane of the course at alevel, but this was due to my preference towards cellular/genetic parts of biology but I didnt want to specialise too early as I wanted to learn more about the subject as a whole.

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by jukebox123)
You are very unlikely to get a job with psychology, therefore I'd strongly recommend not studying it at university. I know people who finished their psychology degree 3-5 years ago, and they still don't have jobs.

It must depend where you study psychology.
Hopefully I'll be going to Bristol and I'm sure you'll agree this looks promising http://www.bris.ac.uk/careers/grads/...ats/psyc10.asp

Only 2 people unemployed 6 months after graduation in 2010

Plus above average amount of people entering post graduate courses


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[graddentist'13]

(Original post by jukebox123)
You are very unlikely to get a job with psychology, therefore I'd strongly recommend not studying it at university. I know people who finished their psychology degree 3-5 years ago, and they still don't have jobs.

A lot of psychology applicants and students don't seem to accept this for some reason. Yes, it might be an interesting subject but job prospects specifically relating to psychology are poor. When the health care services make cuts, mental health is normally on the top of the list to start with. But, nowadays you can go into jobs by just having any degree (doesn't necessarily have to be subject related) so I guess they can also go into stuff like HR, management etc.

[graddentist'13]

(Original post by Jackkkkk)
It must depend where you study psychology.
Hopefully I'll be going to Bristol and I'm sure you'll agree this looks promising http://www.bris.ac.uk/careers/grads/...ats/psyc10.asp

Only 2 people unemployed 6 months after graduation in 2010

Plus above average amount of people entering post graduate courses


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Yes, but I know psychology graduates working as band 2 support workers in the NHS, they'd come under ''full time work'' in the graphs you've posted.

[crazy_heva]

I studied biological sciences at leeds and it is a mix of microbiology, biochemistry, biomed, genetics etc. You pick what to specialise in for 2nd and 3rd year so i did medical related topics. Now about to start a phd in medical engineering although my project will likely be immunology based.

As long as ypu choose modules and topics not too different in final year when you study 4 out of 10 possible choices for each module. Like i picked immune evasion, innate immunity, adaptive immunity for one module. Emerging viruses, molecular biology of viruses and sexually transmitted infections in another.

I was unsure what to do for undergrad but this gave me time to pick my strengths and interests. The best thing to do is check course content because many unis have a more ecology based biological sciences course but at leeds biomed is more restrictive and less biochem content.

Just remember not everyone wants to do postgrad or continue in science so sometimes those figures dont mean only x% got in and 100% applied. Doing a summer or year placement will greatly increase your chances or a masters or phd place. Mine was office based and still its been key in getting my place.

All confusing i know! Good luck!c

[Jackkkkk]

(Original post by graddentist'13)
Yes, but I know psychology graduates working as band 2 support workers in the NHS, they'd come under ''full time work'' in the graphs you've posted.

But they didn't graduate from bristol in 2012 did they? so they are not in that graph

Anyhow maybe I'll just have to settle for a band two support worker such is life


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App