Is a Biology degree useless?

I've applied for Biology at Bristol, Bath, Nottingham, Newcastle and Sheffield (no offers yet though). I love the subject, especially more zoology based topics. I really do want to go to uni, I think I would regret it if I didn't, but I'm starting to worry about job prospects at the end of it! I haven't applied for a master's, but I have had people telling me you should do a master's if you do a science degree. Would I not be able to do this now? I wasn't sure if you could decide at the end of the three years or not, I didn't want to be tied down to the four years so I never considered it.

I wouldn't really be able to do a different degree with my subject choices and I don't know what I want to do later on in life. I'm already on a year out so applying for next year/doing more A-levels isn't an option. My other option was to do foundation art then a graphic design/illustration degree but would this be even more pointless? I can easily carry this on during a Biology degree, and I don't think I would get as much out of an art degree.

Is a Biology degree pointless? I know many look at it as the easiest science and not valuable, but this is probably coming from chemists, physicists and mathematicians? My reasons for doing it are I want to go to uni for the experience, I don't know what else to do and I would like to learn more about the subject. I just want to be reassured that I'm doing the right thing. :confused:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 1

username1044970

18

I was told the exact same thing when I said I wanted to do physics. Sure, I could probably be better off with an engineering degree, but science degrees (even up to BSc) still open up a lot of doors. I know it sounds cheesy, but do what you find ENJOYABLE. Besides, a biology degree is not pointless at all. Biology as a field of science is very diverse, and it branches into many interesting areas.

If you really wanted to do a masters, I'm pretty sure you can switch from BSc to MSci by the end of your 2nd year provided that you score highly on appropriate modules. But it's probably to early to be thinking about masters at this point since you've yet to come across all the specialism options at uni level.

Good luck :smile:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2

TheGameOfScience

16

i hope it isn't, as i want to study biology as well, i really liked chemistry as equally as biology but i chose biology :tongue:

any of the main science degrees (bio, chem, physics and even biochemistry) is useful the only difference is physics and chem are more math orientated and requires more mathematical problem solving so therefore shows more numerical ability than a biology degree, therefore it has higher job prospects, but that's not to say a bio degree is useless, i mean a biology degree is still higher than many other degrees in terms of job prospects certainly more than any art degree or general business degree.

Reply 3

username1221160

19

A biology degree will leave you no more or no less employable than most other degrees if you are just seeking general employment after your degree. Granted, you will not have the same level of mathematics skills as physics/maths students, but that will only be significant factor in a small number of jobs.

If you want to stay within biology as as a career, there is no shortage of job opportunities if you do well at university. There are also plenty of postgraduate options, with more PhDs being available in life sciences than in other subjects.

For universities that offer MBiol degrees, you can generally switch to it half way through your degree, depending on your marks at that point.

As the poster above said, do what you will enjoy at university. You'll probably get the best university experience that way.

Reply 4

arainyday

OP

Original post by Dima-Blackburn

I was told the exact same thing when I said I wanted to do physics. Sure, I could probably be better off with an engineering degree, but science degrees (even up to BSc) still open up a lot of doors. I know it sounds cheesy, but do what you find ENJOYABLE. Besides, a biology degree is not pointless at all. Biology as a field of science is very diverse, and it branches into many interesting areas.

If you really wanted to do a masters, I'm pretty sure you can switch from BSc to MSci by the end of your 2nd year provided that you score highly on appropriate modules. But it's probably to early to be thinking about masters at this point since you've yet to come across all the specialism options at uni level.

Good luck :smile:

Physics is really really hard though, Biology is always looked down on!

I have no idea about the MSci, I just wanted to avoid committing to four years! Hopefully once I get offers I can find more info about this but I can't seem to find any right now if you applied for a BSc and wanted to do the MSci. MSci is normally higher entry requirements too eg AAA instead of AAB, would I still need the AAA if I switched? What are you doing/did you do?

Reply 5

username1044970

18

Original post by arainyday

Physics is really really hard though, Biology is always looked down on!

I have no idea about the MSci, I just wanted to avoid committing to four years! Hopefully once I get offers I can find more info about this but I can't seem to find any right now if you applied for a BSc and wanted to do the MSci. MSci is normally higher entry requirements too eg AAA instead of AAB, would I still need the AAA if I switched? What are you doing/did you do?

'Hard' is subjective. I personally found biology a lot harder than physics and maths because I'm not good at remembering huge chunks of qualitative descriptions. Biology is only looked down in shows like The Big Bang Theory :tongue:

, but seriously only arrogant fools look down upon other people.

I'm studying Theoretical Physics BSc at Uni of B'ham, but I have the option to switch to the 4-year undergrad course (MSci) if I get good results across all the modules. I applied for the 3-year course (AAA entry requirements at that time) for the same reason everyone else does: the entry requirements are lower. So no, you don't need the AAA if you decide to switch whilst at uni. Don't wouldn't worry too much about the whole BSc vs MSci thing.As I said, you can always switch up (or down for MSci people) if your results are good.

Reply 6

arainyday

OP

Original post by Dima-Blackburn

'Hard' is subjective. I personally found biology a lot harder than physics and maths because I'm not good at remembering huge chunks of qualitative descriptions. Biology is only looked down in shows like The Big Bang Theory :tongue:

, but seriously only arrogant fools look down upon other people.

I'm studying Theoretical Physics BSc at Uni of B'ham, but I have the option to switch to the 4-year undergrad course (MSci) if I get good results across all the modules. I applied for the 3-year course (AAA entry requirements at that time) for the same reason everyone else does: the entry requirements are lower. So no, you don't need the AAA if you decide to switch whilst at uni. Don't wouldn't worry too much about the whole BSc vs MSci thing.As I said, you can always switch up (or down for MSci people) if your results are good.

It frustrates me that a lot of people associate hardness of a subject with the level of maths involved! I don't have a mathematical mind :tongue:

Although I actually took Physics A-level without Maths and I got an A at AS and a B overall which I suppose is alright!

Hopefully I will have the option like you do to switch to MSci once I know what I want to do.

Thanks! Good luck with your degree.

Reply 7

SheriB

9

Original post by Dima-Blackburn

'Hard' is subjective. I personally found biology a lot harder than physics and maths because I'm not good at remembering huge chunks of qualitative descriptions. Biology is only looked down in shows like The Big Bang Theory :tongue:

, but seriously only arrogant fools look down upon other people.

I'm studying Theoretical Physics BSc at Uni of B'ham, but I have the option to switch to the 4-year undergrad course (MSci) if I get good results across all the modules. I applied for the 3-year course (AAA entry requirements at that time) for the same reason everyone else does: the entry requirements are lower. So no, you don't need the AAA if you decide to switch whilst at uni. Don't wouldn't worry too much about the whole BSc vs MSci thing.As I said, you can always switch up (or down for MSci people) if your results are good.

Your previous posts gave me a little more confidence in the course I applied for. Thanks

Reply 8

neuroninety

I wouldn't say it's useless! While some people feel it isn't quite as "well- respected" or "useful" as vocational subjects like medicine, psychology, law or dentistry/vetmed, it's still interesting and not too strenuous at all work wise :P I have friends studying it and they seem to enjoy it, so do what makes you happy. By contrast, I have psychology/medic friends who are miserable due to their work load, and feel "stuck" doing a vocational degree. Biology can in fact up many doors!

Is a Biology degree useless?

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