Switching to biochem from natsci- is it a good idea careers wise?

So basically I’m thinking to ask to switch from a natsci to biochem degree because I’ve heard that most employers don’t actually value it that much and if I’m going to be putting my self through so much more stress what’s the point?

I originally picked it to keep my options more open about which career I’d go into. For example I was thinking that I would have liked to be a formulation chemist and come up with new medicines but then I also liked the idea of going into medical research. Although I’ve heard that i might not be able to apply to be a clinical scientist or grad med or engineering schemes because my degree is too broad. IS THIS TRUE????

Therefore would switching to biochem be a better idea? I still get to learn about organic chem but also focus on the medical and human bio side.
It would mean I can’t be a formulation scientist/ drug development anymore as you need to learn synthetic organic chem but apart from that aspect of chemistry (aswell as thermodynamics and rates) I don’t think I find it as exciting as biochem.

But then again Chem does open up more doors than bio coz it has more maths in it. Idk I might be wrong because they don’t teach us about job roles at college which I think they should. And a lot of stuff online Is so unreliable.

I basically don’t want to end up jobless. I’m academically smart but I don’t have any knowledge of life after academics. So it’s difficult can anyone help give me an insight into careers? It’s so hard to decide at this age.

Hi!! Sorry, I don't really have advice, but I'm literally in the exact same boat as you. I initially got an offer for economics but decided a few days ago to transfer into natural science cuz I'm good at the sciences and I actually don't know anything about econ, but I think I just went from a really employable degree to one that is less employable. I also think that it is too broad because honestly before I actually clicked on it on my uni's prospectus, I didn't even know what it was, I thought it was more of a geography subject. I did bio, chem and maths for A-level, and my results mean that I can explore my options and right now I'm really looking into the biochemical engineering degree and the biochemistry degree at my uni. I'm looking at biochem engineering cuz any engineering is really employable and is a well respected and very multidisciplinary degree, but my problem is that I'm not a fan of lab and design and stuff, at least from my A-level experience. Also, I already told the uni that I want to switch and I told natsci that I want to join them, I don't know how to say I don't want to join anymore. With biochemistry, I'd probably enjoy it more than biochem eng, but I also don't know if its a step up, in terms of employability from natsci.

I see that you are interested in a career in the sciences, I don't know, but I think it would be better to go with biochemistry because an actual single science (well it's not really single science, but it's not broad like natsci) looks better to employers and it's a degree offered by most universities, so it is more familiar in the employment side of things, whereas natsci isn't offered by a lot of unis, so isn't that familiar to people. Sorry, I'm not really helpful haha. Maybe look at Biochem eng if you're interested in drug development, they cover thermodynamics as well, not a lot of unis offer it, so maybe just chem eng.

So basically I’m thinking to ask to switch from a natsci to biochem degree because I’ve heard that most employers don’t actually value it that much and if I’m going to be putting my self through so much more stress what’s the point?

Any scientific employer worth working for will know what a Natural Sciences degree is and should place value on it. I worry that this is a bit of a TSR myth that propagates on here.

They will undoubtedly also be aware of the extra challenges faced by students who take a degree that starts broad and then specialises gives you a real edge later on as you can show you've got a broad understanding of various fields and still specialised in your area of interest.

I've not had a single issue in my entire career with having a NatSci degree. The extra maths, chemistry and biochemistry I took made me a more rounded scientist and meant I did not have to take up a masters degree before starting a Ph.D. in genetics.

Hi,

I have a question about the natsci degree. When you get your degree, does it appear as just a natsci degree, or is it also visible to employers what streams you chose to specialise in? Thank you

Any scientific employer worth working for will know what a Natural Sciences degree is and should place value on it. I worry that this is a bit of a TSR myth that propagates on here.

They will undoubtedly also be aware of the extra challenges faced by students who take a degree that starts broad and then specialises gives you a real edge later on as you can show you've got a broad understanding of various fields and still specialised in your area of interest.

I've not had a single issue in my entire career with having a NatSci degree. The extra maths, chemistry and biochemistry I took made me a more rounded scientist and meant I did not have to take up a masters degree before starting a Ph.D. in genetics.