I would absolutely recommend biology, especially for students who are curious about how life operates at its most fundamental levels. If you’re detail-oriented, enjoy hands-on work, and want a career where you are constantly learning, it’s a great choice. My best advice is to find great professors who are passionate about what they teach, it makes science much more engaging!
I believe biology is a universal degree that covers pretty much everything, there are so many career paths to explore such as pharmaceuticals or zoology. The thing that intrigued me about the environmental science major was the types of labs that were offered under it. Many of them involve field work, like the water resources lab. And this summer, I participated in directed research with Dr. Megan Fung. Through that I gained laboratory skills as a first-year and an amazing opportunity to begin my journey toward my dream career.
I feel both of my degrees have interesting courses as well as real-life applications for continuing my educational journey towards an MD, PhD, or both.
The biology major has helped to solidify my interest in a medical career by providing academic exploration, exposure to healthcare-related experiences, mentorship, peer interactions, research opportunities, and pre-medical resources and support. By majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and public health, I can fulfill the pre-medical or pre-health requirements necessary for admission to professional schools and succeed in these programs.
My major in biology and the courses I took at CLU definitely prepared me for my job as a Clinical Supply Chain Intern at Amgen in the best ways. Additionally, they provided an incredible foundation of knowledge that has been invaluable to my current role.
Majoring in biology, there are endless routes that you can go with it, and it made me feel more at ease not being boxed into a certain career based on my major. I also knew that majoring in biology at a smaller school could optimize my opportunities to build my resume and become a more competitive applicant for graduate school.
The biology program exposed me to a side of education that I previously was unaware of. I experienced methods of teaching such as reverse classrooms, in-class discussions on research papers, and self-constructed research projects that expanded my knowledge and, even more importantly, got me excited about learning. I use these learning methods to this day in dental school.
My experience conducting research taught me key skills like critical thinking, advanced writing, and being a great team member. Doing research allowed me to graduate with biology departmental honors, and helped me stand out in my application to my graduate program.
The Swenson Science Summer Fellowship helped me to learn more about what to expect out of the trial and error process and how to encounter the unexpected in a lab setting.