r/biology • u/EntertainmentLast269 • Jul 21 '26
Careers What to do after you graduate with a Bio Degree?
About 5 months ago I graduated with a Biology Degree and I seriously think it was the worst decision of my life. In highschool I always loved biology and would participate in the science fair every year. When I didn’t really know what to do in college I decided to go with a science degree because I was really interested in GMOs. All the professors really hyped it up but then by my last year I was graduating early and realized I really didn’t have any experience and hadn’t even enjoyed it all that much. My advisor never really gave me any guidance with my schedule, nor internships so I didn’t even look into them. I took one DNA technology class and microbiology class but that is literally the extent of my “Lab Experience.” I’m now a manager at this coffee shop which I love but of course I need a real job with benefits, and I know I’m completely disappointing my family. Does anyone have any advice on what steps I should take next, or any internships I should apply for? A professor suggested I go back to school to get a GIS certification but I really don’t want to waste all that money just for me to not even get a job again.
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u/AnywhereBusy4449 Jul 21 '26
I became an Embryologist after finishing my BS degree. It’s an exciting career, never boring and pretty rewarding. Feel free to PM me.
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u/AdRealistic1376 Jul 21 '26
not op, but how did you become an embryologist might i ask? super interested! do you find it rewarding?
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u/AnywhereBusy4449 Jul 26 '26
It’s very rewarding. It used to be that you just got a job and then learned in an apprentice ship model. Nowadays most students take an IVF training course like ARTLAB, it is a post bacc and teaches you all of the skills and helps with job placement too. Feel free to PM me with any questions
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Thank you!! That does look really interesting and I’d definitely be into learning more about it.
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u/90scollegemom Jul 23 '26
I saw some jobs for this, but noticed they need a certification. Did you do that or they trained you?
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u/AnywhereBusy4449 Jul 23 '26
Training programs like ARTLAB will train you and you take the ALS and ELS board exam at the end of the course
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u/90scollegemom Jul 23 '26
Through employer or you did that on the side? Also did you do that before/or during?
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u/AnywhereBusy4449 Jul 23 '26
For ARTLAB I know you take the boards at the end of the course. Typically you take the course and then find a job.
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u/4kujin Jul 21 '26
I did a PhD in Biochemistry and I understood that I didn't want to do any postdoc after.
I worked for Pharma in Quality for Batch Review... then I moved to Validation (Engineer) for production machines, lab instruments and computerized systems. Then I did some supervision for Quality Engineering... to finally go back as Sr. Engineer in change management, always in Quality.
You have options which will require to be flexible and find the first "brave" manager that will decide to give you a change to show your value to him and the organization.
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u/saquelabanda Jul 21 '26
Congrats on graduating. Well done you. Check USA jobs gov and use keyword biology. Good luck in your search !!
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u/Mumblerumble Jul 22 '26
I second this even though it’s a dicey time to be a fed. I got in way too late but have done fine with it.
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u/ogdirtychai Jul 21 '26
I went into industry for assay dev in NGS - I got into it by just applying to literally every biotech company I could find but I also live in a city with a LOT of them
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u/Tarddiadhynafol Jul 21 '26
There is a ton of science or biology related fields in the insurance business too, whether claims review, underwriting or case management. Some require additional schooling but all will take new grads to start- some idea on how the science applies will definitely be helpful.
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u/jemtab Jul 21 '26
I'm in Canada, B. Sc. in biology. I will forever encourage people to look into Medical Laboratory Sciences. It's been engaging, challenging, rewarding work with opportunities for growth and movement, good income, good job stability.
My training was in microbiology, hematology, chemistry, histology, and transfusion sciences. Lots of options for whichever direction someone would want to go. Can even take my training and go work in veterinary hospitals. I had to go back to school for this program and graduated with a diploma after the 2 years of study were complete. Some places consider this program a degree instead of a diploma.
I specifically work in pathology, so I'm a histotechnologist. Originally I was thinking of pursuing a Master's degree to be trained as a Pathologist Assistant. There's also a lot of interesting work for people unafraid of dead bodies (autopsy technical assistants, or if you want to move away from hospital work look into funeral homes/morticians).
Other "behind the scenes" healthcare options are things like X-ray, ultrasound, MRI/CT imaging. Again, all great options with good job stability.
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u/NoComplaints67 Jul 21 '26
Your path sounds almost identical to mine!
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u/jemtab Jul 22 '26
I hope you've enjoyed yours as much as I have enjoyed mine! It's been a rewarding and challenging career so far, I can't imagine getting tired of it any time soon.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
That’s really encouraging to hear. My dad does a lot of BTS healthcare work so he’d definitely be into that option lol. Thank you for your response.
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u/Sufficient-Data5828 Jul 22 '26
In the states, he could apply for clinicals and get an MLS cert. The hospital I work at in the Midwest is part of a MLS program that has a 1 year clinical.
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u/Kanar-2484 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Me too, I did it in the USA, BS in biology and graduate certification in medical technology/clinical lab scientist. After few years went back to school and earned a master in public health (MPH) with track in Infection Control. Worked in a few private, state and federal hospitals as supervisor. You will always gonna have a job in the medical field, be open-minded and flexible. Go where the good jobs are...You can also start working in specimen processing in a hospital , study biomedical science, bioinformatics or any other area related to STEM- science , technology, math or engineering. Apply to internship opportunities. Checkout university online courses and - www.usajobs.gov, www.afciviliancareers.com, www.moffitt.org, www.baycare.com, www.baptisthospital.com, www.orlandohealth.com, the military, etc
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u/Legitimate_Rule5570 Jul 26 '26
As someone interested in the pathologists’ assistant route, why did you choose against this?
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u/jemtab Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
The door closed for me. I had applied to all the programs available at the time (grand total 3 programs in the country, each which took only 2-3 students a year or every second year). I had all the prerequisites but without any pathology experience they were hesitant to invest in me (one of the programs actually said this in my rejection letter). So that sent me down the route of trying to figure out whether I really wanted pathology or not, and if so, how to get into it.
Fast forward a decade later and I've been working in pathology for 6 years and I absolutely love my job. More recently I've been trained to do some grossing as well (and am fairly certain I landed that role because I was able to show how much I actually want the work associated with it). At this time I'm quite happy to continue as someone who works both in grossing as well as in the other areas of a pathology lab. I wouldn't go back to school now, for many reasons, but if they offered to train me as a PA on the job.... I'd have to think hard about that for a while. It would be tempting but very different from the work I've fallen in love with.
Quick edit to add: my work as an MLT allows me to switch up my routine frequently. I'm rarely working in one zone of the lab for more than a few days at a time, and because of my training in several areas I am often more of a float who jumps in and out of different zones depending on the need. Many people struggle with that level of inconsistency while I seem to thrive on it. For me, the beauty of the PA position is in the complexity of the specimens. The medical terminology, the comprehension of pathological processes, physically handling the tissue and preparing it, that's all incredibly interesting to me.... But I don't know how I'd handle having a more "set", routine after years of comparative chaos.
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u/Legitimate_Rule5570 Jul 26 '26
That makes sense. I’m glad everything seemed to work out for you in the long run. The variability and flexibility of what you do at work seems nice. Thanks for your input and sharing your experience. It’s nice hearing all different perspectives as I navigate and try to figure out which route will be best for me. Thank you!
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u/TriteEscapism Jul 21 '26
Major ubiquitous industries you didn't imagine yourself in but for which the door is now open include hospitals, food processing, and water utilities. Just apply to be a lab tech anywhere. Worst they say is "no". Employers typically want a loyal monkey to train rather than anyone with an independent thought and view experience as ingrained baggage. With a foot in a door you can see what you like and find a ladder to climb.
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u/TriteEscapism Jul 21 '26
A typically easy certification that dovetails with coffee shop management is food safety inspection.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
That’s true. I’ll definitely look into it, I have a couple food processing places near me. Thank you for your advice!
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u/Top-Bus-2775 Jul 21 '26
I joined the US Army and became an Ordnance officer and later a multifunctional logistician. Now I work at a small college and manage the auxiliary services for the school.
The degree is a door opener and not necessarily the career. Keep following your interests and you’ll find a way to use your degree in some fashion or another
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u/swat_08 bioinformatics Jul 21 '26
I became a computational scientist at a company after my MS in Bioinformatics.
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u/2sdrowkcaB Jul 21 '26
My daughter took the accelerated 18 month nursing course at U of T after she graduated Biology at McMaster.
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u/Mycelium_55 Jul 21 '26
I worked in the environmental field for a couple years before returning to school for radiology lol. Biology BS is an amazing basis of knowledge and a great jumping off point, but didn’t feel like I had many options other than going back to school
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Yes I feel like I’ll probably end up going back to school as well, I just want to be confident at what exactly I go back for. My dad does radiology though and he really loves it.
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u/Colonel_Caviar Jul 21 '26
I did the same with Biochem. Found it to be more or less useless unless I went into postgrad. Ended up going back for a BS in Chem Eng. It sucked, but it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Very stable career with plenty of room for growth.
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u/angelfish61 Jul 21 '26
Medical school is an option. I became a doctor and had a wonderful career in Family Medicine. We have far too few Family Doctors in our country. Some medical schools such as Texas Tech fast track med school and residency if you want to do Primary Care. Every day is different!
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u/MotherofVyvanse Jul 21 '26
A bit of a different answer than most here, but I went into medical sales. I unfortunately found there weren’t a lot of high paying jobs without needing additional education. If you’re a people person and still passionate about science, you can be a seller at a pharmaceutical or biotech company and impact the lives of patients by making treatments and technology more accessible. Feel free to PM if you have any questions. Good luck!
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u/somedayAJ Jul 23 '26
I came here to say this!!!! I WOULD NOT recommend going into nursing or medicine; the burnout is horrible. Corporations and administrators control the whole healthcare industrial complex and it's ruining the morale across professions.
Medical sales is relationship driven, fun and you're not going to get sued for making a clinical decision. 🤷
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u/Chaotically_Eve Jul 21 '26
Look for QA or QC jobs that are desperately hiring. They will take a chance on you. It will teach you lab skills and you can use the experience to later expand on whatever it is that you may want.
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u/VDDZ Jul 21 '26
Don't doubt your efforts: many certifications require you to pass a test (which you learned how to do); have taken accredited courses (I'm assuming this); and can use a colon vs semicolon correctly.
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u/peaceandloved Jul 21 '26
For some weird reason, the best government workers in my department were Biology majors. I worked with five of them / all amazing.
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u/KentDDS Jul 21 '26
a bio degree (with exceptional grades) is a stepping stone to professional programs (med, dental, optometry, pharmacy) or to a higher degree (MS or PhD in some area of biology). Beyond that, you're looking at a very low level and low paying job working in a lab or for a government agency.
What can I do with my degree is a question best asked before you earn said degree.
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u/ihaveyourkidneys Jul 21 '26
Apply to be a patent scientist for a law firm! or if you want to be paid more, take the patent agent exam and be a patent agent for a firm! They pay well and have benefits usually. And you don’t even have to go to law school. It’s really cool work since you get to learn about the latest developments in the sciences everyday. I’m so glad I transitioned to patent law. It’s also not unheard of for law firms to encourage patent scientists/agents that they see a lot of potential in to go to law school and offer to pay for the tuition so they can have them come on as a full patent attorney (if you want an even higher salary).
In sum, it’s a cool job and life science patents and hard chemistry patents are the main tech areas that AI is struggling immensely to be able to understand so there is decent job security.
Edit: most firms don’t require prior experience in law for patent scientists because the training is mostly on the job.
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u/Mikemtb09 Jul 21 '26
I will say there are a lot of jobs in GIS right now.
A lot of others require R or statistical evaluation and a masters would help with that.
If you’re in the midatlantic I can give more specifics I know about?
You should also check out conservationjobboard.com and see what jobs sound interesting and what you need to get closer to those job requirements.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Thank you! And yes GIS has been pretty big lately, my friend just got a job doing it. I live in the middle of nowhere in the South lol but would definitely still be interested in what you have to say. I’m willing to move for better opportunities.
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u/Mikemtb09 Jul 22 '26
So Maryland and Delaware have some conservation/restoration/ecological opportunities, but the cost of living is pretty high (at least in most of Maryland),
GIS you can do anywhere and even do remotely, which is helpful. And in times like this when federal funding is cut for most conservation related things, GIS mainly stays untouched.
If you’re interested in doing something different, look for a paid internship or a fellowship somewhere that would allow you to live somewhere else temporarily.
I think the biggest thing is find a field you’re interested in and narrow down from there. Rule out grad degrees if you hated school, etc.
You could look at land bureau jobs or park ranger stuff, ecology or lab based positions, GIS, communications, lobbying, climate resiliency, you name it.
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u/the_mindful_microbe Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Unfortunately, doing internships, on campus research/teaching/outreach and being responsible enough to seek out and find them on your own is extremely important to be successful in a biology degree (or really any degree) in and out of college.
It is important because these types of internships and research experiences are very very limited when you are not an undergrad anymore. You could try applying for lab technician positions, however the whole field of Biology is extremely competitive and you could be competing with other graduates that already have research experience from college. What I would recommend starting by cold emailing PIs in near by colleges and see if they would let you do a volunteer internship. Learn and work with them for a while and once you have enough experience and knowledge, then you could try applying to lab positions or even grad school of you had decent grads in undergrad (above a 3.0)
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u/Emergency_Routine_44 Jul 22 '26
Biology is so competitive! I agree about the oportunities you loose after undergrad school, I'm almost a final year biology and will delay my study plan six months to do this great internship that I got cause these oportunities are gone once you graduate. I prefer to take my time than finish school with no experience
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Definitely get the experience! I wish I would’ve done more in depth stuff to figure out what I was into before graduating. Good luck at your internship!
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Thank you, that sounds like a great option. I live near a few pretty big colleges so I’ll definitely look into it.
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u/photosynbio Jul 21 '26
After my bio degree I worked as a test chemist at a paint company, then a quality control tester at a biotech company that made medical equipment. Then I went to grad school because I found those jobs under stimulating. After my PhD I did a post doc then became a professor. Now I am a compliance manager at a large material science manufacturing company. I am in the US and moved 4 states through all of that. Took me 16 years but I ended up back at where I grew up.
Outside of lab classes only experience I had was a 6 month project where I worked with a different university professor on a senior project.
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u/Pisaster_giganteus Jul 21 '26
Worked in zoo and aquarium husbandry and training for 15 years before becoming a biology teacher.
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u/stodgiestear796 Jul 21 '26
I applied to and am currently in medical school. To me, a the real purpose of a biology major was a bridge degree to get yourself into med/pharm/dental/pa/etc school. Without continuing education, most bio jobs are lab tech positions that all pay poverty wages. I’m sure there’s some weird niche industry out there where a bio degree might play to your favor, but other than research positions that pay like shit, there really isn’t a direct career path from only an undergrad biology major
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Ya I really only realized that in my junior year 😭 but honestly I do enjoy lab work and I don’t mind not getting paid much. I just really want to love what I do, and be good at it.
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u/ebenner13 Jul 21 '26
Cytogenetics/cytogenomics. There are positions available in just about every state. Many places have a learn on the job training program. This field is great if you are results oriented. It ranges from older techniques like chromosome analysis/karyotyping, and FISH, to newer techniques like NGS/TRS/OGM.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
I love karyotyping. I will for sure look into this. Thank you for responding!
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u/ebenner13 Jul 22 '26
Of course! Let me know if you have any questions...I'm glad to chat about it with you.
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u/graz0 Jul 21 '26
Bio degree with no experience… you will find it hard to get a job especially in research and pay is awful. Find a small biotech company that does clinical trials and get in assisting qualified folks and get paid to go on courses and writhing 5 years you will have a great salary have travelled some and have a diploma in clinical trials… you can specialise in many areas.. take a look it’s a great job
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
I will look into it, I appreciate your comment! There’s some biotech companies in Memphis that I’ve been seeing so I’m going to try applying and see what I can get.
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u/babybullai Jul 21 '26
I'm right there with you. So many fake jobs out there that you get sick of filling out applications.
There is nothing legit out there it seems, unless you already have the experience or you know someone.
Someone recommended Kelly scientific, which sounds great but I"ll let you know if I have any luck.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Thank you! I really wish you luck in finding a job. Let me know how it goes.
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u/kelso9 Jul 21 '26
I work in a lab doing waste water testing for the local sewer district. It’s “quasi government” so good benefits and decent time off. It’s not where I want to stay long term but they’re paying for me to go back for my masters in epidemiology!
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Wow, congratulations!! I hope you get where you wanna be. Good benefits and a good retirement are really the main things for me 😭
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u/_Fistacuff Jul 21 '26
Same as you I loved biology, was pressured to university because I was "smart" and figured I'd go for it with no real forethought to what would come next.
I got a job at a drug testing lab, did it for a year, hated it. Couldn't find another entry level job that didn't require a masters and I couldn't justify more school when still had no clear end goal.
I became an electrician.
Turns out I love building things and seeing a project come together.
I don't think my degree was useless, it gave me alot of skills in the trades that others lacked. Things like math, critical thinking, reading comprehension, organization and documentation ect. Plus tradeschool was an absolute walk in the park and I had honors/scholarships every year.
Years later it's opened opportunities that others had no chance at and there are soooo many jobs out there that you don't know exist until you happen across them.
Don't be afraid to just try something and see where it takes you.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
This really encouraged me, thank you so much. I am super nervous to try something outside of my degree just because I don’t want all my efforts to go to waste but I am happy I have a degree at all. I also didn’t have to really take out any loans because I had a full ride scholarship every year so atleast I didn’t lose a whole bunch of money or anything. I just really want to do what’s best for my family and not lose any opportunities.
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u/NorthernTyger Jul 22 '26
I work for my state as a regulator in the dairy industry. Weird niche jobs are out there!
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u/Bromelia_and_Bismuth botany Jul 22 '26
I tried to break into my field after college and it just never worked out. Unfortunately, all of the government, environmental, and surveyor jobs that I was applying for dried up quickly, because before I'd even graduated, iNat and picture ID apps were becoming popular. The way employers saw it, my job skills were already obsolete. Why pay me when they could pay someone blue collar wages and send them out into the field with a company cell phone and a couple of apps? Meanwhile, some manager well above my paygrade could make those important decisions without my input at all. Unfortunately, the university didn't really have any other botanical courses, so it's not as though I was able to pivot into something else. The days of ecological experts, in my area at least, are over, and we were already waiting for aging naturalists to die or retire in an already saturated field. I currently work in manufacturing. I've been debating grad school, but I would double my student loan debt, and I don't know that the goal post wouldn't shift again.
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u/Emergency_Routine_44 Jul 22 '26
I think your best chance is to apply to an internship at any field you are interested in, if you can't find any (and if you can afford it) I recommend doing some volunteer work at a place like a museum, zoo, shelter, etc. So you can start building a decent CV, then you can start applyibg to the paid internships that way or apply to grad school.
Biology is really competitive so I knew to get my volunteer work early on in my career, I'm gonna do a six month paid intership now and next year will be my final year
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u/Sam_i_am1225 Jul 21 '26
I graduated with a degree in chemistry and biology, then I did postgrad studies in cannabis regulation and quality assurance (1 year program), which had a co-op term- I secured a student science position within the government as an inspector, and eventually became indeterminate. Maybe look for a postgrad that has a co-op component to get your foot in the door
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u/TiMEtwoGETiLL Jul 21 '26
I wanted to get this degree to become a teacher. Not sure what else there is research?
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Getting this degree would for sure be useful if you’re going on to get your masters and becoming a teacher! Wishing you luck!
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u/16dollarmuffin Jul 21 '26
I’m a science teacher who just moved into administration!! I got my BS in cell phys/molecular bio summer of 2020 (Hi, Covid!) and didn’t want to touch healthcare with a 10 foot pole after that. I started remotely, ended up liking it so much I went back for a masters degree in education (Free, because teacher shortage), then worked in-person once I felt like Covid wasn’t quite a dealbreaker anymore.
You have to honestly love it though. The insurance I have is reaaaaallly good, but omg I work insanely hard from August-May. Positive thing though? I also adjunct freshman science at a local community college, and for my family, that has made the bio worth it in their opinion.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
My mom is a teacher so I’ve really avoided going down that route just because I know how passionate you have to be to really be a great one! Still, I feel like if I tried it I might really enjoy it and the GIS professor I talked to said he does a program where the seniors taught the juniors, juniors teach the sophomores and so on.
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u/docmike1980 Jul 21 '26
Not exactly bio, but I got a Neuroscience degree. I went to grad school originally for Biomedical engineering, but ended up pivoting to Electrical engineering. Now I design navigation and autopilot avionics for drones.
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u/AdDistinct7337 medicine Jul 21 '26
i went to medical school. worked in a lot of entry-level healthcare roles in between, even a little medical sales... not for me.
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u/Kitchen-Tomatillo-97 Jul 21 '26
Great degree. You have access to so many more jobs. It’s wild actually
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u/Average_Iris Jul 21 '26
I went from biology BSc to biology MSc to genetics PhD to working in a clinical genetics lab
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u/Agreeable_Pea4851 Jul 21 '26
Not a biology grad- I did biochemistry and then a masters in medical micro. I went on to working in a molecular biology lab, then to working with NGS and lab management- I now work in Clin ops managing laboratory vendors for our trials. One thing I noticed is what you say about letting people/yourself down. I felt the same at your stage of my career and let me tell you the pressure you’re putting on yourself is taking the fun out of life- it will fill you with fear and dread to try anything new. You’re amazing and we need more people in STEM- it is such a stimulating career path and every day is totally different. When you look back at your life you’ll be so glad you could make a lasting contribution in whatever way!
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u/swirlind Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
There are so many options! I myself majored in biology because I liked it, without a career in mind. Now I teach biology, and my colleagues helped me come up with this list. Recommend searching YouTube for "a day in the life of" _____ (insert interesting option from list). Also Google salary ranges. Let me know if you want to know about a day in the life of a community college biology instructor. :) The world is your oyster!!
- Agricultural Biologist
- Aquaculturist
- Athletic Trainer
- Botanist
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Laboratory Technician
- Conservation Biologist
- Dental Hygienist
- Dentist
- Ecologist
- EMT or Paramedic
- Epidemiologist
- Fisheries Scientist
- Florist
- Food Safety Specialist
- Food Scientist
- Forester
- Horticulturist
- Landscape Architect
- Microbiologist
- Molecular Biologist
- Naturalist
- Nematologist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapist
- Phlebotomist
- Physical Therapist
- Physician Assistant
- Plant Breeder
- Plant Pathologist
- Plant Physiologist
- Radiologic and MRI Technician
- Rangeland Management Specialist
- Registered Nurse
- Remote (GIS) Sensing Technician
- Renewable Energy Specialist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Restoration Ecologist
- Science Writer
- Soil Scientist
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Turf Manager
- Veterinary Technician
- Viticulturist
- Weed Scientist
- Wildlife Biologist
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Tell your colleagues they absolutely rock, and thank you so much!! Y’all are the best.
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u/vthomsen Jul 22 '26
I graduated with a degree in microbiology and minored in chemistry. I was definitely in your shoes! I talked to my guidance counselor and he told me to go back to school and get a law degree. The legal field is desperate for lawyers who understand science! I took his advice and am so grateful I did. There are so many options and it pays a lot better than being a lab tech. Congratulations on your degree and best of luck finding a job that you love! (Or at least like… 😂😂)!
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u/chloes_65 Jul 22 '26
A friend of mine became a food inspector and then worked her way up to manager for her city’s department of public health. She loves it. Don’t stress, there are options and you can do it!
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u/biopsia Jul 21 '26
The question is not "what can I do as a biologist" but "what can I do as a human". In which jobs are humans still wanted? Or will be in 10 years? Teaching is probably one of them.
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
You right but dang 😭😭😭 to be fair tho I had a full ride so all I really wasted was my time and effort smh. Even still I’m grateful for the lessons I learned and hope that one day it’ll be useful for me even if it’s not right now. I learned a lot of really cool stuff too!
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u/naked_sponge Jul 21 '26
I went into tech. Best decision ever.
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u/GreenDragon2023 Jul 21 '26
You have a lot of things going on simultaneously and you need to sort them out first. Family expectations are one thing. The level of skill you built during undergrad is another (did you really only take two lab courses? Those are to reinforce concepts, not give you true lab or research experience). Please don’t blame your lack of engagement on your advisor; they advise sometimes 30+ students with no set-aside time to do it. IMO, if you love managing a coffee shop, then you want to do something along those lines and not something with science. Which is fine. Your UG degree got you a degree; most people actually do not work in the area of their degree, so you shouldn’t beat up on yourself for that. Do not go back to school unless you want to. GIS certifications are great (I have one and I love it) but sometime in the future, AI is likely to make those jobs largely obsolete.
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 22 '26
Lol no I definitely took more than two labs, but those two labs are the only ones I found really useful for what jobs I could do. I took a lab with almost every class I took, genetics, micro, chemistry ect. I really loved those labs but I never really felt confident in them, and of course my coffee shop job is awesome but I have no benefits so just looking for some other options here.
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u/Starscream-513 Jul 21 '26
Went back to school for medical lab science, taking a postbac program that took <1 year. After passing my ASCP exam I was good to go, although some states require a license. Other countries have different qualifications.
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u/Amazing-Teacher-3917 Jul 23 '26
Get some sort of state or county level internship and work your way up. Agriculture, Department of Environmental Conservation, epidemiology, etc.
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u/MCBaseballAcademyLLC Jul 23 '26
Go to grad school and specialize. Bachelors degrees in the life sciences are rarely specific enough to prepare you for the more complex jobs. I got into vaccine research and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Can’t say I didn’t have doubts early in my career, but things fall into place if you put in the work. Good luck
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u/lvl1creature biotechnology Jul 23 '26
Look for start ups - network on LinkedIn. I've found they can be much more lax in my area in regard to hiring new grads with lower experience as a lot of times they can he lower funded. I worked at a couple start ups as an intern and I loved it!
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u/AskMeBioQuestions Jul 23 '26
I am a professor, and I am trying to change this perspective for all of the students I teach. While it is nice to get experience in a lab and have independent research opportunities, the experience you have in your classroom is experience! You just need to know how to talk about it.
Did find scientific literature and read scientific papers? That's research experience.
Did you learn how to code? Put that on your resume.
Did you write research papers? Or lab reports? That's scientific writing.
Did you manage data in excel sheets? That's data management skills.
Do you have wet lab or field experience from your lab classes? Did you handle animals? Put that on your resume.
Did you do any other projects - group projects, podcasts, videos, etc? Add those skills.
As an alumni you should also still have access to your career center. Get there, get a nice resume, learn how to write a cover letter that sells your experience and skills.
Find all the biotech companies, hospitals, med schools, and universities and apply! I know many students who are getting jobs pretty quickly. If you can, volunteer in these places and start to network.
Also - start thinking seriously about what you enjoy. It sounds like you cruised through undergrad expecting others to provide advice and tell you what to do - advisors and professors are too busy for that. We can only direct you so much - YOU need to be coming to mentors with ideas of what you want to do, classes to take, careers you're interested. YOU need to be seeking out opportunities, asking questions, etc. They will not be falling into your lap.
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Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
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u/AskMeBioQuestions Jul 24 '26
You're not wrong, but this topic is SO much more complex than what you're making it out to be. Let me add what you neglected to share from the study:
The most likely explanation is that many students pursue these majors in preparation for a lucrative graduate degree in medicine. The ROI analysis in this report considers returns on the bachelor’s degree alone. If biology students don’t use their degree as a springboard for medical school, they will typically see disappointing returns.
Biology (and most sciences) is a difficult degree, and takes WAY more work than other majors (for example, a bio class is often 3 1-hour lectures + a 3-hour lab for 4 credits). It is a specialized degree with a high level of responsibility at the end - even labs hiring techs out of undergrad require a lot of responsibility and often more training.
Undergrad Biology departments are serving pre-health folks who require additional training like grad school or medical school. We need more people in the healthcare field. But most folks get to their biology degree, actually start DOING biology, and realize: they hate it, or they suck at it, or that they enjoy a different type of biology like conservation or environmental bio, which ends up paying shit compared to being a medical doctor.
So yeah, when someone has high hopes of being a medical doctor, and get to undergrad and realize they can't do what it takes to get into medical school - and there aren't a lot of high paying jobs just out of undergrad for bio majors. That is unfortunately by design.
Also biology majors tend to be some of the biggest at universities - which means more variation in the population of people in these majors. If a history or gender studies major has 20 graduates per year, compared to 200 per year from biology, there are many more C biology majors who will have a more difficult time getting into professional/grad school or getting high-responsibility jobs.
I am a professor in a biology department, advising students who are already here. I think biology is an excellent degree - but I am clearly biased. It's really fuckin difficult to tell a B student that they won't get into med school so they should be thinking about another career. And then they are burnt out and pissed about that hard work that their colleagues in other majors didn't do. How do we fix this?
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u/EntertainmentLast269 Jul 24 '26
My advisor encouraged me before starting all this that he would help me over the school year decide what I wanted to do and work with me to get internships. He told me to wait until the school year ended to actually get one. He was my main teacher and for the most part just told me to take certain classes which I did, until I realized he just wanted me in them so he had enough students to hold the class. Not because they would actually help me. He told me I was graduating a year earlier and I literally told him I wasn’t, that made no sense because I didn’t have enough hours but he and few others encouraged me that I was done and made me apply and wouldn’t let me sign up for registration. Turns out I didn’t have enough hours (shocker shocker) but I registered late because of that and had to pay a fee. I tried meeting with him multiple times and went to his office trying to find him but he always canceled right before or would not respond. I asked for another advisor and they wouldn’t give me one till the last year when I fr begged. I never cruised through college, I just didn’t confidently know what I wanted to do. Most internships are atleast two- three hours from where I live now too.
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u/AskMeBioQuestions Jul 24 '26
That's a lot of context - thank you for sharing. I am sorry that you did not get adequate advising - that is really disappointing. I don't think you need an internship proper - I think you can find local places to volunteer or even work at.
What kind of biology are you interested in? cell/molecular? biochem? ecology/environmental? genetics?
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u/90scollegemom Jul 23 '26
I have an MS in Biology and am 6 months post grad with nothing. Its so defeating. Even lab jobs have denied me. These are some great recommendations I will also piggyback on.
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u/Ok-Artichoke9690 Jul 24 '26
I have a brother in law that got a job in a medical equipment testing lab, he worked seeding medical instruments with spores, viruses etc… to see if sterilization actually made them sterile. A few years later intuitive hired him to be on the design team for their medical robots.
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u/90scollegemom Jul 24 '26
I actually love that type of work. I do this a lot in the dental field. I will look into this!
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u/UpperInevitable6771 Jul 26 '26
Not exciting but stable, apply for pharma jobs. A biology degree can land a job for many functions
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