Can a General Biology Degree is considered to be useless in today’s society ?
I want to know if a Bachelors Degree in General Biology is useless for getting jobs and careers in today’s society. I read and hear that a Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology does not "hold its weight in gold" as it once was. Nevertheless, I want to know if the medical field is only the most popular field/course for a General Biology degree.
Yes, by itself a degree in general Biology is useless. The most popular reason for attaining a bachelors degree in general biology is to go to medical school. If you want to become a teacher of biology, be careful. You will also need to major in, or at least minor in, education. You could, technically get a very low, entry level job in a research department with a BA or BS in general biology if you have extensive laboratory experience. but even for a research position, short of having a PhD, you will at least need a masters degree in biological research to get any worthwhile job in research.
Im currently getting my masters in medical sciences and going to medical school next year. Trust me, Ive tried getting every job imaginable even if just for vacations. there is no viable industry in which a general biology bachelors degree is enough, though. short of a non-paying internship, the bachelors was useless for me to try to get even the smallest job, even though ive had A LOT of lab experience in my last 2 years of undergrad.
If you like research though, just stick it out and get your masters and become a researcher. Or, better yet, get your PhD and become a doctor and do research or get your MD and be a physician.
What you have heard is somewhat correct depending on what you call "useless". It is useless if you are planning to just have the biology degree. If that is your plan then your best bet for getting a job is as a Biology teacher in a high school. If you are planning to continue your education in the MEDICAL field then a Biology degree is one of the easiest and most useful you will have. It allows you to enter into a graduate school whether it is Pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, and even Ophthalmology school.
Now for you other question. The medical field is one of the fastest growing and easiest to get a job now a days. Did you know Nursing is among the fastest growing careers presently?? It pays decent money and i am pretty sure you don’t need a degree in Biology to apply to Nursing school. I have heard of students that have done a double major in Biology and Nursing just in case they want to have their options open.
If you have any other questions just e-mail me.