EPTOn September 28 2011 16:50 Sufficiency wrote:
First of all, a PhD in biochemistry is NOT the way to go. The job market for a biology PhD is very bleak.... unless you REALLY want to do this. MS is somewhat similar, as far as I know.
You said you are in Arizona, right? In that case I agree: it's not the best place possible. If you want to do a master degree, apply elsewhere. Harvard, UPenn, and JHU are obviously good choices; UCSF and UCLA are probably very good, too; but you need to be careful if the MS you apply to actually has funding.
I don't know why you think a BS does not help you when you apply for a non-science job. Just by the virtue of being able to complete your degree, it shows that you are smart and you have discipline. I think that will make your application stronger.
First of all, a PhD in biochemistry is NOT the way to go. The job market for a biology PhD is very bleak.... unless you REALLY want to do this. MS is somewhat similar, as far as I know.
You said you are in Arizona, right? In that case I agree: it's not the best place possible. If you want to do a master degree, apply elsewhere. Harvard, UPenn, and JHU are obviously good choices; UCSF and UCLA are probably very good, too; but you need to be careful if the MS you apply to actually has funding.
I don't know why you think a BS does not help you when you apply for a non-science job. Just by the virtue of being able to complete your degree, it shows that you are smart and you have discipline. I think that will make your application stronger.
i disagree... from what i've seen, job prospects in industry for having a PhD in general chemistry or biochemistry isn't at all bleak. i've seen cases of people getting hired straight off graduating their PhD, absolutely no postdoc. as for a general biology related field, jobs are a bit tougher and you're hard pressed to get anything without a postdoc or three or heavily qualified.
BSc is worth nada in the job market, in or out of the field. being able to complete your degree means nothing, the other candidates for a job will all have completed it. sure you look better compared to the applicants who don't have a degree, but chances are most of them weren't going to make it anyways. I don't think leaving it in a resume/CV is a bad thing though - of course you need your education gaps filled.
