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May 17, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR ROSE CLARK IN
PA
As a chemist, I will try to cover the chemistry aspect of
your question. The college majors that you could choose would
be chemistry with concentrations in business, forensics, preprofessional,
secondary education, environmental, biochemistry, and others.
The job market is excellent for chemists of all flavors. Career
options seem infinite, you can choose to go on to medical
school, vet school, graduate school (in many areas), work
in industry (pharmaceuticals, polymers, chemicals, foods,
diapers, etc.), conduct research in all fields involving chemicals,
drugs, etc. and there are business options (drug, equipment
sells). Another way to use your science degree would be to
do environmental or patent law. The opportunities are amazing.
I encourage you to go into science and join the women in science
in the world of discovery. We definitely need more US students,
especially women in the field of chemistry.
Best Wishes!, Dr. Rose Clark
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A: FROM MENTOR JO ELLEN HINCK
IN MO
Eunice-
There are many fields of biology and chemistry. My background
is in
biology so I will try to provide some of my experiences. Biology
has a
wide range of focus from molecular biology to population ecology!
and
everything in between. A biologist can focus on metabolic
processes of
microbial organisms or the migration of a specific bird. Most
colleges
will begin students in general courses (zoology, botany, ecology).
As the
student learns what interests them, they can take more specific
courses
(like parasitology, toxicology, limnology). It really depends
on the
student (and the courses available at the university you are
attending).
If you have a particular university in mind, check out their
website to
look at course listings - this will help give you an idea
of the subject
matter. A second step would be to list what interests you
in biology or
chemistry and see where that might fit into some of the university
programs. The job options are as diverse as the subject matter
and will
depend on your area of training. Some biologist positions
will be
laboratory based while others will have a lot of field work.
However,
your coursework in college will help you figure out what jobs
are
available in your area of interest - and you will have time
to change
your mind if you discover your interest may have changed from
high school.
I think that has happened to most of us! Good luck!
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A: FROM MENTOR SUZAN SONG
IN IL
I should preface this by saying I'm a bit biased, as I'm in
medicine :) and
think it's a wonderful field for the right people to go into.
That being said,
just because you like science doesn't mean you should want
to be a doctor.
College majors are great, since you can do anything! Biology
major, Chemistry
major, Math major, Pre-med or Pre-dental, these are all general
majors. You can
take classes to find out more specifically what you like -
marine biology,
mammal biology, medical biology, botanics (plant biology),
archaeology,
paleontology, and chemistry - organic, industrial, and more
I'm sure. If you're
sure you really like science, then I would recommend majoring
in a general
science - like biology or chemistry, and then take lots of
different types of
courses to find out what you like - there's no need to limit
yourself. College
is great bc you have the chance to take lots of courses that
you may not even
be interested in... but soon learn that you DO indeed like
it.
Job options are enormous. Doctor, nurse, any health care (hospice
worker,
social work, which don't need science degrees, dentist, etc.),
researcher in
any science, you can travel places to do research too. teacher
(any level,
including graduate school and college - for ex. my anatomy
teacher for medical
school is actually a palentologist who researches dinosaurs
and reptiles - but
he's got such a good understanding of the body and animal
structures, evolution
that he teaches us about the human body!) Pharmaceuticals
- designing,
researching and testing drugs (hopefully not selling them,
as I have my gripes
with drug reps). You can even mix science with technology
(a SUPER hot field
in the future) - bioengineering (lots of women needed!), biotech,
etc.
I'm sure others will reply much better, as I'm only keyed
into the medical
field, but feel free to contact me if anyone wants to talk
about it! Good luck!
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