• LAVA Moderator: Shinji Ikari

Choosing a major

citra

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
233
Location
Colorado
I am currently finishing up my soph year of college. I thought I would want to be a neuroscience major and am on that track. However, I am at the point where I can switch to either a chemistry or applied math B.S. or I can continue with the neuro B.S. I am not sure what to do. I have done some neuroscience research and it is interesting but tedious. I know I would love to do neurochemistry and I think a neuroscience BS would prepare me for that kind of topic better than chemistry would. I feel that chemistry is 'easier' for me to do well in than neuroscience. But that neuroscience offers more variety in the courses I can choose as well as more flexibility for what I can do in grad school. Ie i will be more prepared for any kind of biomedical research whereas chem will prepare me for materials science which i wouldn't want to do. I am also interested in pharmacy and pharmacology. anyway. not sure what to do! Any advice from people who are studying these fields? thanks
 
should also say that as a neuroscience major i will end up having taken organic, general, and maybe physical chemistry (i'd take p chem as electives). and that i go to school in the US
 
biochemical/biomedical engineering.

seems like it would cover all that, great to go back to grad school with, and it hits all the math, physics, chem, orgo and bio classes.
 
citra said:
i'm trying to decide btwn chem and neuroscience.

Have you spoken to advisors or professors? I find that speaking to both of those tend to guide one in the right path. Speaking to departmental advisors work better than broad-based type advisors.
 
chemistry will help a LOT with neuroscience and pharmacology, so what might help is to stay on the chem track right now, and pursue neuroscience graduate school later if you are still interested and motivated to do so.

the neuroscience BS at your school, is it a pyschology degree (behavioral neuroscience option) or are you at one of the few schools that actually offer a degree in neuroscience?

btw, i'm doing my undergrad in psychology, behavioral neuro, and hoping to do my graduate studies in either medical neurobiology or the psychobiology of addictions, so i might be able to help you figure out what to do :)
 
my school offers neuroscience. i eventually want to get a Ph.D. in pharmacology or toxicology. i'm starting to think that Biomed. engineering would be the answer. any input?
 
woops yeah the neuroscience here is a biology type of B.S. so the req include organic chem, general chem, basic bio, neurobio, neurochem, some other neuro classes, some other upper level bio classes.
 
It is my understanding that undergraduate degrees from related but not identical fields are fine for entry to PhD programs.

I would try to gear (a bit vaguely) your coursework and research experience toward what you might like to do in grad school.

ebola
 
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