Table of Contents

Introduction.. . . . . . . . . .1
About This Book... . . . . . . .3
Why I Wrote This Book.. . . . . . . . . . . .3
A Guide to This Book...4
1 Majoring in Biology.. . . .7
Degrees and Curricula... . . .8
Minor in Biological Sciences.. . . . . . . . . .11
Minors in Other Departments and Double Majors. . . . .12
College Rankings... . . . . . .13
Colleges Offering Biology Programs.. . . . .13
Biology... . . . . . . . . . . .14
Biochemistry... . . . . . .15
Zoology... . . . . . . . . . .16
Entrance Requirements... .16
Skills and Abilities Required to Succeed in This Major. . .17
Wrap Up....18

2 Choosing a College for Biology Majors.21
To Parents:... . . . . . . . . . . .21
To Students:... . . . . . . . . . .22
What Admission Officers Look For.. . . . .23
The Transcript... . . . . .23
Test Scores... . . . . . . . .24
The Essay or Personal Statement.. . . . .25
Extracurricular Activities.. . . . . . . . . . .25
Recommendations... . .26
A Final Point About Admission.. . . . .27
Paying for the College of Your Choice.. . .27
Access and Choice... . .27
Determining Need... . .29
Cost of Attendance... . .29
Types of Financial Aid... . .30
Net Cost versus Sticker Price.. . . . . . . . . .31
Is It Worth It?... . . . . . . . .31
Private Scholarships and Scholarship Search Firms. . . . . .33
Wrap Up....34
3 Internships and Attending Graduate School . . . . . . . . .35
Biology Internships... . . . .36
Why Would I Want to Be an Intern?..37
Will I Get Paid?... . . . .38
How Do I Find an Internship?.. . . . . .38
Graduate School Programs in Biology.. . .39
Graduate School Disciplines.. . . . . . . . . .40
Quality Programs and Rankings.. . . . . . . .42
Selective Biology Graduate Schools.. . .43
Highly Ranked Graduate Schools.. . . .44
Admission to Grad School.. . . . . . . . . . . .45
Paying for Graduate School.. . . . . . . . . . .46
Similarities between Grad and Undergrad. . . . . . . . . .46
Differences between Grad and Undergrad. . . . . . . . .47
Is It Worth It?... . . . . . . . .48
Choices, Choices, Choices.. . . . . . . . . . . .49
Wrap Up....51
4 Career Possibilities.. . . .53
Job Descriptions... . . . . . .53
Health Scientist Administrator.. . . . . .54
Forester... . . . . . . . . . . .54
Medical Instrument Technician.. . . . .54
Medical Technologist...54
Patent Examiner... . . . .55
Sanitarian... . . . . . . . . .55
Quarantine Officer... .55
Food Scientist... . . . . .56
Park Guide... . . . . . . .56
Pharmacologist/Toxologist.. . . . . . . . .56
Forensic Scientist... . . .56
Medical Writer... . . . . .57
Public Relations, Pharmaceuticals.. . . .57
Agronomist... . . . . . . .57
Archivist, Curator, and Museum Technician. . . . . . . .58
Dietitian and Nutritionist.. . . . . . . . . .58
Sales Representatives... .58
Biologist... . . . . . . . . . .59
Environmental Scientist.. . . . . . . . . . .61
Food Scientist... . . . . .61
Animal Scientist... . . . .62
Medical Librarian... . . .62
Optometrist... . . . . . . .63
Podiatrist... . . . . . . . . .63
Chiropractor... . . . . . . .64
Audiologist... . . . . . . . .64
Biomedical Engineer... .65
Pharmacist... . . . . . . . .65
Wrap Up....66
5 Breaking into the Job Market. . . . . . . .67
Planning Ahead... . . . . . . .68
Searching for a Job... . . . . .69
The Basics... . . . . . . . .69
How to Budget Your Time.. . . . . . . . .69
Your Job Search Book...70
Don’t Believe the Clichés.. . . . . . . . . .71
Stay Informed and Be Realistic.. . . . . .72
Take Advantage of Current Trends.. . .73
How to Network... . . .75
Online Job Searches... .77
Preparing Your Résumé... .78
Career Center, On-Campus Recruiters, and Career Fairs.80
Find Your Own Job Openings.. . . . . . . . .81
Interviewing for a Job... . .82
Do Your Research... . . .82
Practice... . . . . . . . . . . .83
Interview Tips... . . . . . .84
The Interview and Follow Up.. . . . . . .84
Wrap Up....86
6 Case Studies.. . . . . . . . .87
Karen, Epidemiologist... . .87
What I Do... . . . . . . . .88
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . . .88
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . . .89
Other Training... . . . . .89
Helpful Moves... . . . . .90
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . . .91
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . . .91
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . . .91
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . . .92
Salaries for Epidemiologists.. . . . . . . .92
Some Thoughts About Karen’s Career..92
Susan: Education and Outreach Program Manager. . . . .93
What I Do... . . . . . . . .93
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . . .94
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . . .94
Other Training... . . . . .94
Helpful Moves... . . . . .95
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . . .95
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . . .95
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . . .96
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . . .96
Salaries for Epidemiologists.. . . . . . . .96
Some Thoughts About Susan’s Career..96
Sara, Zookeeper/Biologist in the Birdhouse. . . . . . . . . . .97
What I Do... . . . . . . . .97
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . . .98
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . . .98
Other Training... . . . . .99
Helpful Moves... . . . . .99
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . .100
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . .100
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . .100
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . .101
Salaries for Zookeepers.. . . . . . . . . . .101
Some Thoughts About Sara’s Career..101
Rick, Science Reporter... .102
What I Do... . . . . . . .102
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . .103
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . .103
Other Training... . . . .103
Helpful Moves... . . . .104
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . .105
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . .105
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . .105
Salaries for Reporters.. . . . . . . . . . . .106
Some Thoughts About Rick’s Career..106
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . .106
Katie, Healthcare Attorney.. . . . . . . . . . .107
What I Do... . . . . . . .107
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . .108
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . .108
Other Training... . . . .109
Helpful Moves... . . . .109
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . .109
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . .110
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . .110
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . .110
Salaries for Attorneys.. . . . . . . . . . . .111
Some Thoughts About Katie’s Career. . . . . . . . . . . .111
Gail, Technical Director, Hospital Laboratory. . . . . . . .111
What I Do... . . . . . . .112
Why I Majored in Biology.. . . . . . . .112
How the Biology Major Prepared Me for My Job. . .112
Other Training... . . . .113
Helpful Moves... . . . .113
Pitfalls to Avoid... . . .113
What I Love About My Job.. . . . . . .114
Things on the Job I Could Do Without. . . . . . . . . .114
My Work and My Life.. . . . . . . . . . .114
Salaries for Epidemiologists.. . . . . . .115
Some Thoughts About Gail’s Career..115
7 Final Thoughts.. . . . . .117
Appendix: Resources..119
Biology Honor Society... .119
Professional Resources... .119
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) . . . . . . . . . . .120
Professional Societies.. . . . . . . . . . . .120
Job Listing Web Sites... . .121
College Admission, Search, and Financial Aid Resources . . . . . . . . . . .122
Biology Career Reference Books.. . . . . .123
Index... .125