[studying] Medical science or Biology?

[Dakkareth]

So I finished school a few weeks back and am going to start at university this fall. Deadline for applications is next friday, but I want to have it done by monday evening. The question is: What exactly am I going to study?

Ironically I already know that I'm going to take computer science as secondary subject.

As the topic says, the tie is between between biology and medicine (if that's the word - or is it 'medical science'?) for the other part. My original idea was biology, ever since I learned what it could be when approached in a scientific way instead of the 'lets gather bugs'-way* in my intensive courses at school. The areas of most interest to me right now are those of molecular biology (though I'll have to make good on a lot of chemistry I don't know) and neurobiology.
My parents, both of which have studied medicine, are lobbying for 'their' subject. Not only does it have greater prospects in terms of employment, it's also broader and more likely to get me to where I'm doing the real work instead of helping someone else to do research. What I don't want is to work in a hospital, be a physician of any kind, though. But less than half of all medicinists (at 5:20am I'm forming neologisms here) actually do that, the rest works in research or other fields. So they say.

And so I'm undecided. This really isn't about 'doing what I want or what others want', it's about ... well, more opinions. Advise. Whatever you may have to say about this. I appreciate it.

-Dakkareth


*No need to point it out, my cousin is studying biology and he's doing a lot of bug-gathering. What I was talking about is the way teachers try to get children to understand stuff not to bother them about the interesting things, doing very elemental stuff instead.

P.S.
And please excuse my possible incoherency - it's half past five in the morning and I really should go to sleep.

 

[Fenris]

It would seem that you are cut out for Bioinformatics. See what univeristy programs there are for you. It's a huge and growing field for those with good computer and biology (especially molecular) skills. As a molecular biologist, I WISH I had the computer skills to go into it. Check out the field and see if it interests you.

Fenris

 

[LightPhoenix]

This is based solely on my experience as a biochemistry major.

One thing that's not really made explicitly clear, or even implicitly, before or during college is the difference between the clinical side of things and the research side of things. While both sides have their differences, they also have some similarities.

Clinical work tends to be a lot less theory and a lot more practicality. A lot of it is drug testing - dosages and what not. Depending on where you study, you may not be doing a lot of the lab work. For example, at the hospital/college I work at (Upstate University) the clinical and anatomical pathology labs at the hospital end up doing a lot of the testing, and the "lab work" is really a lot of data collection. That's something to check into.

Reasearch work on the other hand is the opposite - more theory, less practicality. Rather than testing drug dosages, you'll be developing new drugs. I personally feel there's more diversity on the research side of things, but it's also a bit more work. In the US, a lot of that is done in the private sector - Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and the other big pharmaceutical companies.

To answer a few points you made specifically:

One, you will have more opportunities on a clinical path. There are lots of hospitals out there, and most do some degree of research. A teaching hospital will naturally have more.

Two, especially with molecular bio, that's a pretty research-oriented path. Neuroscience less so, in fact there's a fair degree of balance with it.

Three, you're not going to start on top. It doesn't matter what path you take, you'll be doing other people's work for a good long time. The key is to find a college where a professor is doing work you're interested in, and working with them. That way you're still working on stuff you're interested in, and you're more likely to have a better relationship with your teacher.

Fourth, go as far as you can. Get a PhD if you can. It'll pay off in the long run.

Fifth, with Comp Sci as a minor, you may want to look into bio-informatics. In any field, if you intend to use Comp Sci, you're probably looking at a research track.

Sixth, most college programs, unless specifically pre-med, are research oriented. That means lots of chemistry. If nothing else, in organic chem, remember nucleophiles and electrophiles.

Finally, there are other options. The FDA has a large group of researchers, as do the EPA and other scientific government organizations. Even the FBI has some researchers. You could also be a college professor - that's one of the easiest ways to get your own lab, and some degree of freedom.

And don't forget that you can switch between the two. Right now I'm doing clinical work, but the laboratory experience will help me get clinical or research jobs. My degree makes me suitable for either, and yours probably will too.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Biology. I find the Brain to be quite interesting. When I get back into college I'm going to study my arse off to become a Psychologist.

 

[Dakkareth]

I'd considered bioinformatics, but it's too specialized to start with - you can only do bioinformatics then. Going FROM Biology and computer science (for example) into bioinformatics at some later point means you have more options - or so was my line of thinking.

 

[Turanil]

Biology / Medicine: what would be the difference, especially with regards to what you want to do professionally after that. For me, a pure neophyte, it looks like that medicine would open a broader range of possibilities, but what would you lose then to not have studied biology?

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

I dont know the proper term, but what about biological engineering?

 

[Eltern]

From your diction and description of the higher education system, it seems you're a Brit, or maybe Canadian. If so I have nothing for you. If you're in the United States, pshaw! US medical schools require four things:
2 semesters biology
2 semesters physics
2 semesters inorganic chemistry
2 semester organic chemistry

That's it. Oh, and do well on the MCATs. Other than that, you can be an English major, if you want. I -strongly- suggest you be diverse, and not throw all your eggs in one basket. As such, I wouldn't go with "Medicine" as a major, since it's fairly restrictive, and you can still go to med school if you major in Biology. It really depends on where you're going for your schooling as to what's part of a Biology degree, but often times you can choose very freely what aspects of biology you study, so you don't have to be studying bugs.

Of course, I'm majoring in Biology, History, and Journalism, and I'm in a "Liberal Arts and Management Program," so I put a lot of value on diversity.

As for being more focued: I've a friend who is majoring in neuroscience, and focusing more on the research aspect. After his undergrad he's going for the M.D./Ph.D. program, where you simultaneously work on both degrees. If you can get in, all of these programs in the U.S. are -free-, and you can focus on neuroscience, if you like. You come out very well suited to do research, or work in a hospital.

 

[Dakkareth]

Well, I'm German and I realize that stuff will be different here, but I'd like to hear general opinions, etc . Of course, I'm also considering studying in the USA for a time, but that also has its complications - right now the usual degree you aim for is the 'diploma' (comparable to the international degree of 'Master') and switching between systems might be problematic. There are bachelor/master courses here too, but it's not standard as of yet (though it will be at some point).

Studying Medicine here is 12 semesters plus one practical year. It of course includes a fair bit of biology, chemistry, etc but has the focus squarely set on the various categories of bodily structures and the problems occuring there - at least that's how I understand it and that understanding may be flawed, which is of course part of the problem.
The nice thing about medicine is, that you can start out with everything - the first two years you do biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, etc. Only after the Physikum the 'medicine' part really starts.

Right now (my opinion changes hourly or so ) I'm in favor of biology, simply because it has what I want the most - scientific understanding of life's processes on all scales of magnitude, pure and simple. It's not a sure way to employment, or so I understand, but ...

*shrug*

I'll sleep over it once more and then get the paperwork in order. I need to get more certified copies of my all-important Abitur certificate (saying that I finished school, containing my marks and everything) ... for one of the universities I'm considering I need to send applications to the the central bureau AND the uni office itself. Aaaargh!

-Dakkareth

P.S.
MMhhh. What's the deal with university and 'medical school' as different entities in the usa? How does it work?

P.P.S.
After considering the Physikum/Main study separation I'm tending towards medicine again now - reasoning, that from the general study of all sciences (which the beginning of medicine consists of) it's easy to switch to the more specific study of biology, if I so decide. Mmmhhh. Difficult, very difficult.

Comments?

 

[Steve Jung]

P.S.
MMhhh. What's the deal with university and 'medical school' as different entities in the usa? How does it work?

Here, if you want formal education beyond high school (Gymnasium) you can go to a two-year college or a four-year college. Two-year schools give you a associate's degree. Four-year schools give you a bachelor's degree. If you want education past a bachelor's degree, you go to graduate school (Master's degree, PhD) or a professional school (medical school, dental school, law school, etc.). So for instance, physicians have at least 2 degrees, a bachelor's and an MD.