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 Celestial Traveler
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Registered: 03/04/11
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 What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? 
#16726767 - 08/19/12 03:32 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Do you think adding the Biology minor would noticeably expand my job opportunities at all?
And do you think it would allow me to go towards a Biology-related direction if I went to graduate school?
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 pfxtc
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16726773 - 08/19/12 03:33 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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sounds stupid
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igCorcaigh
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: pfxtc]
#16726786 - 08/19/12 03:35 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Don't think so, biology is too broad a discipline.
The other way around, maybe...
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"I believe that great weirdness stalks the universe. That's not the issue with me, but it is not tacky. It is not tacky." - The Bard TMcK
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DieCommie
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16726795 - 08/19/12 03:36 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Doing biology related research would be more useful for each of those. I dont know about your institution but modern biology research very much needs people with mathematical skills. If grad school is your aim then I would look for somebody doing biology research to work with. (Of course there is no need to limit your search to faculty in the math or bio dept)
Only after I was sure that my major and research were well attended too would I consider adding on a minor.
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CosmicLion
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16726977 - 08/19/12 04:14 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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People apply Mathematics to Biology a LOT more then they apply Biology to Mathematics. Meaning, focus on the what you consider the important topic: Biology. Take mathematics as a side with a focus heavy on statistics.
Check this out:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2012/07/09/america-desperately-needs-more-stem-students-heres-how-to-get-them/
So both Math or Science would be good as a major...
Math majors would go more into theory + analysis + mathematical model creation (of any kind) + applied computer science such as data mining or engineering/physics software design.
Biology majors would work more with bio-research and bio-analysis where your applied statistics comes in handy to measure + analyze and your applied calculus comes into play when designing models of biological systems.
IMO Math seems pretty dry unless you are really into it and have an interest in Computer Science (programming). From the sounds of what you would like, IMO, you would be MUCH better off with the Biology major with the math minor. This will not only be a more rewarding curriculum with real-world hands on knowledge but it will open more doors down the types of avenues it seems you want.
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scruffymafia
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16727125 - 08/19/12 04:45 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Do it. There's a huge shortage of biomathematicians out there, especially in ecology and genetics. Most biologists suck at maths, myself included.
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Celestial Traveler
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: CosmicLion]
#16727276 - 08/19/12 05:13 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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The problem is I've already been in college for two years majoring in Math, and I have a full scholarship that only lasts 4 years, so I'm really pressured to graduate in 4. Really the only option at this point is to keep the Math major and add a minor, or double major. Adding a biology major would be just too much.
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DieCommie
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16727386 - 08/19/12 05:31 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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What about research? Are you doing it or considering it? I dont see why the scholarship matters that much. So take out some loans, pick up a job and spend an extra year. That cost would be nothing compared to getting some publications down and beefing up your grad school application.
In the end nobody really cares what degree you get. They care what you can actually do. If you are majoring in science or math you need to do research to foster real marketable skills. A minor or double major is nothing compared to that.
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TimeLapse
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: scruffymafia]
#16727474 - 08/19/12 05:49 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
scruffymafia said:
Do it. There's a huge shortage of biomathematicians out there, especially in ecology and genetics. Most biologists suck at maths, myself included.
Same, I am a graduate student in Cali with a Double major in Neuroscience and Genetics, and I absolutely suck at math. The company I intern with in the summer pays their bio-informatic and bio-statistic students a significantly higher salary then I. However, if you can't switch or declare another major because of your scholarship, don't be afraid. I don't where you live, but my wife and I are in Cali and the job market sucks here. However, my wife was a mathematics and physics double major and she got a job working with the government coding counter missle defense systems. So there's always work for a mathematician.  She too was worried about work.
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BlindSophist
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Registered: 07/11/06
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16727508 - 08/19/12 05:56 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Biology is exciting right now, even more exciting than when they were sequencing the genome. There's a ton of opportunities on the horizon if you have a solid grasp on protein sequencing. I would go for it.
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Doc_T
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: BlindSophist]
#16727514 - 08/19/12 05:58 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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With a Bachelor's in Mathematics (and $3.95) you can get a latte at Starbucks.
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: DieCommie]
#16728184 - 08/19/12 07:35 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
DieCommie said:
What about research? Are you doing it or considering it? I dont see why the scholarship matters that much. So take out some loans, pick up a job and spend an extra year. That cost would be nothing compared to getting some publications down and beefing up your grad school application.
In the end nobody really cares what degree you get. They care what you can actually do. If you are majoring in science or math you need to do research to foster real marketable skills. A minor or double major is nothing compared to that.
I think I have a semester of research paid for too but that would still not be enough.
I'm going to an out-of-state school that would normally cost tens of thousands of dollars per semester so that's why I really have to finish in 4 years.
You don't think I could get a graduate degree in Biology with a Bachelor's in Mathematics though?
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DieCommie
El Guapo
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16728341 - 08/19/12 08:03 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
You don't think I could get a graduate degree in Biology with a Bachelor's in Mathematics though?
Sure you could. You can switch fields between your bachelors and grad school. Its a little more difficult though. You have to sell your particular skill set for their department and research needs. If you do mathematics research relating to protein folding, your grad application could easily be submitted to biology departments that do protein folding or the like. If your mathematics research is not related to biology and the dept you apply to does not do much mathematical or computational biology then your credentials would not be a good fit.
You really should do more than a semester of research. Most of the time you dont do it for credits, you just do it to get published. Your research adviser will be your mentor not only for the subject material but also your professional development (like tailoring your grad application to the appropriate programs).
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Celestial Traveler
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16737767 - 08/21/12 06:35 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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What would you guys think about a Math major with Chem minor, as opposed to Math major with Biology minor?
Would it be easier to apply the first one to a Chem field than to apply the second one to a Biology one?
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fbi365
Captain of the Sinking Ship
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16737953 - 08/21/12 07:03 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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If you want to work or go to school in a biology field then you should probably major in it. If I had to do it all over again I would have majored in biology with a minor in economics. Environmental policy is all about economics. Stupid (jk)
Don't forget that you can double major. But ya math is good but I will guess that stats is very important too :my2cents:
You can always talk to an advisor
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DieCommie
El Guapo
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: Celestial Traveler]
#16737971 - 08/21/12 07:06 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
Celestial Traveler said:
What would you guys think about a Math major with Chem minor, as opposed to Math major with Biology minor?
Would it be easier to apply the first one to a Chem field than to apply the second one to a Biology one?
I see little to no effective difference between the two. A minor is just some undergrad classes tacked on to your major. Its doesnt really matter. The best part about it is the extra classes you get to take and apply to your field. If you dont need or want those classes then there is no need for a minor.
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fbi365
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: DieCommie]
#16738014 - 08/21/12 07:11 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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Ya double major > minor
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the way out is through
Pwnasaurus said 'Most contradictory post of the year goes to you!'
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Celestial Traveler
Random Observer
Registered: 03/04/11
Posts: 6,540
Loc: Idaho
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Re: What do you think about a Bachelor's in Mathematics with Biology minor? [Re: fbi365]
#16739119 - 08/21/12 10:09 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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But like I said though, I only have four years of paid college. If I did a double major I would take over 4 years and then start having to pay out-of-state tuition.
One of my biggest fears is that if I change my major now, or tack on a double major, I will end up changing my mind/major again later on and end up in a long cycle of taking out loans to pay for more and more school while taking forever to graduate.
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