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 fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
 
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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 Need chemists or similar for some career advice 
#7961343 - 01/31/08 06:04 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Right now I am a freshman and have decided on either majoring in chemistry or biochemistry major with a minor in neuroscience. I am either going to go to grad school to get a PharmD, or just go straight into the workforce.
If I get a job right after college, which major would be preferable in your opinion? How much could I expect as an average starting salary and how much room is there for that to improve over time? I am also kind of unclear about exactly what kind of careers are available in this field. Does anyone know where I can research more about what exactly I would spend my days doing if I was a "scientist"?
Edited by fear.loathingSF (01/31/08 06:25 PM)
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 Robo
R Series 66Y
Registered: 05/08/07
Posts: 14,861
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7961469 - 01/31/08 06:33 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ask this in the Chem forum, there's some pretty smart dudes over yonder. Multiple ones who are being schooled or have been schooled in this type of stuff. They would be the best ones to ask.
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: Robo]
#7961488 - 01/31/08 06:37 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Didn't even realize there was a forum like that, any way that I can move the thread, or should I just repost?
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Robo
R Series 66Y
Registered: 05/08/07
Posts: 14,861
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7961501 - 01/31/08 06:39 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ask a mod they will probably move it there for you.
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badchad
Mad Scientist
Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: Robo]
#7961505 - 01/31/08 06:40 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'd suggest you look into graduate school if you go into one of these majors. If you work for an academic professor as a technician expect dismal pay. Working for industry you'll make a bit more.
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...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.
Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.
...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.
Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: badchad]
#7961584 - 01/31/08 06:52 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks for the responses guys.
I can't figure out how to see what mods are online, so I sent an aim message to Onelessforeskin but didnt get a response. If any mods get this message before oneless gets the message I sent him, please move this thread to the chemistry forum. Thank you
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DieCommie
Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7961591 - 01/31/08 06:53 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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.
Edited by DieCommie (11/11/16 09:52 AM)
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: DieCommie]
#7961650 - 01/31/08 07:05 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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If I do decide to go past undergrad stuff, then I am going to do Pharmacy school.
If I decide on the "chemist" route I am more interested in working in a lab right after college (I dont think I am interested at all in researching and publishing my own work after going through the insane work of grad school). Are there good opportunities working in a lab with no grad school experience, or is it all just low paying jobs? Is this even possible, or are all careers in science personal research and publishing?
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DieCommie
Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7961723 - 01/31/08 07:24 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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You can be a lab tech without a PhD, but you will mainly be cleaning beakers, doing data collection on the computer, etc.
Like badchad said the pay is relatively low, but it is certainly enough to live on. If that will make you happy, go for it.
Anyway, your a freshman right? You have time to think about it. Talk to your chemistry teachers and get their advice. They know more than the shroomery population does, thats for sure.
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: DieCommie]
#7961980 - 01/31/08 08:27 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks for the advice, and when you say enough to live on, what does that roughly mean salary-wise?
I talked to my chem professor a little bit the other day, but not for long. I plan on asking him a lot more questions but I thought I would get the opinion of a bunch of people in the mean time and figured I might run into some informed people on shroomery.
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randomdude123456
-
Registered: 05/02/05
Posts: 317
Loc: -
Last seen: 14 years, 7 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7962134 - 01/31/08 09:09 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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go no further than the occupational outlook handbook. Check out this entry from it: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos049.htm
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MushmanTheManic
Stranger
Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 4,587
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7962216 - 01/31/08 09:27 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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If you don't go to graduate school, expect to be a lab technician that makes $40,000 for the rest of your life.
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MrBump
Third prize is you're fired
Registered: 10/01/02
Posts: 4,263
Loc: Denver, Colorado
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7962220 - 01/31/08 09:27 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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a friend of mine has his undergrad in Chem. he has a good job mixing chemicals for use as food additives.
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If it weren't for the bloody corpses, I wouldn't have any corpses at all.
There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree: start climbing or sit on an acorn.
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
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DieCommie
Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7962226 - 01/31/08 09:28 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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According to that web site...
Quote:
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, beginning salary offers in July 2007 for graduates with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry averaged $41,506 a year.
Thats more than I thought, for sure. Not bad. I hope I could make that much with my physics degree.
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Mojo
Stranger
Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 1,677
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: DieCommie]
#7962331 - 01/31/08 09:46 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I’m not directing this toward anybody so don’t get the wrong idea. But I happened to bring this subject up to a physics teacher I was particularly close to.
He basically said that if you like the university life, than a degree in basic sciences may be a good option. He makes about 60k a year as a General Physics professor; keep in mind he has taught for over 20yrs.
Confessing that he wished he had done a little more research about his field when in college made me really sad. I don’t like to think of my teachers as being unhappy with there carriers when I respect them so much for what they do.
Anyhow, I look at carriers in the basic sciences as a bit of a struggle. I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions, but unless you’re at the top of your game, those great positions aren’t going to find you. The pay doesn’t necessarily compensate for the work, but if it’s your love, that wont matter.
Until last semester I was a Mechanical Engineering major, I recently switched to Chemical Engineering. Something you might think about if you still want a science based degree that makes a little more money.
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: randomdude123456]
#7962752 - 01/31/08 11:14 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Interesting link. From what ive seen at least on that site, it doesnt seem like a plain chemistry job seems all that appealing. With all the work I have put into my education so far I would hope to earn a little more than that. Im thinking I may just work really hard and try to make it through pharmacy school.
Do you guys have any opinion whether biochem or chem might be better for getting me into a pharm program after college? Any clues how difficult pharm school is? If you guys know of any useful links Id love to see em.
Thanks for the help so far.
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badchad
Mad Scientist
Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7963553 - 02/01/08 06:08 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I think I've posted something similar to this before.
If you want to be a pharmacist, you'll need a "PharmD" degree. Nowadays, a lot of these programs are integrated into undergraduate programs. If you get into one of these, its usually 6 years total.
It's a great job with a high starting pay (80-90kish). In my experience, most pharmacists like what they do, but hate the customer service aspect of their job. It seems like every single time I am in a pharmacy, some customer is yelling at the pharmacist because THEY don't know how their insurance works. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of mobility and job advancement. Considering the pay, most don't mind.
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...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.
Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.
...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.
Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: badchad]
#7964633 - 02/01/08 12:15 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ya PharmD is looking like a really good option. I only wish that I could have decided that that is what I want to do before I got into college. Now I may be stuck doing undergrad and then pharm school in 8 years rather than 6.
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badchad
Mad Scientist
Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: fear.loathingSF]
#7964858 - 02/01/08 01:02 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Your right, but thats pretty much the norm for any advanced degree. Law school is about 3, Med school is 4 + a residence, a Ph.D is about 5 + a post-doc.
When you think about it, 8 years isn't that bad.
--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.
Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.
...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.
Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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fear.loathingSF
one toke over the line
Registered: 10/21/07
Posts: 1,014
Loc: San Francisco
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Need chemists or similar for some career advice [Re: badchad]
#7965073 - 02/01/08 02:02 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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And the more I think about it pharm school may not be that bad. I hate school because of how so much of my time is wasted with utter bullshit. I look forward to my chem and calculus classes as they actually relate to me and they are interesting. Then I go to aesthetics and communications and feel like murdering myself. Pharm school may actually be fun just because it should be all stuff I am interested in, not all this GE crap that bores me to death. I guess an extra 4 years after college wouldnt kill me.
Edited by fear.loathingSF (02/01/08 02:03 PM)
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