Specialization in Undergrad

[Guest Avi44]

I've been recently faced with the question of specializing in Biochemistry, or just continuing with Biochemistry Core. I'm not sure if other Universities have specializations, but at McMaster we have certain specializations such as:

-Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Specialization {2040806}

-Computational and Physical Biochemistry Specialization {2040884}

-Molecular Biology Specialization {2040804}.

 

All of which are offered from the Biochem deptartment.

 

Does anyone have an idea if there are any positives to Specializing over Regular core Biochem? For Grad School? Med?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Guest treehuggingbiologist]

To my knowledge, it doesn't matter for medical school admissions. And for grad schools. So, DO WHAT YOU ENJOY.

 

This is a key point. I'll repeat.

 

DO. WHAT. YOU. ENJOY.

 

People go into meds from all sorts of fields - biochem, biology, cell bio, molecular bio, engineering, business, film studies, music - all sorts. Usually the people who apply have some sort of bio-based background, but this is more a result of them being interested in bio from before than the adcom's selecting bio majors.

 

Now, if you have a particular preference right now - go with that. I found that I thought genetics was the coolest thing when I was a wee young whippersnapper. Until I worked in a lab doing PCR's and running gel's for a whole summer and felt like shooting myself every night. After that, I didn't touch genetics.

 

If you have no preference, don't jump into anything - spend another year looking at options rather than choosing something you hate.

[Guest Avi44]

Thanks for the reply. I was actually in Honours Biology - Genetics Specialization. I switched out of that because I couldn't stand it. Now I'm in Biochem, and people have been scaring me about not specializing. I like biochem as it is, so I'm probably going to stick with it.

[Guest dr nomis]

I'll emphasize what THB said. It's not just his opinion, it is the best advice out there.

 

DO. WHAT. YOU. ENJOY.

 

You will get the best marks in that subject, you will not lose interest, and it will give you the best chance of getting in.

 

Med schools do not care what your undergraduate major is. To put it differently, Med schools do not care what your undergraduate major is. And to put it another way, Do what you enjoy.

 

Hope you see my point :rollin

[Guest treehuggingbiologist]

... I'm a dude.

[Guest richmond604]

... I'm a dude.

 

......misleading

 

but anyway, back to the topic.......just choose which ever you will enjoy .....

[Guest Avi44]

Thanks for the advice. I'm sticking with core for sure now.

[Guest turtle]

i did a specialist degree...in Genetics actually!! (technically "molecular genetics & molecular biology")...but i was actually quite fascinated with genetics at the time, and i filled up every elective credit i had with non-science courses to balance me out, so it worked well for me.

 

(i admit though, after those 4 years, i had absolutely no desire to do anything else in Genetics for a really long time!! not that i don't still find it interesting, just that i really needed to do something different!

 

and...just to second (or is it "third" now...) what everyone else has said: stick with what you enjoy -- if you are so fascinated by whatever you're studying that you actually WANT to learn about it (rather than having to force yourself to learn about it for the sake of an exam), you'll be much happier & will do better at it...

 

turtle

[Guest peachy]

I'm not sure if other Universities have specializations ... All of which are offered from the Biochem deptartment.

You know, even if major did matter, the chances that the people evaluating your application would know random minutae like the fact that your university happens to have subspecializations within your particular program, or that there's a difference between different areas of biochem in your department, and what the significance of those choices are, is pretty slim. It seems like a big deal to you... but the people evaluating your application are going to be like "ok, another student studying biochem, let's see what else they have going for them", no matter what you choose to do.