How can I decide on what category of biology I want to major in?

Hi Iris,

What a beautiful name, my aunt's name is Iris as well :).

Biology is a broad field with a number of concentrations some example are Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry etc. Your decision will all depend on your passion, if your school offers Anatomy an Physiology you may consider taking this class it will provide you with hands on experience in the lab which is key for most Biology majors.

My son who is heading off to college in August (freshman) is a Bio-Premed major, he took Anatomy and Physiology in High School (senior year), this has helped greatly with his college decision major. He's interested in becoming a Dentist or an Orthodontist.

A major in Biology could also lead to a successful career in Physical Therapist or a Sport Doctor. You can't go wrong in this field.  I'm confident that you will make the decision that drives your passion.  Good Luck Iris.

Warmest Regards,

Sherene

Hi Iris!

I'm so glad that you enjoy biology! As a computer engineering student, many of my classmates are sometimes confused about why I love biology so much, but it's honestly an awesome field to get involved with. During my undergraduate career I have been involved in two research labs that work at the intersection of the biomedical field and engineering, and both of my experiences have been incredible.

This past semester, I shadowed a doctor interacting with patients to help me in a project for my lab, as well as attended a meeting that he held with med students completing their residency. I remember him saying that his piece of advice for students who want to be doctors or surgeons is to specialize in the area of the human body that grosses them out the least. This is a funny way of saying that, as a doctor, you will be interacting with a particular area of the body a lot (the heart, the brain, the kidney, etc). You will see the beauty of the organ and all of the uglies of the organ as patients deal with medical problems. His advice is to find the organ or bodily fluid that "grosses you out" the least, and then go into that field. I never thought I'd actually use that piece of advice since I'm not pre-med, but I'm glad I get to pass it along today!

However, if you are not considering becoming a doctor or surgeon as much as before, then be assured that there are a lot of different fields where biology is becoming increasingly applicable and in demand. My personal experience in it has largely been with respect to computer engineering, and I can speak to the fact that right now there are a ton of opportunities in research in the biomedical field. As engineers try to find chemical, electrical, and mechanical solutions to problems such as cancer and asthma and many other diseases, being knowledgeable about the biology and physiology of their research area is something that is absolutely essential to making their project successful. If you find yourself interested in the intersection of biology and engineering or biotechnology, I would encourage you in this area because it is definitely a booming field. Besides this, there are other opportunities in neurology, pharmacy (if you like chemistry as well), and dentistry.

I hope that this answer helps; best of luck in everything!!!