Bachelor’s in Biology Degree Guide

Environmental Scientist or Specialist

Environmental scientists and specialists analyze ecosystem health and advocate for environmental protection. In the field, they collect and analyze data and, using the research skills they developed in the classroom, craft technical documents detailing their findings.

Median Annual Salary: $71,130*

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist or Technician

These specialists and technicians ensure that workplaces are safe for employees. If they discover a hazard, they work with company managers to implement solutions. They also educate employees and employers on safety best practices.

Median Annual Salary: $69,370*

High School Teacher

High school biology teachers must plan lessons, grade assignments, and communicate with parents about student progress. Many teachers participate in extracurricular activities by mentoring clubs or coaching sports. Most states require biology teachers to hold a bachelor's in biology.

Median Annual Salary: $60,320*

Biological Technician

Major testing labs employ biological technicians to test samples like blood, cultures, and agricultural products using advanced equipment. After running tests, technicians write detailed reports for their employers and their employers' clients. A degree in biology prepares graduates to safely work with biological samples and properly interpret scientific results.

Median Annual Salary: $44,500*

General Biology

Anatomy and Physiology

Organic Chemistry

Genetics

General Physics

Why did you choose to pursue a bachelor's in biology? Was this a field that always interested you?

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to become a doctor. I had the notion that the only path to medical school was through a biology program. I had always excelled in the sciences growing up, so I did not have any second thoughts about pursuing this degree. The deeper I got into my core courses, the more fascinated I was by the intricacies of life. Despite the difficulty of my classes, I was always able to appreciate how necessary these fields were to my future career.

What would you say are some of the most crucial skills you gained in your biology degree program? How do those skills apply directly to your day-to-day work?

I believe perseverance and the willingness to make mistakes are some of the most crucial skills I gained during my biology degree program. Many biology programs have a reputation for being "cutthroat" due to the misguided belief that medical schools require a perfect GPA, recommendation letters from esteemed professors, and an exorbitant amount of research experience. This belief is perpetuated by professors who weed out students they deem unworthy of medical school due to their inability to use the appropriate number of sig figs (significant figures) in scientific calculations or poor pipetting skills in the lab.

However, my school encouraged us to make mistakes in the laboratory by having a hands-off approach to the various exercises we were conducting. This enabled us as students to gain a better understanding of the material and mechanisms at work and simultaneously develop problem-solving skills. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes, but only if you can recognize and address those mistakes before moving forward.

I am currently working in the ESTEEM Laboratory at Yale, which researches evidence-based approaches to improving mental health and reducing stigma. Our research involves human participants, which requires extreme attention to detail and confidentiality to minimize the risk of harming our participants. If I were to make a mistake and try covering it up, it could harm our participants, endanger our research, and impact my career. However, if I were to make a mistake and reported it immediately, I would be able to minimize any damage that had already been done, protect our research, and save my career. We are human; it is okay to make mistakes.

What did you learn from your experiences working with marginalized populations in Oklahoma City? How did that shape the rest of your career?

It was within clinics, like Fundación Manos Juntas and the Lighthouse Medical Clinic, that I was able to connect with patients from many different backgrounds and hear their stories. On several occasions, I sat next to healthcare providers explaining to patients how their illness is merely a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle or poor behaviors. I have since learned that many diseases -- chronic and acute -- could have been prevented through proper health education.

Unfortunately, not every population receives the same education and support with regards to their health. These inequities are magnified upon examination of the health disparities that plague minority groups and low-income populations. As a pre-med biology student, I was not exposed to these issues in my formal biology education. My biology professors often frowned upon the amount of time I spent volunteering in free clinics. However, without these experiences, there would be a large gap in my understanding of health.

Recognizing and understanding the social and structural determinants of health changed my career path, at least temporarily, from medical school to public health. I would not be at the Yale School of Public Health if I had listened to my professors and stopped volunteering in my community. Each patient story challenged my misconceptions, expanded my mind, and instilled a passion for working with vulnerable populations.

What advice would you give to biology students who are debating whether to earn their degrees online or on campus?

I would urge students to determine how much accountability they require to actually complete the readings and assignments. Some students need the competitive or collaborative atmosphere of on-campus biology programs. If I had chosen an online degree as a freshman in undergrad, I am not certain I would be where I am today. This is because I had not developed essential skills, like time management or how to organize my classes (much less myself).

What advice would you give to biology students who want to get the most experience they can out of their studies? What types of extracurricular activities, internships, etc. should they consider during college?

Regardless of the format you choose, do all of the readings. Get involved with extracurriculars and gain leadership experience. Get involved in your local community and attempt to make a difference in an area you are passionate about.

It is okay to not be the stereotypical biology student. Take classes outside of your department and make friends in different fields. Take chances and be willing to make mistakes. Take care of your health, first and foremost. I always suggest students make an appointment to see a counselor at the beginning of each semester, just as you would get a checkup with your doctor. It is good to touch base with these resources and to feel comfortable with accessing them before ever needing them.

Any final thoughts for us?

Try new things, especially if you think you won't like them. I never thought I would enjoy formal research, much less social sciences, but here I am studying social and behavioral sciences at the Yale School of Public Health, working in two research labs, and learning SAS and R statistical programming.

• GPA: Colleges and universities often use a high school GPA cutoff to attract only the most qualified applicants. Applicants with an excellent GPA may receive a scholarship or admission to an honors program.
• Recommendation Letters: Typically, online bachelor's degrees in biology require 2-3 recommendation letters. At least one letter should come from a high school science teacher.
• Essay: Nearly all colleges and universities ask freshman applicants to submit a personal statement or essay on an assigned topic. If possible, prospective biology students should discuss their passion for the subject, high school coursework, or career plans.

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Letters of Recommendation

Test Scores

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