Biology Major

[Sarahs7]

Hey guys. I applied for a biology major, i start this fall. Is it going to be so hard? Is it possible for me to get a high gpa? Tips and telling me what to expect would really help!

[jhouser123]

Being a biology major is really great, but it takes work! I am just going into my third year as a biology major. Generally your first two years of biology courses will be the required 100 and 200 level biology courses that your school makes you take (for me I had Cell Biology, Evolution and Diversity, Ecology, and Genetics/Molecular Biology) and then after that you can usually take electives which will be whatever you want and whatever your school offers. You will also probably be required to take some chemistry, and maybe physics and calculus if you are unlucky! It is definitely possible to get a good GPA if you actually work at it and like biology.

 

What are your plans for a job or future schooling? Usually you can kind of tailor your experience in undergrad towards what you want to do after graduating!

[Dislayer]

All university degrees can be difficult since unlike school you will not have constant reminders or "hand holding" to help you along. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is that if you do not understand something, do not be afraid to ask the professor, teaching aide, peer or tutors. The reason you are in school is to learn and so therefore there really is no stupid question. Another helpful thing will be to make sure you get into a routine and make a schedule. If you study the same way and on a schedule then it will not feel like a chore. Lots of times you have breaks between classes (sometimes 30 minutes sometimes a couple hours). Use this time to review what you learned in class, write out your notes (iPads/laptops make note taking easier but you do not retain the info as much as if you write them out).

 

One final piece of info that will definitely help you with whatever you plan on doing after your degree is make sure you get involved. Volunteer in the community, volunteer at the university. Become part of the culture. Look for research opportunities. Many research centres like mine have spots for summer students (usually in their 2nd/3rd year) to come in and get involved in the lab.

 

Best of luck! It is not as bad as you may think.