Students may take it at either SL or HL. We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Whether you want to take a specific science class—perhaps one that is closely related to your future career—or simply want the opportunity to take more science classes beyond your high school's required curriculum, there are several ways you can do this. While taking an AP science class will look most impressive to colleges, electives are always an option as well, particularly if you don't plan on majoring in a STEM subject.
Many high schools offer a wide range of science electives , and these are a great way to take a class in a more specialized field of science you're particularly interested in, or to add more science courses to your transcript if you don't have the time or desire to take an AP science course. If your high school doesn't offer a specific AP science class or elective, you might be able to take a similar course at a local community college.
This is also a convenient way to take higher-level science classes that most high schools don't offer , such as advanced courses in biology, chemistry, or physics. While taking a college-level class can be difficult, it'll look great on your transcript and you'll often get college credit for it. Talk to your guidance counselor to learn how to enroll in community college classes. It's becoming more common for high schools to offer classes that were developed specifically for students planning a science career, such as one in medicine or research.
My own high school, for example, offered a course for students who wanted to become doctors. Three days a week they would have a standard human physiology class, and twice a week they'd visit a local hospital and observe doctors and nurses. Similar to job shadowing , taking these career-focused classes is a great opportunity to get more hands-on experience and see whether a particular career is right for you. Even if your school doesn't offer classes like this, you might be able to set up something similar as an independent study.
Your school might offer science classes specifically for students thinking about pursuing a degree in medicine. Most colleges and high schools in the United States require you to complete two to three years of science classes. Most likely, you'll be required to take biology and chemistry your first two years of high school. If you plan on majoring in a STEM field, you should definitely take four years of science , including an AP science class your senior year, if possible.
If you will not be majoring in a STEM field, however, then you might want to consider taking science electives your senior year instead. Trying to decide whether AP or IB is better for you? Check out our complete guide to see which program better aligns with your skills and goals. Wondering which math classes you should take in high school, too? It's common for people to choose a broad biology degree, such as general biology, for their undergrad and then specialize in a more specific topic as they advance, but this isn't always the case.
A good question to ask yourself is where you'd like to end up. For example, if you want to be a professor of virology or a surgeon, you'll need to get an advanced graduate degree. Alternatively, if you'd rather just work in the lab and leave all the grant-writing or patient-handling to others, you may be better off earning a bachelor's or master's degree. Increasing your level of education often leads to a higher salary, but it can also make you overqualified for some roles and limit your options.
It can sometimes be tough to get a foothold with an advanced degree because the number of positions available may be relatively small.
This is where networking can help set you apart from your competition. Take full advantage of your professional and personal contacts when looking for a job. If your network is small, consider enrolling in for-credit internship and practicum experiences while you're in school; many colleges help students find these types of positions. Another factor to consider is the demand and availability of jobs that a degree prepares you for.
As you can see from the table above, there are millions of registered nurses working in the U. Based on these numbers, your chances of finding a job as a nurse are probably much greater than your chances of finding a job as a wildlife biologist. In general, a BS degree provides a more science-focused education, while a BA degree includes language and humanities courses.
The type of major you choose should depend on your ultimate career goals. If you plan to pursue advanced study in biology or medicine, a BS degree might be the best choice. Although most medical schools don't specifically require a BS, earning this degree instead of a BA may help you meet more prerequisites. If you're not interested in going to grad school or specializing in a certain area, a BA might be a better choice.
This could also be true if you want to use your biology knowledge in less-scientific fields, like business, education, law, marketing, or politics. You should also take additional upper level science courses, in order to demonstrate that you can succeed in medical school coursework.
The following courses are good choices for premedical students:. The MCAT is administered several times a year. You must take the MCAT no later than the summer following your junior year in order for your application to be considered in the fall of your senior year.
This means you need to be prepared for the MCAT exam in three years, not four. As minimal preparation you should complete the required courses listed above, as well as the following courses: Human Physiology, Introductory Psychology, and Introductory Sociology.
This should be complete by end of your junior year. To be a viable candidate for medical school you must demonstrate that you have sufficient firsthand experience with medical practice to make an informed career decision, not just the academic ability to succeed in the medical school classroom. We offer an organized shadowing experience via Biology Preceptorship in Health or Veterinary Sciences , but we also strongly recommend that you find other opportunities to obtain firsthand experience.
Volunteer or paid work in a hospital, clinic, or other medical setting is an excellent way to gain experience. Jobs for graduates with a degree in biology can be just as diverse as the nature of the study.
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