What to do after 4 years of Science?

Blue Badger

Hey everyone,

I've completed a four year science course, covered a bit of everything, and am looking for ideas as to what I do next. Honestly, I have no idea what I want. I only went into science on a whim.

What are the most interesting areas you've found? Do you enjoy them? Are there any areas in particular that think are amazing, any masters?

I'm just fishing for ideas here! I was even toying with the idea of going back and doing medicine!

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm at a crossroads here and don't know which way to turn.


Kind Regards,

Blue Badger (I have no idea why I chose that name...)

aine92

Blue Badger wrote: »

Hey everyone,

I've completed a four year science course, covered a bit of everything, and am looking for ideas as to what I do next. Honestly, I have no idea what I want. I only went into science on a whim.

What are the most interesting areas you've found? Do you enjoy them? Are there any areas in particular that think are amazing, any masters?

I'm just fishing for ideas here! I was even toying with the idea of going back and doing medicine!

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm at a crossroads here and don't know which way to turn.


Kind Regards,

Blue Badger (I have no idea why I chose that name...)

I did Neuro, now work in Cardiac research, I didn't do any Masters etc. Not for the time being anyway, maybe in the future.

One thing I will point out is that "toying" with the idea of medicine isn't reason enough to get into it, I have a friend doing GE Med and it's a tough tough slog.

Dingle_berry

Look at your passions interests and successes to find direction. For example if you have a passion for cooking persue that. If you succeeded at molecular biology and have an interest in computers persue things like bioinformatics. Go to a career advisor if you find it difficult.

Whatever you do, don't follow a course just because someone else did.

KenjiOdo

Depends what you specialised in.. why not aim high and try get into something like NASA, ESA, CERN??

..They take STEM right??


Or look at smartfutures.ie see if they can offer ideas/help??

All the help I can offer.. didn't do science although was thinking of doing as mature student..

plstudent

Dingle_berry wrote: »

Look at your passions interests and successes to find direction. For example if you have a passion for cooking persue that. If you succeeded at molecular biology and have an interest in computers persue things like bioinformatics. Go to a career advisor if you find it difficult.

Whatever you do, don't follow a course just because someone else did.

You mentioned bioinformatics. Where in Ireland is it good to study that?

challengemaster

Blue Badger wrote: »

I've completed a four year science course, covered a bit of everything, and am looking for ideas as to what I do next.

You could start by telling us what specifically you actually did. You now have a BSc in what? Chemistry/Physics/Botany/Zoology/?????

There's very little point suggesting a masters in theoretical physics (theoretically), if you're a zoologist with no interest in physics

What are the most interesting areas you've found? Do you enjoy them? Are there any areas in particular that think are amazing, any masters?

That's a bit of a silly question - most people specialise into something they enjoy and find interesting. It's not really a lucky dip situation where you chance things and then find out it's interesting!

Also what one person thinks is amazing and interesting may bore the pants off another. I'm a stem cell scientist and I could talk about how amazing it is for days. I also know one person finishing zoology who would easily talk about classification of starfish for days if you let him. Similarly another friend with a BSc in Earth & Ocean Science who finds geology amazing.

I'm just fishing for ideas here! I was even toying with the idea of going back and doing medicine!

I hope you've the guts of €60,000 to toy with then.

Abby19

challengemaster wrote: »

I hope you've the guts of €60,000 to toy with then.

Blue Badger wrote: »

I'm just fishing for ideas here! I was even toying with the idea of going back and doing medicine!

€60k would barely cover GAMSAT fees, you then have to live for 4 years (rent, food, utilities, books, etc)

steddyeddy

plstudent wrote: »

You mentioned bioinformatics. Where in Ireland is it good to study that?

UCD. The inventor of Clustal and a man whose work has been cited more than most scientists works there. He has amazing contacts.

steddyeddy

Op if you love to research then stick with science IMO.

aine92

steddyeddy wrote: »

UCD. The inventor of Clustal and a man whose work has been cited more than most scientists works there. He has amazing contacts.

Des Higgins. Bioinformations is no joke though, I used to work there. Contact Des and see if he would take you for a few months internship if you're super serious about it.

CramCycle

steddyeddy wrote: »

UCD. The inventor of Clustal and a man whose work has been cited more than most scientists works there. He has amazing contacts.

aine92 wrote: »

Des Higgins. Bioinformations is no joke though, I used to work there. Contact Des and see if he would take you for a few months internship if you're super serious about it.

+1 Des is a really decent guy, the programs from that group are great, have been using them for years. Dabble in bioinformatics myself but if your going head first into it, there is alot of work there.

Whats your undergrad in specifically? This will, as said before, help people advise you on realistic possibilities following on from your degree.

If you are not sure, I would recommend just getting some lab experience and see what you think. I know who people who have done this and went onto be big names in industry and academia, others who decided to pack it all in after a few months and go and become a pilot (now flying A320s etc. for an international airline).

If your only toying with medicine, it doesn't sound like its really what you want to do, just an opinion.