Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry???

Question

My friend does not know which of these three majors to choose....which, in your opinion, is better for him. He wants to be a pharmacist. Also, what exactly is each major all about?

Also, my friend needs to get an account....I'm like his secretary today. LOL.

Answer 1

Biology is a good major. You study about living organisms and what they are made of. However, if your friend doesn't get into PharmD school, it doesn't pay much.

You can start off the same in both chemistry and biochemistry. Chemistry is the study of chemical processes and doesn't necessarily involve the study of anything biological. However, biochemistry is the study of chemical processes that occur within living organisms, most notably human. It is a great major with lots of opportunities in the medical field. It would be a great pre-requisite for PharmD school, since you're going to be learning a lot of biochemistry at a pretty accelerated rate.

Biochemistry gets my vote as the best major for a budding young pharmacist.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

In a Biology major you take class dealing with higher level processes like cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, virology, even zoology and ecology. Think large molecules or even whole organisms. In chemistry you deal with more fundamental processes like organic chemistry, structural biology and physical chemistry. Think individual atoms and elements. Most people find Biology more interesting, but in my opinion if you really want to understand biology, chemistry classes are better at helping you really understand biological processes then actual biology classes. I majored in biology and I wish I would have majored in chem or biochem because once the teacher started talking about complicated biological processes like photosynthesis or respiration that involved chemical formulas I always got lost. Start out with biochem or chem and see how you like it. You can always switch to biology later and you will be better off because you did the chem stuff. As for a psychology double major, any double major is a lot and you may have to stay an extra year to finish. Having the psyc major could help if you wanted to go to grad school for neuroscience. Also you may want to consider a minor, which takes less time.

Answer 3

Biochemistry would probably be the best major to pick as pharmacology is a large part chemistry but it is also part biology because it is pretty much the biological action of chemicals in the body. The best thing for him to do would be to look at schools offering pharmacology that he would like to attend and find out what they require for classes to be admitted into the program and pick his degree from there.

Answer 4

I am a pharmacy student, and I don't have any of those degrees. Many colleges (especially those offering a Pharm. D degree) have a specialized pre-pharmacy major. This is two years, then at that time he can begin applying to pharmacy school. If he doesn't get accepted after the first two years, no big deal, most of these classes are included in each of the above mentioned degrees. This is definitely the best way to go. After sitting in on MANY pharmacy school interviews at my own school, I've learned that pharmacy schools are slightly bias to their own pre-pharm students.

another thing to look at, if he doesn't get accepted after the first two years, these schools of pharmacy also offer degrees such as a BS in pharmaceutical sciences which will lead him in the direction of clinical research for major drug companies. This way he is not stuck with a fairly useless degree. The only reason to get any of the other degrees is if he plans to teach it unless he gets a lucky break with NASA ;)

Answer 5

It doesn't really matter. I have a friend that graduated last year with a Biology degree and was accepted to Pharmacy school last fall. Chemistry professors will tell you that chemistry is best, but with biology (at least at my school) you get your fair share of chemistry. I think Biology is better because you get a lot of chemistry but you also get the physiology and things that you can apply the chemistry to.

Answer 6

I agree that biochemistry would be most appropriate (with chemistry second and biology last).

Remember, just because you like the career doesn't mean you will like the class and vice-versa.

Biochemistry is about all the organic chemical reactions that go on in the body.

Answer 7

Taking chemistry is the best, as pharmacology is all about organic chemistry which is a main branch in chemistry.
Biochemistry and Biology is considered a minor course in pharmacology, compared to chemistry.

Let him head for chemistry

Answer 8

biochem as it teaches how living organisms can interact with chemicals etc. why doesnt he just take a pharmacology major though Im doing my BSc and majoring in pharmacology, neurology and anatomy (yes u shuld be able to do more than one major) but the main thing is to just get the marks to get in. u could take an arts degree and still get into pharmacy if u get the GPA

Answer 9

He should major in the one that interests him most. He may not actually end up as a pharmacist and should be prepared for that fact. He should study the subject he enjoys the most so that if he ends up in that particular field, he will be happy.

Answer 10

To get the parm. degree you must take bunches of chemistry. In order to take biochem, first you must take inoganic, organic and some physical chem. I would think Biochem would be very good.