College Advice?
Hi, this is my first time on the forum. I'm a freshman at Boston University (well, I just finished freshman year) and I'm already having a crisis. Here is some background info: I'm a pre-med student. I've wanted to be a cardiologist since I was in the sixth grade. During my first year, the business world really sparked my interest. I love the idea of working on Wall Street one day (I dream really big) but I also love medicine. I realized that I don't think I'm cut out to be a doctor though. This year was tough, and not becoming a doctor until 15 years from now is not very appealing. I love the idea of being a doctor, but I'm not interested in many of the studies beforehand. Also, so much school-I really don't want that. I want to major in neurobiology, but I would like a job in the business world after college. Is this even possible?
My idea is: college, work for a few years, business school. But what can someone with a degree in neurobiology do in the business world? And while money is not my first concern, it obviously matters-who doesn't want to be wealthy? Like I said, I really don't want to give up some connection to medicine and just go an all-out finance route. I'm wondering: what should I do? A lot of pre-med studies don't interest me so should I drop it and keep the neurobio major? Is having a science degree okay in the business world? Should I be focusing more on my major, instead of business? (i.e. trying to get medical internships rather than business ones). Thanks for your help!
You're one year in. Change your degree mate.
I completed the full requisite requirements for a science degree at a very tough school, including many upper level science courses as a neurobiology major. If you want to be a doctor, don't be put off by the science courses. Everyone hates these courses, complains, and struggles/pushes through them (future doctors included). Keep grinding and become a doctor and make a difference in the world.
If you don't want to become a doctor/are only doing it for the money, change your major. That is the easiest way to do it. I didn't change my major and still graduated with Neurobiology, but for me it was too late to change majors. What saved me and allowed me to have a finance career was having many good internships and a good story.
Do whatever makes you happy. You have ONE life. Don't hesitate. Sit in a couple finances classes. Try an internship at a boutique. Talk to as many bankers as possible. You'll know if this is what you want to do.
First year courses are mainly gen ed + basic intro courses. Do some soul searching and if you really like 'business' (not exactly sure what this means) CHANGE YOUR MAJOR.
You can still graduate in four years with minimal overloading.
Major in bio/physio with a minor in finance. Become healthcare banker.
Neuro / Bio + Econ / Finance (major or minor) should get you interviews, especially if you network well.
I will say though - % of people who like being banking analysts is close to % of people who like pre-med courses. Therefore, don't think you are trading a tough few years in school for a breeze in finance and banking.
Furthermore, have you ever looked at surveys done with bankers about what they would have rather done? Top choice is medicine - my guess is due to the fact that finance leaves you rather disconnected from "real world" stuff and at some point you start feeling you don't make a direct impact in peoples' lives [this is probably a good topic for discussion elsewhere in forum]. My point in saying this is, if you've dreamed of helping people since you're a little kid, I'm quite skeptical that finance will be a good long-term choice.
I was in your situation a few years ago. You have an advantage of being young and realizing this-- you'll have more time to explore options and find your interest/passion. There are a lot of opportunities in finance to deal with healthcare. There are healthcare IB divisions, PE firms that are investing in all realms of healthcare, and VC firms that are dealing with cutting edge companies in the healthcare sector. Many of these firms specialize in healthcare or pharmaceutical companies.
If you're interested, I would do some research on firms in Boston that are making investments in the healthcare/life sciences field. Ask a few people to coffee and try to get a feel for what they do and if it's something you could see yourself doing.
PM me if you'd like to talk more.
If I were you I wouldn't go the mainway with finance major, study neurosciences as your major and take some finance courses, if possible. Healthcare is going to be (and already is!) a huge thing in finance and consulting worlds.
We have a huge aging population in Western countries who are going to retire in the next decade. This will put excessive pressure on our healthcare systems which needs bright people to develop more efficient and cost-effective policies.
Big investment banks have healthcare groups who probably see your background as an advantage. Same thing applies to consulting firms such as McKinsey.
I know it's not easy to say to a type-A person, but just relax. As others have said, there are many intersections between medicine and finance - banking, consulting, hospital administration, insurance (yuck), and hell, commercial real estate. (Have to be a bit of a homer here)
You have 3 years left. Keep your major if you like it, just make sure to study finance (minor in it if you can.) In the meantime, take as many different internships as you can to try and iron out what you actually want to do, make sure to have tons of sex because it's easy as hell in college, drink with your buddies and make good friends, work out so you don't get fat, join and lead some student organizations, and enjoy yourself too. It'll make you a far more well-rounded person and that will definitely help in business.
Buddy of mine is a 1st yr analyst at JPM in NYC with a biology degree from a non-target... if you want it bad enough you'll get there. Network and seek relevant internships ASAP.
Switch to SMG you know you want to. I know a ton of people who started Pre-Med and switched later which sort of screwed their graduation date. That being said if you really love the idea of being a doctor I would hit up some BU Med grad students and have one of them become your mentor. Its easier to make it when you can see someone whose made it through the end of the tunnel and can tell what what classes to avoid. I know BU's grade deflation is real.
I graduated from a non-target with a degree in Biology, and I now work in Private Equity. There are multiple roles you can take on in finance that encompass your interest in the Life Sciences: Life Science focused Investment Banking, Life Science focused PE, Life Science focused Hedge Funds, Life Science based Venture Capital, Life Science Equity Research, Trading coverage of Biotech/Pharma, Institutional sales with a focus on Biotech/Pharma, Corporate Development for a Pharmaceutical/Biotech company...the list goes on and on.
If I were you, and you're certain that this is what you want, either minor in Finance or double major. I regret not having any finance classes under my belt before I transitioned into Finance--my life would have been a lot easier if I did. I would focus on continuing medically related internships, but also try to grab some internships at a pharmaceutical company or an asset manger/fund focused on Life Sciences. Show that your interest has expanded to both business and medicine, and you want an occupation that reflects this.
Also, if possible, try to get your Series 7/63/66 licenses via an internship/summer job.
Let me know if I can help in any way--I've been in your shoes, though I made the decision to switch post graduation.
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