Add biology degree for long-term career goals?
Currently a sophomore at a semi-target recruiting for IB SA 2025. I’ve started to gain a deep interest in healthcare, specifically biotech (my father works in biopharma sales too). I feel decent about landing something in healthcare IB, but I want to set myself up for my long-term career interest in biotech. Should I consider adding biology coursework (or even adding the major) to study up on the science? I’ve started a couple of free online courses but not sure if that would be competitive enough for an industry already filled with so many advanced degrees.
It would help, but not sure if it's worth the significant effort that comes with a biology degree. If you're already set for HC IB, that experience will be enough to get you in the door at most places. The science degree does help show interest for your first/second job, and help with understanding a difficult industry, but once you have a few years experience it doesn't really matter anymore. It's also an extremely heavy lift to add that major and will likely be a big GPA hit...
Can you do a minor? Personally I'd just do that, checks the box without ruining your life with schoolwork
I’m starting a HC business minor which is good for HC IB based on the convos I’ve had. That also makes sense about experience being best.
i think either strategy (coursework or self learning) is helpful. Both show initiative and a basic understanding of biology will help with life science banking
Healthcare and biotech are very different. Don’t think you’d need the bio degree to land in a healthcare group. Not too sure about biotech IB but it can’t hurt.
Keep that GPA up.
I was a major similar to Biology, one of these physical sciences: Chemistry / Physics. I ended up not even using my degree whatsoever in my jobs afterwards in healthcare (graduated with a 3.5).
As I progressed in my degree, I loathed it by my senior year as I realized how much I was enjoying business electives that I took near graduation (fulfilled my degree's science class requirements sooner than most, my senior year was like 60% electives, a good chunk being in business).
I actually picked up significant clinical knowledge (not a clinician but worked in clinical operations for 5+ years) which thankfully gives me some flexibility to work across different spaces within healthcare on the business side post MBA. I got a coveted summer internship largely due to my extensive healthcare experience on the delivery side.
Hard science degrees are absolutely useless unless you're going to graduate school in those spaces (MS / PhD / DDS / MD etc.).
I have a related question. I have an offer for an MM healthcare team and an EB which analyst programme is generalist. Which would be better for HC buyside roles?
I'd imagine MM healthcare assuming you're okay landing at MM sized PE firms. MM Healthcare banks tend to have tons of sponsor clients.
Fair enough, I also have an advanced degree in life science and the EB is strong in HC so although its generalist I could push to work on HC. Would it then make more sense to opt for the EB for large cap HC?
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