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Q: I want
to go to medical/dental/veterinary/pharmacy school. Do
I have to be a Biological Sciences or Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology major?
A: Both the B.S. in Biological Sciences and the BS in Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology include much of the pre-requisite coursework required
by health professions programs. Many of the students (75%
or so) who apply to medical school from UMBC complete a degree
in one of the life sciences because they enjoy science, excel
in it, and the amount of course overlap is convenient.
However, you do not have to be a Biological Sciences or
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major to pursue these
professions. Some students pursue other degrees because they
wish to enhance the education that they plan on receiving
in professional school. There are mechanical engineers who
wish to work on the development of prosthetics and other
devices for assisting patients with physical limitations.
Health administration & public policy and political science
majors may have a desire to address health issues at the
local, state, national, and international level. Other students
choose a major outside the sciences because they feel that
this may be the last opportunity they have to study subjects
outside the sciences until they have finished their professional
degree.
Medical, dental, and pharmacy schools are looking for well-rounded
students who are good critical thinkers and have a combination
of good grades, extracurricular activities, health-relevant
experience, and high entrance exam scores. You can demonstrate
that you have these attributes no matter what your academic
major.
Q: I have taken Advanced Placement/International
Baccalaureate/College-Level Examination Program exams.
How can I receive credit?
A: First, an official report of your score must be sent
from the appropriate testing agency to the UMBC Office of
Undergraduate Admissions. These scores will then be evaluated
according to the standards listed in the UMBC
Undergraduate Catalog.
Q: I’m not interested in a health profession.
What kind of job can a Biological Sciences/Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology/Bioinformatics & Computational Biology major
make me qualified for?
A: That is a very difficult question to answer! The kind
of job that you are qualified for at the end of your degree
depends a lot on you. You have choices to make about your
learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Do
the research and get some experience to help you figure out
what you do (and do not) want to do.
Don’t think that majoring in the sciences only qualifies
you to work in science, either. You’ll learn and enhance
collaborative, critical thinking, and communication skills
through your major and general education requirement courses.
These kinds of skills can be applied in whatever career you
choose after you’ve completed your degree at UMBC.
If you’d like more specific information about the kinds
of jobs that may interest you, UMBC’s Career Services
Center is
a wonderful resource for all of our students.
Q: I have an A.A./A.A.S.; what kind of GPA/coursework
do I need to be accepted into a Bachelor’s degree
program in Biological Sciences/Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology/Bioinformatics & Computational Biology?
A: For B.A./B.S. students in Biological Sciences and B.S.
students in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, admission
to UMBC is considered “acceptance” into the
desired program. Continued enrollment as one of these majors
is contingent upon the student completing major requirements
in accordance with the academic regulations listed in the UMBC
Undergraduate Catalog.
For B.S. students in Bioinformatics & Computational
Biology, a minimum GPA in a defined group of introductory-level
courses (called a “gateway”) is required before
students may continue enrollment in the major. For more information
on the gateway courses and regulations, click
here.
Q: I received course credit for Advanced Placement/International
Baccalaureate/College-Level Examination Program exams at
my previous institution. Is it possible to receive credit
from UMBC as well?
A: UMBC does not accept another institution’s assessment
of AP/IB/CLEP exam scores for credit. In order for a student
to receive credit for any of these exams, an official report
of the student’s score must be sent directly from the
appropriate testing agency to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate
Admissions. These scores will then be evaluated according
to the standards listed in the UMBC Undergraduate
Catalog.
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