What Pathway Should I Take to Biochemistry?

[Felixworks]

I will be applying to colleges in a while, and I'm fairly certain I want to study biochemistry. Some (respected) institutions, such as Johns Hopkins University and Oregon State University, offer Biochemistry undergrad degrees. That is what I was planning on obtaining, but I heard someone say that it's not a good idea to specialize that early. That there are few jobs for someone with a B.S. Biochemistry, and that it won't make it easier to get a Master's either. They suggested that it would be better to get a plain Biology, Chemistry, or related degree. Opinions? Experiences?

I'll talk to some counselors anyway, but I'd like an outside perspective as well.

[Scow]

There are plenty of jobs in biochemistry if you have a strong traditional chemistry background to back it up. I did drug metabolism work for a pharmaceutical research company before going back to graduate school. They often had a hard time finding chemists and biochemists. They would end up taking biology majors with almost no chemistry experience just to get anyone to do the work. Besides, biochemistry isn't very specialized these days (people may disagree with me on this). In the same way that an EE major is a physics student who knows EM theory really well, a biochemistry major is a chemist who knows biology really well (or, vice versa).

Here are some tips that might help:
1) Look for a school that works hard at giving undergraduates research experience. I was in the right place at the right time and managed to do some research, despite an abysmal academic record. When I say abysmal, I mean abysmal. That work set me up for everything I've done since (i.e. I'm now 4 years into my PhD.).
2) Take advantage of the first few years of undergrad and try some new things. You might find that some other course of study is better for you. Keep an open mind.
3) Consider a double major in chemistry and biochemistry. There is typically a lot of overlap in the required classes. This would give you many more options for jobs and graduate school.
4) If you go with just a biochemistry major, for the love of all things holy, take all the analytical chemistry you can and do well in it. You will always be able to fall back on that to make a good living.

[TheKrikkitWars]

If you come at it from a Chemistry angle, you can fall back on "normal" Chemistry; If you come at it from a Molecular Biology angle you can fall back on Biology...

Which do you find more interesting and engaging?

[ImagingGeek]

but I heard someone say that it's not a good idea to specialize that early. That there are few jobs for someone with a B.S. Biochemistry, and that it won't make it easier to get a Master's either. They suggested that it would be better to get a plain Biology, Chemistry, or related degree. Opinions? Experiences?

I can speak from the "other side"; that being a current uni professor and a (former) partner in a biotech startup.

Whomever told you the above has no clue as to what they are talking about (in some aspects). The vast majority of people will specialise in undergrad, and unless you're med-school or professional-school (i.e. MBA) bound, you'll hamper your future job prospects by not specialising. Even when it comes to getting into grad school, specialisation is usually required. Personally speaking, I only take students who have specialised in one of three areas (biochem, cellular biology or immunology) into my lab. Entry into professional schools and med schools is little affected by specialisation, as the vast majority of the weight put into your entry is simply your undergraduate mark plus your grade in the entry exam (i.e. MCAT for med school). Keep in mind that by specialising, you'll develop significant knowledge in a specific area; by not specialising you'll limit yourself to general knowledge of a slightly larger area of knowledge. Meaning, when you're competing for a job/program, you'll be at a disadvantage to those who specialised in the relevant area.

The one thing your source did get right is that there are few jobs for someone with a BSc in bchem - although I would extend that to a BSc in any biological discipline. The job market for biologists is crap right now - both in academia and industry - but even before the economic shit hit the mortgage fan, the job market for BSc's was minimal. Biotech/pharma companies want masters/PhD's for sales/R&D; same is true for technician and administrative positions in academia. over the past ten or so years the job market for BSc has largely dried up, as masters/PhD degrees have become much more common, and therefore those degree holders have swamped the job market.

Hope that wasn't too depressing.

Bryan