Bachelor of Science- job prospects?

[Starlight]

I've read quite a few posts on other forums about a few bachelor of science graduates being unemployed and naturally this worries me (but i'm certainly not saying this is always the case)

I'd like to complete postgraduate studies (e.g. vet, dentistry, optometry), however if I am not accepted for any of these, what are the best majors for job prospects?

[Stick]

I think you could secure an IT job if you picked an appropriate major quite easily. There are a lot of post-graduate IT courses out there as well and they're pretty accessible, in case you wanted to further your understanding.

[simpak]

In the Biological sciences you should probably choose MIIM or pathology - you can do microbe and disease research, vaccine development, diagnostic lab work etc. But if you're looking towards DVM then wouldn't your major option already be chosen for you?
Most majors will be pretty okay if you're willing to go into research, but I wouldn't recommend Human Structure/Function...
Of course you'd be looking at an Honours/PhD pathway or Masters to PhD pathway if you're going into that stuff, one would assume...unsure if you're only wanting to look at vocation type postgrad.

[MJRomeo81]

I think you could secure an IT job if you picked an appropriate major quite easily. There are a lot of post-graduate IT courses out there as well and they're pretty accessible, in case you wanted to further your understanding.

If you want a job in IT, forget post-grad. Get yourself some vendor certs (Cisco, Oracle, MS, etc.) and save your time instead.

[ligands]

i imagine you could get into a teacher position with some of the science majors?

[Starlight]

In the Biological sciences you should probably choose MIIM or pathology - you can do microbe and disease research, vaccine development, diagnostic lab work etc. But if you're looking towards DVM then wouldn't your major option already be chosen for you?
Most majors will be pretty okay if you're willing to go into research, but I wouldn't recommend Human Structure/Function...
Of course you'd be looking at an Honours/PhD pathway or Masters to PhD pathway if you're going into that stuff, one would assume...unsure if you're only wanting to look at vocation type postgrad.

Yeah for second year my subjects look like: physics fundamentals (as a breadth), biochemistry and molecular biology, foundations of animal health 1, foundations of animal health 2, so basically that leaves me with 1 subject to choose in first semester and 3 second semester (assuming I complete 2 breadth in 3rd year)

You can always complete level 2 subjects in year 3 yeah? (to fulfill 2 majors, i.e. incase i didn't get into say vet med)

also how about genetics?

[Starlight]

i imagine you could get into a teacher position with some of the science majors?

Yeah lecturing can be a good option

[claireb]

Just a heads up - double check whether you can do physics concurrently with animal health next year.

[Muuru]

The BSc is not a vocational degree (similar to the BA, BBiomed, and BEnv), so it's not geared to land you a job in a certain area of employment. The degree is designed to give you a set of generic skills that will benefit you in the workplace, including improved writing, listening, critical thinking and creative thinking skills, as well as discipline-specific knowledge that may prove useful for postgraduate studies. However, your degree is only a piece of paper and it's not going to get you any job without further effort.

Postgraduate studies are definitely your best option if you wish to work in a science-related field in the future. You mentioned lecturing as a possibility, but keep in mind that academia is an extremely brutal profession to break into, especially right now. Don't just assume that you're going to land a lecturing job automatically once you've completed your degree. I was considering going down the academia road with my BA and had full intentions of going on to study a PhD, but I decided against it once I discovered how piss-poor the job prospects are in academia and for post-doctoral students in Australia more generally.

If you don't mind the stigma that's attached to the teaching profession currently, then primary or secondary teaching could be an option for you as well. Again, that requires graduate work. I'm studying the MTeach right now and I'm loving it, though it's definitely not for everyone.

Also, just because you're studying a BSc doesn't mean that your employment prospects are limited to science-related areas. One of my friends landed a managerial position at a large company with his BSc, for example. The most important thing that you can do right now is to keep your options open and make connections through work experience, volunteering, etc. At the end of the day, those are the keys to gaining employment in any field.

[DisaFear]

Speaking of career prospects...
Where could a major in Chemistry possibly lead to?

[Starlight]

Just a heads up - double check whether you can do physics concurrently with animal health next year.

Just emailed then. Hopefully I can, otherwise my plans may be stuffed.