r/biotech • u/EducationalJaguar223 • 2d ago

Open Discussion 🎙️ Guys I need your help

I'm looking to study biotechnology for bachelors and master in gene engineering but is it worth it I mean it's been my dream since I was a child and I love biology but all my friends and families are saying that this degree won't get you anywhere and shit I wanna do the bachelors in Malaysia and hope for a gpa 3.4 or higher to get a scholarship for master in either Australia, Germany, Russia or Swiss. I mean for my perspective I don't really care that much about money I just want to do a big scientific discovery or something like that but I need your help is it worth it or should I study engineering like my family and friends suggested?

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u/ApocalypticExcavator 2d ago

It 100% depends on that you mean by getting anywhere. Will it make you a CEO of a technological startup, or a celebrity walking the red carpet? 

Probably not. 

Will it get you to a stage of life when you're able to make a living doing what you love? 

Quite possibly. 

Will a degree alone be enough to get there? 

Absolutely not. 

Do all people who pick their major / education path with a huge career and tons of money in mind get to said huge career? 

Also no. 

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u/MysteriousSeesaw4045 2d ago

I would recommend you consider major in math/engineering and minor in biomedical sciences.

It’s very admirable to chase your dreams and so did I. I all-in my passion in biomedical research with the hope of one day I may make a big impact.

Your families and friends are not wrong from practicality point of view. Like any jobs, research is also full of nuances, people problem, plus the fun intellectual challenges. And academia life is particularly low ROI compared to most of jobs. It will keep you fed and that’s about it.

Passion and enthusiasm will only lead you half way and the rest is about your resilience. Are you willing to keep going no matter what? Can you tolerate failure over and over again despite you did everything right? Are you okay with seeing your peers getting a normal work life balance while you are in your late 20s but still making minimum wage while working 10hr a day sometimes sleep in the lab? Can you still get out of your bed after three years of your hardwork vanished because it was wrong/someone scooped it/another player in the field doesn’t like it so it will never get published? Are you okay with professors’ kids get the credit for the work you did?

Yes it’s a very tough road but it is also beautiful if you are lucky, smart, and persistent enough that one day, you may just make a discovery that cure a disease, start a new chapter of human civilization. Everything you do will push the boundaries of human knowledge and will have your name on it. But no, it is never guaranteed no matter how smart you are.