Biology might be the broadest major in the universe. No, literally, the universe. You can specialize in astrobiology. Or go microscopic, with microbiology. Like people? Plants? Animals? Oceans? There’s a biology for you.

Because of its broad appeal, so many people are fighting for the same few spots in a biology department at top-tier colleges. Biology is a common major for anyone looking to enter STEM master's programs, medical school, pharmacy school, or even veterinary school. Because it’s so common and sought after, you need to show colleges that you’ve done the work in high school to commit yourself to biology. And don’t worry, we have a step-by-step guide to expand your extracurriculars and explore your interest.

Reading

“Reading? But I want to get hands-on! Give me beakers! Give me scalpels!!” Calm down over there. If you’re going to get into biology, you need to get specific and find your niche. The easiest way to do so is through reading. Thankfully, there are lots of books, including both the classics and more modern, approachable literature, that can help you explore what topics you might like. We love books like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, but also check out books by Richard Dawkins and Charles Darwin.

Online Classes

It’s time to take the interests you discovered and explore them EVEN FURTHER. Online classes through sites like Coursera or The Great Courses can help you develop your niche even further. If books introduced you to evolutionary theory, you might want to take a class that explores one facet of evolutionary theory. Through each class, you’ll be whittling down to the core of your interests.

Summer Programs

If you’ve wanted to get a taste of what college feels like, a summer program is a great way to expand on your interests and maybe get some college credit. There are pre-college programs at colleges like Harvard, Tufts, NYU, UCLA, and Brown; but there are also dedicated summer programs for students who might be interested in pre-med or neuroscience. Make sure the summer programs you’re applying to fit into the overall narrative and niche you’re trying to build. It won’t make much sense to take a marine biology course if you’re more dedicated to heart disease research.

Research

This is key, especially for bio majors. Research is one of the number one ways you can set yourself apart, and the higher status of the research, the better. The best way to get started with this is by reaching out to professors who specialize in the niche you’re building. Email them, (do some research first, so you can know what to highlight in your email!) and pitch yourself as their next research assistant. You will probably hear no, like a lot, but keep trying. In that same vein, we move on to our next tip…

Science Fairs

SCIENCE FAIRS!! Some of our most successful clients are the ones who submitted research they pursued on their own to science fairs. There are state-wide and national fairs that grant scholarships and additional research opportunities. These can also lead to intern or job opportunities at the companies that sponsor these science fairs. These are also impressive because it shows a dedication to the topic and often requires you to make something unique that other people might not be thinking about.

Intern

You can get a wide variety of internships with an interest in biology. You can shadow doctors or surgeons, veterinarians, or pharmacists. You could get a job working at a pharmacy if you wanted. You could intern with a think tank, a research organization, or a cosmetic company’s development team, literally there are so many options for you. Just make sure that the vibe of the internship is right, i.e. you’re not just there to collate and file. Make sure you’re getting valuable hands-on experience in the niche of your choosing. 

Biology is crazy competitive, so you need to take the steps now to set yourself apart from all the other aspiring bio majors. Finding (and developing!) your niche is one of the best ways to prove to colleges that you’re in it to win it. Another reason to start this process now is that you might realize that you actually loathe bio. We don’t want you to get through college and feel immediately burnt out. We want you to find a topic that excites you and stimulates your academic curiosity.

If you need help developing your extracurriculars and strategizing for college admissions, reach out to us today.