r/biotech • u/Shoddy-Bat553 • 23h ago

Education Advice 📖 Should I continue on this path?

Hi everyone,I am from the Caribbean and will be choosing my undergraduate major next year. I find biotechnology absolutely fascinating, but I am having serious second thoughts after reading mixed reviews about the job market, low entry-level pay, and the risk of a "useless degree."I want a career that is intellectually interesting but also guarantees a stable, comfortable, and good living. Because of my concerns, I am torn between two paths:

●Biotech Abroad: Moving abroad to pursue a dedicated, standalone B.S. in Biotechnology (my local university only offers a Biology degree with a biotech specialization)

●Pivot to Healthcare: Pivoting to a more stable, in-demand medical field (like medicine, nursing, or medical laboratory science)

My questions for the community-

1)For those who did a standalone Biotech B.S, did it give you a significant edge over a standard Biology/Biochemistry degree, or is it better to study a broader science or engineering field (like Chemical Engineering or Computer Science)

2)Which countries offer the best balance of affordable undergraduate tuition, robust biotech hubs, and viable post-grad work visas for international students? (Thinking about the US, Asia Canada, or Europe)

3)Is the financial return on investment (ROI) for a biotech career realistic for someone who wants to earn a strong living early on, or should I choose a structured healthcare field if financial security is my top priority?

I appreciate any brutal honesty and guidance you can provide!

2 Upvotes

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5 comments sorted by

1

u/Slightlybald 22h ago

Don’t do it

1

u/Shoddy-Bat553 15h ago

Can you give some insight as to why?

1

u/shadehiker 4h ago

The maket is terrible right now and many people can't find work. But no one knows what it will be like it 5-10 years? (I'm seriously starting to look at other industries myself)

1

u/Professional-Tea9 11h ago

Engineering! Even if you don’t have the best grades, the job outlook for engineers are wider. Biotech and pharma love hiring engineers over biology majors