Biology Majors - Saying No to Med School

There are many students here at UC Merced majoring in Biological Sciences. You may think, well if they are majoring in Biology, they are all definitely going to medical school and become future doctors. That is not so much the case. Although, there are some students who have their heart set on going to medical school, there are also some students who don’t necessarily want to go through that route. Also, your preferences begin to change, initially you may want to become a doctor, but as you further your undergraduate study, things change and becoming doctor or apart of the medical field may not be the right fit for you. That was my case; I had the mind set that I was going to be a Pediatrician my freshmen year but now almost half way done with my first semester as a senior, a lot has change and I am no longer interested in becoming a doctor.

If you are interested in studying about animals then a potential emphasis Biological Science student have is the option of studying Ecology and Evolutionary. This field studies living creatures as well as embraces education and research in all aspects of biodiversity, including learning the history of life on earth and the ecological context of how life has first evolved. As for the field of Ecology and Evolutionary biology, there are various careers. One career is teaching, by becoming an ecologist, you are able to teach at universities, colleges, high schools, museums, and nature centers. In most universities, teaching jobs in these areas come -frequently associated with doing research as well. Of course, you would have to do your own research and apply to a graduate school that has these programs in order to go through with this career.

Another field in the Biological Science field is Developmental Biology, which is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop.This form of Biology focuses on the genetic control of cell growth of many different living organisms. One potential career for this field is becoming a researcher. Research in these areas can be performing studies on inheritable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and its drugs, reproductive technology and vaccine developments. Other research practices in these lab environments can entail doing research and undergoing cloning methods, the development of making an identical copy of a species. Another career pathway in developmental biology is academia. Development biologists with a Ph.D. are able to work at universities, teaching Biology. These are all just some examples of careers that Biological Science majors can consider other than jobs pertaining in the medical field.

Luckily, UC Merced offers both Developmental and Ecology and Evolutionary emphasis. If you plan on studying these fields of Biology make sure you go to the natural science website and research what specific classes are needed to obtain a degree with this emphasis. There are careers that you can obtain with this degree other than wearing scrubs and injecting patients with needles. 

I first started looking at these different options during my freshmen year. This decision became apparent to me when I went to a seminar about medical school.  As the speaker started talking about the life of a medical school student, this lifestyle all seemed to overwhelm me rather than excite me. I started to see how long I would have to be in school for, the amount of loans I would have to take out, as well as the amount of workload that would be piled on to top of me. Since I was already struggling academically in my courses as a freshman, I began to see that from here on out, school was going to become even more difficult and I had a long way to come. I figured that the best route for me was to open up my options and head towards a different route other than medical school. I still wanted to major in Biology because I really enjoyed learning this subject but now I needed to find a different career in this field.

Career Services Center
careerservices.ucmerced.edu
careerservices@ucmerced.edu
209-228-7272
Kolligian Library, STE 127

Ever Heard of a Work-Place Bully?

“Why would she do that to you? You just started working there. That’s not cool. ” I said through the phone. 

I hear a long sigh and then, “I know. I don’t know what to do! I was really excited about this job and now I have to deal with this co-worker. I don’t know what I did to her, but she does not like me. What should I do?”

I recently had this conversation with a good friend, Alyssa. She was hired about 4 weeks ago at a restaurant and despite her initial excitement about the position, a co-worker was making her experience miserable.  She explained to me how this person would make mean and sarcastic remarks at her and would complain about her to fellow co-workers. Alyssa even told me she was already feeling worried because she felt like her co-worker was just waiting for her to make a mistake and report it to the supervisor. This person was preventing Alyssa from building good relationships with other co-workers. Since the rude co-worker had been working there longer than her, she didn’t know if it would be worth it talking to her supervisor.

So, what do you do when a co-worker is bullying you? Is there a solution and what’s the best way to go about solving the problem?  Bullying at work isn’t uncommon and it’s a sensitive issue. There may be a time in the future when you encounter a similar situation. Handling this kind of obstacle can be very intimidating especially in cases where your co-worker is your superior, has been there longer, and is using tactics to undermine your position. I wanted to find the answers to these questions for my friend, for my own future, and for the benefit of my peers at UC Merced.

It’s important to know that each situation is different and if it’s possible, a great way to help you resolve the problem is to find out why they might be treating you this way. It is possible that the co-worker is intimidated that you will take their position; it might be advantageous to try to salvage the relationship by reassuring them. For example you might say, “You really know a lot about this. Do you think you could help me?” According to Susan M. Heathfield, a management and organization development consultant and human resource expert, a work-place bully usually will not go away on its own accord. In order for the problem to be resolved, you need to make efforts to face the problem. This takes courage but will mostly likely lead to a resolution and a healthier and happier work environment.   

Heathfield explains the first step towards dealing with a work-place bully is to set boundaries. Think about the bully’s behavior and how it is affecting you during work. Then, talk to the bully about how their behavior is affecting you in the workplace and what behaviors you are not willing to tolerate. Try to refrain from vocalizing your opinions, instead focus on the facts. For example, if the bully is snickering loudly with a nearby co-worker about you, pull the person aside and calmly tell them that they are preventing you from doing your work and also bring to their attention that they are being inappropriate and you won’t accept being treated wrongly. If this does not help the problem, Heathfield suggests a more confrontational approach such as by calling them out on their unprofessional behavior, even if it is in the presence of other co-workers. For example, if the co-worker is yelling at you or using profanity, direct their attention to their behavior by telling them they are yelling at you and decline from carrying on the conversation until they stop.

An important part to approaching this situation in the most professional way is to document their behavior. Make sure to write down the details, place, date and time of the incident. Offensive emails should be saved as well. If the other attempts to explain and confront their behavior aren’t working, the next step is to get outside help.  Talk to your manager or Human Resources department. Your work place should have a policy of confidentiality and documentation helps to insure that you have specific examples and, if possible, hard-copy evidence of your bully’s behavior.

Heathfield concludes her advice with realistic wisdom, imparting “Hope for the best resolution, but be prepared to explore other options so you have less contact with the bully. You may even need to find a new job.” This might be a harsh reality, but if after all these efforts the bully is still making work an uncomfortable place, it’s not in your best interest to continue working there.  No one should have to be in a position where they are being put down or mistreated. A lesson that is best articulated by Mark Twain, "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great.”

                                                                        

http://humanresources.about.com/od/difficultpeople/qt/work_bully.htm

Future Event Planner

Gillian Lopez

Management Career Consultant

Career Services Center

It’s my third year at UC Merced and in three semesters I will be embarking on my path towards a business career. I’m uncertain as to what job is out there for me after my collegiate experience comes to an end, but just recently I developed this plan to help aid my career journey and diminish any unnecessary fears that would stop me from achieving my goals. I have never felt more confident about what I will be doing after graduation until now. My career plan entails exploring passion, researching, and gaining valuable experience.

Over the years, I have discovered that I am very passionate about event planning. It excites me when I am presented with the opportunity to plan, manage, and host an event for my sorority, job, or even my family and friends. I discovered my love for event planning back in high school during my four years in student government, and the activities that I am involved in now on campus only reassured my passion.  Event planning embodies many aspects of business that I find fun and interesting such as marketing, finance, consulting, management and so forth.  The list is quite diverse, and I love how event planning is a creative business field, which is something that I value in a work environment. My dream and goal is to become a social entrepreneur in event planning.  Until then I continue to research and find work experience that will help me reach my goal.

I am currently researching for summer internship opportunities and I have currently applied to two that are located near home. One company is looking for a business development associate who carries an entrepreneur spirit, while the other is looking for a public relations/event planning intern. I was so happy to apply to these jobs because it can be difficult to find opportunities that match my passion of interest. It would be great to get an internship at either one of these companies because I would gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship, business, and event planning. Finding a job is never easy; I’m constantly researching applying, and modifying my resume.

I also thought about going to graduate school directly after college, but after thorough research and good advice from a few mentors, I realized that graduate school is not for me after college. In fact many schools that I was interested in stated that they prefer students who have at least a few years of full-time work experience. People have daunted me about how hard it will be to go back to school once the income flows, but little do they know how committed I am to graduate school and receiving an even larger salary after completing my MBA.

I am a planner at heart, and this career plan has prevented me from stressing out about the unknown. My current career journey entails learning and exploring my true passion. I want to ensure that I am happy with my choice of career because it is of priority and importance. 

Mecca of UC Merced

A Student's Reality

Kristen Nelson - SSHA Career Consultant

This past weekend I was speaking with a friend about how half of college graduates are unemployed or underemployed. What a scary statistic. It was concerning to think that despite all the hard work earning a college education, there might not be a job waiting once finished.

I understand there is a variety of reasons people go to college, but it seems that the majority of us go because we want to have a career to make enough money and support desired endeavors. When I was younger, there was a simple formula to be “just like Mom and Dad.”  You go to school, get good grades.  You graduate high school, you get good grades. You go to college, you get good grades.  This will one day accumulate to having many opportunities for a great future.

Of course, growing up I have learned that this formula is nonexistent. My family was hit hard in 2007 when the economy plummeted and unemployment skyrocketed. During high school, it was common to hear that only one parent was working. I grew up in the Palm Springs area, where the economy relies heavily on tourism. Many of the jobs are seasonal, and when the recession hit, it only made sense that even really wealthy people couldn’t afford to go on vacation.  My dad, who had always had a great paying job, wasn’t able to find work for a long time. All his experience and education didn’t mean very much when there just weren’t any jobs available.

But the sad reality is that it hasn’t gotten much better.  Currently, according to the September 7, 2012 issued news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate is 8.3%.

And the unemployment rate in Merced is a staggering 17.3%.  I have been sheltered from this statistic for the past three years. I have grown accustom to what I call the “UC Merced Mecca of Opportunity”, that has nearly 900 available student positions. I have taken for granted the many resources and professionals just waiting to help students get work experience, internships, etc. I have looked over the fact that I have only had to compete with a relatively small college student body for jobs.

        We are in a bubble that we will one day have to step out of. Maybe my ignorance can be best described by Theodore Levitt, an American economist, who wrote, “If thinking is an intellectual response to a problem, then the absence of a problem leads to the absence of thinking.” This unemployment problem is real, it’s out there, and it will soon affect me again. I just have forgotten and maybe I am not the only one.

          Someday there will be an instance in our lives, regardless of the economy, where we lose our job or go through a time where we are unable to find one. Rejection even in the broadest sense is hard and my hope is that during these times you find solace in the lesson of Levitt’s words. Problems, though despised, force us to grow, drive us to find a solution, and ultimately strengthen who we are.

           

         So yes, our generation faces a dilemma. But it gives what we do during these 4 years, even more of a purpose. Experience all that you can: volunteer, get a job on campus, join clubs, pledge with a fraternity. And during this very important part of your life, be aware of the obstacles ahead, and think about what you can do now to be a part of the solution and not the statistic.

Kristen Nelson is a junior at UC Merced, currently working on a Management and Economics double major, with a Psychology minor. Kristen is currently the Career Consultant for the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.  She hopes to work in university administration, particularly with Student Affairs, or Human Resources.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, leisure reading, and running and cycling with her friends. 

Insightful Interviews

Happy Halloween!

Entering UC Merced as a freshman, I decided to apply for an on campus job, because I wanted to use my free time wisely. I started looking at the Career Services website. The first job that caught my attention was at the Dinning Commons, because they had the most positions opened. Even though I applied, I began to realize that I didn’t have much experience right out of high school.  I waited patiently for a response and a week before school started I received an email saying that I got the job. I was ecstatic! This was the first job I ever applied for and I got the position.  But suddenly, my desire for this job went away. Since I was still adapting to living “the college life”, I decided that the best thing was to focus more on my academics so I turned this job offer down. Once I became accustomed to being in the college atmosphere, I would apply again. 

Within two years I gained more experience and was managing life between school and work. Beginning my junior year, I knew that it was time to start polishing up my Resume.  I needed insight and experience working in a professional field, so I began applying to various jobs. I applied to become a chemistry lab assistant, a teacher’s aide at the Early Educational Childcare Center, a tutor, an office assistant at Housing and Residence Life, a student assistant at the Library and a career consultant at Career Services. As you can see I applied to many positions because one, I wanted to keep my options opened, and second, I knew I needed to compete with students.

After submitting my application, I waited patiently for an interview. I experienced different interviews ranging from a group, to individual, and my first case interview. The group interview was challenging, because I was competing against many candidates. It was difficult to stand out because everyone had great responses to the same questions. Also, I could not fully engage and create a personal connection with the interviewer.  Because I had to acknowledge others in the room, I could not have a well-developed and descriptive response.  I felt rushed and didn’t want to be that one person who talks too much.

The case interview was the most challenging interview that I have ever experienced.  This interview was for a tutoring position teaching students basic Algebra and Geometry. I felt confident while applying for this position because I did fairly well in Algebra and Geometry in high school.  The interviewer told me I was going to host a “pretend” tutoring session, where she was going to act as a student and I was going to be the tutor.  She gave me a Geometry problem to solve, but since I was put on the spot, I was too nervous and couldn’t think it through.  She was understanding and gave me a different problem to solve. I solved an Algebra problem and showed how I would teach this problem to a student.  As I was teaching, she kept interrupting me, saying things such as, “Wow those are nice earrings”, and “I don’t want to do this can you just give me the answer?” At this point I was nervous and overwhelmed. The amount of pressure for me to succeed in this interview definitely took a toll on me.  I don’t know how, but I found it in me to finish teaching her how to solve for the problem. This interview was difficult because I was under pressure and it mimicked a real life scenario. 

When applying to various jobs, you will encounter situations that you may not be familiar with. I believe that having the background and experience with these interviews will help me become more prepared in the future.

Laura Li

STEM Career Consultant

Do you need help practicing in an interview setting?  Set up a mock interview with any of the Career Services Center staff to practice basic interview questions, gain insight, and receive positive feedback.

Career Services Center

careerservices@ucmerced.edu

209-228-7272

Kolligian Library, Suite 127