From owner-comp-bio@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk Tue Mar 26 03:16:36 2002 Return-Path: Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id A761217A8B for ; Tue, 26 Mar 2002 03:16:35 +0000 (GMT) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6435017B3E for ; Tue, 26 Mar 2002 03:16:33 +0000 (GMT) Received: by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix, from userid 6023) id 0CE8317A8B; Tue, 26 Mar 2002 03:16:25 +0000 (GMT) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id DC80D17A88 for ; Sun, 24 Mar 2002 19:49:46 +0000 (GMT) Received: from trinity.supernews.net (trinity.supernews.net [209.249.90.200]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id 36BE817A53 for ; Sun, 24 Mar 2002 19:49:38 +0000 (GMT) Received: from pa-01.supernews.net ([209.249.90.75]) by trinity.supernews.net with esmtp (Exim 3.31 #1) id 16pDzl-000Lui-00 for bionet-biology-computational@net.bio.net; Sun, 24 Mar 2002 19:49:37 +0000 Received: (from news@localhost) by pa-01.supernews.net (8.11.1/8.11.6) id g2OJnV897254 for bionet-biology-computational@net.bio.net; Sun, 24 Mar 2002 19:49:31 GMT (envelope-from nntp-bounce@supernews.net) To: bionet-biology-computational@net.bio.net From: "Kenneth Blaine" Newsgroups: bionet.biology.computational Subject: Bioinformatics degree questions. Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Message-ID: X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@supernews.com Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 03:16:25 +0000 (GMT) Sender: owner-comp-bio@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Hello all, I'm thinking about going back to school to (eventually) get a PhD in bioinformatics. My original degree was in a non-technical field (business administration) so I've got quite a lot of makeup work to do before I can consider applying to grad school. The way that I look at it, I have three options I could follow before I apply: 1. Take only the standard courses necessary for entrance into a graduate bioinformatics program. 2. Get a (second) undergraduate degree in molecular biology. 3. Get a (second) undergraduate degree in molecular biology and take the extra year of courses required for a masters in molecular biology. (Note: I do plan on taking several extra courses in mathematics and computer science, in any case. But I can take more of them if I don't have to worry about filling (Lib Arts&Sci) requirements for the 2nd degree.) So, which of these options would give me the best chance at getting into a good graduate program? Or are they all pretty much on par? Also, how difficult is it to get into a bioinformatics program? I've read that many universities are having a hard time keeping professors in the field - that many are being lured away by the private sector. Has this caused it to be significantly more difficult to be admitted to a bioinformatics program than to a regular molecular biology program? Any tips/guidance are appreciated! Thanks, Kenneth .