1- What should I do now as a freshman to start preparing myself for this major?
Speaking as a professor, this is the very first step of getting to know your professors who have been studying in Biological fields. When you find one that you feel comfortable or well-suitable with a professor, I can assure you there are only upsides to getting to know your professor, especially if later in the semester you run into some snags. You take advantage of discussing with your professor during the office hour. Also, talk to your professor (faculty advisor) about classes to take, career path options and job opportunities.
The second step is to study, do homework before the due dates and work to get good grades. I think the points are very important, because when you graduate from Gallaudet University, other universities you apply for grad studies will look into your GPA.
2- What are some things I need to consider if I decide to enter this major?
-Research on careers that you are possible interesting in working for the future and find out if careers are available out there. For examples, look up at www.biologyjobs.com and www.researchgate.net . There are many web sites you can find easily.
- Find summer internships.
3- What skills or qualities do you see as essential for successful majors in this field?
Public speaking Decision-Making
Writing Math
Self-Management Research
Networking Critical thinking
4- What is the most challenging aspect of this major?
The medical school requires you to work very hard, but indeed you don't have to be that smart. All the majors that based on experimental science are difficult since the knowledge must be based on observable phenomena and capable of being experimented for its validity by other researchers working under the same conditions. These majors require you to have logics and lots of thinking (to be smart). The hardest subjects of all are the ones that called physical science or hard core science or basic science since they are the fundamentals to build other subjects including Applied Science, Engineering and Health Science. And the hardest subject among the ones of physical science would be physics.
5- What are possible career options for students in this major?
Physical Therapist, Physician’s Assistant, Genetic Counselor, Dentist, Podiatrist, Optometrist, Veterinarian, Zoologist, Botanist, Teacher, Ecologist, Marine Biologist and many more going on, etc…
6- How does your program prepare students for graduate school and/or life after graduation?
This program offers students to have many internship options before finding a permanent job and provides a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) course to the students who are interested in majoring Biology for graduate studies.
7- How did you decide on your career?
It was a hard long road for me. I thought I wanted to be an engineer. I did well in high school in mathematics and sciences and took “on the job training” during my senior year. I was working as a 6 month engineer at that time and I loved it so much. I made my decision what I wanted to be. After graduation, I talked with Louisiana (La.) Vocational Rehabilitation counselor about my interest of being an engineer and going to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York and found that I was not eligible to go to RIT with VR support. After fighting with VR for a year, I changed my goal, which was not really interesting to me but using VR support was the only way for me to get out of La. My unfortunate goal was to be a teacher of the deaf for K-12 and VR approved me to attend Gallaudet University, the one and only deaf university that contains courses related to deafness. I had no choice and I went there! During my 2nd year at Gallaudet University My retired professor encouraged me to major in Biology and offered me three different internships. I was thinking about it for a couple of days and decided to give it a try. After doing the internships in Costa Rica, Massachusetts and California, they blew my mind. Finally, I chose to want to be a Biology teacher. I have been teaching ever since.
8- What qualifications or prior experiences did you have that enabled you to enter your career?
--Same as above
9- What specific steps did you take to find your current position?
Interviews for several jobs
Work experiences—I used to work as a Biology teacher at Model Secondary School for the Deaf for four years (2007-2011), but now I am working as a laboratory instructor for Biology Department at Gallaudet University.
10- What advice would you give to college students about things they could start doing now to help them prepare to enter your career?
Find your interest first before you make a final decision.
Take advantage of fall, winter, spring and summer internships before you graduate.
Maintain good grades (“Good standing” Grade Point Average).
