Is Bioinformatics viable? + Asking for Uni advice

[split rapids]

I’m a big fan of genetics, neurology, molecular chemistry, maths, and computer science. The careers which tick off the most boxes would be Bioinformatics and Bioengineering. Are they viable? And if so, which Unis would be best for this (no matter how competitive) (and which course) and what can I do to increase my odds of getting in? If not, then should I join medicine as a close 2nd? How difficult is it to get into NUS, Oxford, MIT etc., and how difficult would it be to get a scholarship? How can I increase my odds of going to a good uni?

Also what A-Levels and IGCSEs might I need?

[true fable]

CSE & Biology related courses

Definetly do A-Levels Mathematics and focus on the statistics courses

[split rapids]

Alright, thank you

[coarse solar]

in the uk at least, a scholarship is very hard

are you british?

to increase your chances of getting into these places, you’ll need A*AA at least

for the uk, at least 5 A*s at IGCSE

you need to take english and maths regardless, for these courses i suggest additional maths, CS, biology, chemistry, and physics, you can add more if you’re interested

as for A level subject choices, check the requirements for the courses you’re looking into for these unis, but you’ll probably need maths, further maths, biology, physics

further maths is a must if it’s available for something CS related

but yeah, check the specific unis’ requirements

for MIT you’ll also need a very high SAT

many many extracurriculars, showing leadership, having recognition on a national and ideally in an international scale, getting medals in olympiads, that kind of thing

for the uk not so much, they care much more about your academic interests so it’s more so super curriculars and some extracurriculars related to your course are also good

and preparing for the interview very well

[true fable]

Also wanted to add on Bioinformatics is one of the Biology based courses that has the highest positive outlook and it's looked upon quite favorably in the industry atm.

Also when you say Bioengineering do you mean Biomedical Engineering? Cause that course is way more electronics and hardware orientated than Genetic Engineering and what not so maybe look into Biotechnology.

[split rapids]

Our country doesn't really supply further maths, and most unis recommend Chemistry too, So for A-Levels, Bio Chem Maths

[split rapids]

No, I mean bioengineering

[true fable]

Yeah that works just do well in stats and series imo

[split rapids]

what's series?

[split rapids]

can you give examples of extracurriculars

[coarse solar]

maths olympiads / competitions

any sort of competition related to your area really

a personal project of some sort which shows you’re exploring bioinformatics / bio engineering

work experience

also showing leadership, organisational skills, determination, that kind of thing through being student council, prefect doing things like dofe (this is more important for the us than for the uk, but you also include it in your PS in a last short paragraph)

there’s many videos on youtube from current students like “how i got into mit / oxbridge” so you can look at that for further examples (and advice)

[split rapids]

Our school/region has exactly 0 of those things

[split rapids]

how do I do that

[split rapids]

Where do I get work experience relating to bioinformatics in a country with 0 (to a rounding error) bioinformaticians

[coarse solar]

make use of any opportunities u have at school if you have any, and try to create some if possible (eg, speak to coordinators and ask if you could create a programming club or something similar)

you can get involved in NGOs which is good, especially if it's related to what you'll do in uni

like, teaching programming to disadvantaged kids or smth, idk

[coarse solar]

the first thing to do is look at your options: will you do an undergraduate degree in bioinformatics? im not especially informed about the subject, but from my understanding the path to that would be taking a broader degree (like computer science or whatever) and then specialising in that later

i don't know if you have decided on which undergrad degree you will apply to, it's just something to look into

esp bc a less specific undergrad degree also gives u more opportunities

that said, if u're applying to CS or something your work experience can be in anything related to that,

and even if you apply straight to bioinformatics, showing work experience in a relevant field, related to informatics or biological research, would still be a good addition to your PS / CV

[split rapids]

Yep

Broader would be, hmm not too sure. Bioengineering or Biomedical sciences perhaps

Maybe just pure Biology

[split rapids]

Already have

Aiming less bioinformatics and more bioengineering/genetic engineering now actually.

[split rapids]

Perhaps Biochemistry

That’s one of the things I’ll need help in

[split rapids]

Spent a week helping kids with Austism and Down Syndrome

[coarse solar]

work experience, national (or ideally international) competitions (and getting a medal / equivalent), starting a club in your school if possible

[split rapids]

I’ll need some advice for work experience

[coarse solar]

for the UK you’ll have to read books / take free online courses / study your area of interest and show that you understand it (and engage critically with it by having opinions etc) in your personal statement

[split rapids]

Also perhaps competitions

Doubt there’s an “international genetics competition” somewhere out there.

[coarse solar]

if you know anyone in the field of engineering or something similar to your degree, or know someone who knows someone, you can contact them to ask if you could shadow them or something similar

[coarse solar]

there’s definitely a biology and a chemistry one, though

[split rapids]

It’s not similar to engineering

More Bio

[coarse solar]

right, sorry

if you know someone in biological research then

[split rapids]

Imma search for one

Nothing in my country I can find for Bio/Chem competitions

[split rapids]

My father’s a professor of medicine, maybe I’ll be able to do something there.

[coarse solar]

that’s great

he’ll definitely know someone in research

[coarse solar]

there might be online ones you may be able to sign up for or there may be international ones your school may be able to sign you up for

i think it’s valuable to contact your school to ask if there would be a possibility of them signing up for a competition, perhaps with additional costs to you

[split rapids]

Yeah alr, I’ll go talk with our headmistress and see if something can be worked out.

Thank you for your help

[coarse solar]

if you’re doing something maths heavy you can do the kangaroo or something

[split rapids]

I gtg rn

[coarse solar]

no worries!

do lots of research on it, there’s loads online

[true fable]

Like summation notation

[split rapids]

alr

then

@true fable @coarse solar thank you both

[untold chasm]

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