General Biology
An introduction to the principles of biology, including the study of cell structure, metabolism, genetics, and evolution.
Difficulty
DemandingSimilar across class years
Students rate Biology(Biological Sciences) 3.9/5 for difficulty across 22 ratings.
Average difficultyBased on 22 students across 6 schools.View review makeup
3.9/ 5
Share of students at each rating
Average difficulty out of 5, by class year
Overall average 3.9 of 5Based on 22 students across 6 schools.View review makeup
What makes this major demanding?
Worth it?
96% would recommend it
Based on 22 reviews across 6 schools
What students say about the payoff
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Curriculum and careers
Biology, or Biological Sciences, focuses on the study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. Students learn about genetics, ecology, physiology, and cellular biology, building a strong foundation for careers in research, healthcare, and environmental management.
Core course themes
Genetics
Explores the principles of heredity, gene structure, function, and the role of genes in health and disease.
Ecology
Studies the interactions between organisms and their environments, emphasizing ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation.
Microbiology
Covers the biology of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and their roles in health and disease.
Cell Biology
Examines the structure and function of cells, focusing on cellular processes such as division, signaling, and energy conversion.
Physiology
Investigates the functions of living systems, emphasizing human and animal physiological processes.
Common roles
- Biologist
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Environmental Consultant
- Healthcare Analyst
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Biology(Biological Sciences) by school
Scores account for sample sizePreparing school differences…
University of California-Los Angeles10 reviews
- Career outlook
- 3.9
- Enjoyment
- 4.1
- Recommend
- 98%
University of Southern California5 reviews
- Career outlook
- 4.0
- Enjoyment
- 3.9
- Recommend
- 90%
Emory University4 reviews
- Career outlook
- 3.8
- Enjoyment
- 3.7
- Recommend
- 97%
Cornell University1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.6
- Enjoyment
- 3.9
- Recommend
- 96%
University of Pennsylvania1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.9
- Enjoyment
- 3.9
- Recommend
- 96%
University of Pittsburgh1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.9
- Enjoyment
- 3.8
- Recommend
- 96%
Community
Big questions in Biology(Biological Sciences)
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Student reviews
MixedAdvice & things to know
I chose biology so I could study dentistry later in dental school. It is a good starting point for people who want to lean into the medical field or researching. My least favourite part is the chemistry courses I have to take. And my favourite parts are that I can learn different perspectives of biology. Internships and research opportunities are relatively easy to find within this field. I think biology made me realize that maybe I didn’t like biology that much in general, it was just me trying to find a way to learn dentistry. It is somewhat painful. I wish I took more time to see what I actually wanted in life and career. As of right now. There are a lot of things that I would love to do if I didn’t choose biology. However, I think biology will set someone’s future on a great path.
Jul 2025
MixedDifficulty & workload
General biology is a very time consuming major, as it requires courses across biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, and others (especially if you’re on a pre-med track). Be prepared to use Quizlet a ton as you’ll be memorizing a ton of names and concepts, as well as formulas. Overall I’d say the opportunity cost is good if you’re prepared to spend a lot of time studying. One thing to watch out for is career application because the bio industry is so wide, you want to know what you’re aiming for (especially if you’re going into med).
Oct 2025
PositiveCareers & next steps
Why you chose Biology: I want to study medicine and I always interested in biological science. Also my family has medicine background. Your least favorite aspects: Too much pure memorization. Quality of teaching and support from faculty: lot of support. All my faculties are great. Internship or research opportunities: very easy to find. Lot of research experience inside school. Not sure abt internship, never had one. I think biology is a great subject that it has so much to explore and to choose. But it is a difficult one since it takes lot time and effort. Its hard to make big achievements in early stage.
Jul 2025
PositiveCourses & teaching
I am majoring specifically in microbiology. There’s a lot of concept and requires understanding and memorization. I would recommend it for any premed as the major requirements aligns perfectly with med school.
Oct 2025
MixedCareers & next steps
Best suited for premed student or people who likes research and want to earn PHD because the major has lots opportunities and resources. On the other hand, the major is not very career oriented, so it is challenging to get job offers or might require extra effort from you.
Jul 2025
PositiveEnjoyment & fit
I am actually majoring in computational biology but I feel like it is pretty similar in the requirements and I feel like its super fun with problem solving as well as real-world impact.
Apr 2026
MixedEnjoyment & fit
If you enjoy conducting research in the laboratory and constantly exploring new fields and making new discoveries, biology would be a perfect fit for you. It is a discipline that explores new frontiers in rigor and logic. But if you don't like staying in the laboratory for a long time doing the same narrow field of things repeatedly, or if you are more eager to communicate and connect with different people every day, biology may not be suitable for you.
Oct 2025
PositiveCareers & next steps
Open up avenues to several careers and also prepares you for medical school. Plethora of research opportunities
Oct 2025
MixedCourses & teaching
So far my major has been somewhat interesting but lots of prerequisites that I’m not necessarily interested in. Chemistry has been difficult but I surprisingly enjoy it more than bio classes
Oct 2025
MixedCourses & teaching
very analysis and knowledge based with lot of lab work needed. There are many potential future careers to pursue.
Oct 2025
PositiveAdvice & things to know
If you want to major in this, it generally should be because you have specific research interests within biology as a whole. Be prepared to study hard, and become a jack of all trades.
Oct 2025
Good! We have a very supportive community and can gain a lot of connections and opportunities throughout the years.
Sep 2026
Your entire life will be overtaken by studying and doing homework.
Sep 2026
Initially the major was pretty hard when taking the organic chemistry class, but after that was over the electives felt very interesting.
Sep 2026
Linguistics involved more critical reading, writing, and analysis; biology is more empirical facts and physiological data.
Sep 2026
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