What would it take to be a Chemist?

I have a Master's degree in Organic Chemistry and have had several wonderful opportunities in academia and biotech companies as a lab manager and a scientist. True advancement can require a PhD, but often it also involves moving for the job. Chemistry is a wonderfully broad field and a great basis for moving into biochemistry or medicine. My advisor was 100% correct in that I would never regret my foundation in graduate school being in Chemistry. Look for any lab in your school that is doing research that sounds interesting to you and go volunteer. Being at the bench and doing is how you will really know if a career in basic science is for you.

Having your bachelor degree in chemistry will give you many career opportunities. I started pursuing a career in biomedical research and with my BS in chemistry had opportunities for graduate school, pharmacy school, medical school or into industry. After a short time in graduate school I had to leave due to family illness and took a job in industry (which wasn't what I wanted-and wasn't even in the biomedical field) but ended up being a great start to a career I had never new existed. I started out as a bench chemist and now run my own department in a global company.

Take opportunities to work or shadow in a variety of settings. Not just those at school; there are opportunities in private industry too-including paid internship programs. Research labs vs. diagnostic labs running routine analysis will feel very different from each other but both hold many opportunities. Pursuing a MS or PhD (or even MBA) will open additional doors and in some cases be required for some career paths but not all.