u/pregnantteletubby

Hi! I have recently graduated with a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and had originally considered doing a master’s. However, I’ve realized that I’m more interested in pursuing a career as a CLS because I’d like to work in a laboratory setting where I can contribute to patient care rather than going into academic research or biotech. I’ve been feeling pretty overwhelmed about where to start with the CLS pathway. I still need to complete immunology, hematology, medical/clinical microbiology, and analytical chemistry for my prerequisites. I was thinking about taking them through UCSD Extension or some equivalent. I currently have a 3.36 GPA, so I know these courses would help increase my GPA a bit.

One of my biggest concerns is getting relevant clinical laboratory experience. Most of my lab experience so far has been in biological/academic research, and I don’t have direct clinical lab experience. I’ve been applying to specimen processing, lab assistant, lab technician positions, but I haven’t had much luck so far at least in the LA/OC area. I’ve also considered getting a phlebotomy license as a way to get my foot in the door and gain experience in a clinical setting.

For those who have gone through the CLS pathway, would it be better to pursue phlebotomy first to gain clinical experience, or should I continue focusing on specimen processing/lab assistant positions? Does phlebotomy experience actually help when applying to CLS programs, or would it be better to hold out for a position that involves more laboratory work? I’d also really appreciate any advice on how someone with my background can become a competitive CLS applicant in California while completing the remaining prerequisites.

I (23F) am a current senior about to finish my B.S. in Biology and applied to my school’s Biology BS/MS program because I was genuinely interested in it and saw it as a way to gain lab experience relevant to biotech. My AP wants me to get a master’s degree before entering the workforce, but they were under the impression that after graduation I would move back home, take a gap year, and apply to grad schools closer to home.

I honestly didn’t think I would get accepted, so I never told them I applied. But I ended up getting in. When I told my mom, her first reaction was, “Why not apply closer to home?” and “The cost of living there is high and we can save money on rent if you stay at home.” I understand her perspective, especially financially, but this program is a one-year BS/MS pathway at the school I already attend. If I turn it down, I may not have the opportunity again. I also can’t guarantee I’ll get into graduate schools closer to home if I wait and reapply later, which makes me scared of giving up a real opportunity for a hypothetical one.

My parents told me they would financially support me for grad school, and that was my plan. The issue now is that they seem to want to pick and choose where I go, prioritizing schools closer to home to avoid rent and living costs. I understand that concern, but I’ve actually calculated estimated tuition and housing costs for staying my grad school versus tuition-only costs if I attended another school (most likely a a two year program) while living at home, and the difference may not be as dramatic as it sounds. The cost is practically similar around $40k especially since my current BS/MS pathway is only one additional year. I also genuinely want to stay. I’ve built a life, support system, and academic momentum here, and I feel like I fit in. What makes this hard is that I already have an acceptance in hand, while applying elsewhere later would be uncertain.

At this point, I am unsure what the best course of action is. Should I try to advocate for and explain why I want to attend this graduate program, or should I decline the offer and follow my parents’ preference to return home and pursue graduate school elsewhere?