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Help deciding on graduate program
Hello everyone,
I am an aspiring cosmetic scientist and am currently graduating university for my undergraduate degree in May. I have been looking forward to earning a graduate degree to prepare myself for a strong career and propel my career in the personal care industry. I have been accepted into two programs and do not know which one is best to attend. I am deciding between Master of Science in Biology (at NYU or University of Delaware, also note this is a research degree) and Master of Business and Science in Personal Care Science at Rutgers (this is an academic degree). I would like advice on which program will prepare me the best for cosmetic science field and me most marketable after I graduate with a graduate degree. Please lend your thoughts and advice on which program, if there is one stronger than another, is best for my desired career.Thank you all for the help! -
7 Replies
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what kind of job you want to do within the industry?
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What is your undergraduate degree … is it Chemistry?
Farleigh Dickenson, University of Cincinnati and University of Toledo have MS Programs specifically in Cosmetic Science. Those would appear to be a better choice for you than a MS Biology, for sure. If you want to go into Marketing then the MBA at Rutgers may be a better choice. -
My undergraduate degree is in Biology with a minor in chemistry. I am not sure what type of job I would like in industry. I would like to be a part R & D and also oversee laboratory work.
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Well, the best advice would be for you to strongly consider one of the specific MS Cosmetic Science programs at either Farleigh Dickenson, U. Cincinnati or U Toledo.
You’re simply not going to get any relevant cosmetics training getting an MS in Biology unless your supervising research professor is working on a project relevant to cosmetics and there are probably very few of those, if any, at the schools you’re considering. So you’ll have an MS in Biology, but won’t have any training that is geared towards the cosmetics field. Best you check with the graduate program to see if NYU or the other school have any faculty working on cosmetics-related projects and check into the three programs mentioned above. Plus, these programs were probably designed to support the needs of local industry (think P&G) which is why 2 of the 3 programs are in Ohio. Finally, cosmetics companies are going to be recruiting at these schools because of the specificity of the training.If you want to be a product development chemist you’ll start on the bench working on projects. Overseeing laboratory work is a management position … that may come in time, but first you need to gain some bench experience. -
Rutgers has a masters program in cosmetic science as well there is a ton of manufacturing in the Tri state area as well as several of the big box brands so local networking could be of benefit. Also as Mark mentioned Ohio has P&G so maybe you could network over there as well at one of those programs.
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If Rutgers has a technical cosmetic science program and an MBA with a specialization in Personal Care, then you could pursue a joint degree getting credit for some of your MBA electives courses for your technical courses in the Cosmetic Science Program. That would be your absolute best approach. Although, it is generally better if you wait to get an MBA until you have some real world industry experience … bring that to the table in an MBA Program is invaluable. If you try going to an MBA without any business/industry experience … well, there’s a say “You don’t know what you don’t know”
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A MS in biology from any university will have virtually no advantage over a BA in biology when it comes to getting a job anywhere in the cosmetic industry. In fact, it might be a disadvantage because the assumption will be that someone with a MS degree will expect a higher salary than someone with a BS.
If you want to formulate cosmetics, and you don’t have a BS in chemistry, or a degree in Chemical engineering, one of the specific degrees is your best bet to do this. A number of the programs offer internships that will help you decide what area you want to work in.If you enjoy academic research, on the other hand, you might want to stick with biology. Industrial R&D is something very, very different.
