For MS degrees, go with Chemistry. You make more money and can find a job easier. Granted, you might not use any of that bio-knowledge, but take it from someone that had identical double majorring but went bio side…..chemists are the money makers.

For PhDs, go biology. Granted chemists make more starting out, they don’t have the flexibility of a biologist and biotech loves flexibility.

Now as far as schools go and all of the stuff advisors and the schools tell you….

Biology graduate school respects the chem degree (and it helps you out in class) more than chem grad schools with bio degrees.

The GPA really isn’t as important as they make it sound….especially if they are hurting for students that year 🙂 I got in with a 2.7 due to my double major while working full time and they only had 3 students for that year. In other words, when you get to grad-level….you stop being SSN and start being a person. That means there is more understanding than undergraduate programs.

Regarding which grad schools are good for someone with a background in biology and chemistry, I am mostly familiar with the schools in California–any of the UCs (University of California) are great, as well as USC and Stanford. However, there are excellent schools throughout the country; you may want to apply to several, and visit the campuses (perhaps during their recruitment days), talk with the professors and current graduate students, and determine which campus feels right to you.