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Q&A: Hard to become a biologist?
I would like to become either a ecologist or marine biologist. the thing is i’ve been always afraid of sharks and giant fish. but at the same time i LOVE the ocean and fish and warm beaches!! it’s just amazing and i would love to be with fish and people that work with them! I also like ecology but it doesnt seem as fun as marine bio. Any tips? and what grades and stuff do i need to be a biologist. wut are some good colleges? PS: im 10th grade.
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The answer in the following:
Answer by Tom E
It’s not hard to become a biologist, it’s hard to become a GOOD biologist. Since I don’t work in the field, I can’t recommend any schools, but your choice of marine biology is one I’d pursue if I could do life all over again. Best wishes to you!
Answer by fieldworking
Perhaps you should look at these programs – a) Ecology, b) Environmental Science, c) Environmental & Natural Resources (emphasis in conservation), d) Wildlife Biology, e) FIsheries Biology, and f) Zoology. I would not recommend Marine Biology as a major. In fact, there are very few colleges that offer Marine Biology as a major. The other thing is that you most likely would not work as a marine biologist, very few jobs and it may also go by other names like ecologist, wildlife biologist, fisheries biologist, or aquatic ecologist. You can still take a course in marine biology if it is offered by the school.
Oh, sometimes the Wildlife & Fisheries Biology is one program.
I majored in Ecology as an undergraduate and enjoyed it thoroughly. I am now working on my MS in Wildlife & Fisheries Biology (emphasis is in wildlife – focusing on conservation, ecology, and management of mammals – especially interested in carnivores).
If you are genuinely interested in one of these majors then I would recommend that you look at various colleges offering any of the majors that you are interested in pursuing. I listed a website below that would be helpful. I would recommend entering one potential major in at a time though. Visit the college website and look at the majors offered. See if the program you are interested in is an actual major or is it just an emphasis or concentration within another major. For example, Biology major with emphasis in ecology or wildlife biology. Also, look to see what kinds of courses are required for the major. Read the course descriptions. No matter what major you are looking at, see if there are courses in Icthyology, Vertebrate Biology, Freshwater Ecology, Fisheries Biology, etc. These courses could be listed or cross-listed in multiple departments like Biology, Environmental & Natural Resources, Ecology, or Wildlife & Fisheries Biology.
I would suggest picking around 5 majors and choosing 5 to 8 schools for each to compare. That may seem like a lot but you may be surprised to find that some schools may offer a couple of your choices or all of your choices in majors. I would definitely say that the schools that you find have the major(s) of choices with courses and programs that seem to be the most intriguing to you should be ones that you consider visiting. Visit at least once, if not more. Talk with someone from the department and ask questions like – how frequently are certain courses offered (be specific), what are opportunities are available for undergraduate research, what are the opportunities for undergraduates to present research, what percentage graduates in four years, how many students double major and what is the second major, what is the typical size of the classroom, and if you are interested in study abroad then be sure to ask about that. And ask about how the department and the career services help students in finding internships, summer jobs, and co-op.
If you live near the beach or somewhere where you can gain experience (volunteering) with studying aquatic or marine environments then go for it. If you live near a fish hatchery then that might be one place to start.
Clemson University (the fisheries program is not strong but there are plenty of fisheries related courses), University of Georgia, Auburn University, Virginia Tech.
Answer by frozeninthetundra
I am a biologist, the best school in the country for Marine Biology is the University of North Carolina, Wilmington Campus. They have an awesome program there. Not sure where you are but get on the Website and check out the program.
Good Luck
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