Geology/marine sciences schools?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone! I’m an incoming senior in an Oregon high school, and throughout the past year I’ve gotten an idea of what I’d like to do after high school. I’m interested in pursuing marine science, more the ecological and geological aspects of it than the biology. I’m wondering if anyone could help me out with finding some colleges that would allow me to focus on a hard science while letting me minor in marine studies (I’d prefer not to settle only in marine science quite yet).

It would be nice to attend a school with a decent newspaper/literary magazine, as I intend on continuing in writing while studying science. I am fairly certain I want to stay on the west near the Pacific NW, especially for the sake of debt and nice rainy weather, but if I were offered enough financial aid I would consider going elsewhere.

I don’t have very stellar grades or scores, but here are my stats so far:

-GPA: 3.3 or 3.4
-5 AP classes (Econ, 2 yrs. Art, Lang, US History, Environmental Science) - didn’t take AP tests
-Not sure if this affects anything, but next year I am taking a multiple-credit field biology class that allows students to do hands-on work at a local farm
-SAT: 1980, am retaking this week - projected at least 2000

Extracurriculars:
-Art/Writing Magazine, Section Editor, 4 yrs.
-JV/Varsity cheerleading, 3 yrs.
-Art Director, writer, cartoonist of newspaper, 2 yrs.
-Art Museum DC Supervisor (kids’ playroom), 1 yr.
-Red Cross Blood Drive Ambassador, 1 yr.
-Art Club, 1 yr.

Awards:
-Two National Golds from Scholastic Art/Writing - exhibited in New York
-3 Regional Silvers, 1 Regional Honorable Mention from Scholastic Art/Writing
-Presidential Service Award for 50 hrs. of volunteering
-Honorable Mention in a video game character design competition

I don’t know much about admissions yet, but I’ve made a list of schools I could look into: Oregon State, UA Fairbanks, UC Santa Cruz, Whitman. Any help would be appreciated.

2

Humboldt State is another possibility as it offers WUE to incoming freshmen. Seriously consider it as the school offers outstanding programs in your areas of interest and has excellent opportunities for hands on undergraduate work.

3

UNC Wilmington, Eckerd, FIU Honors

4

Stony brook, Michigan State, UW-Seatle

5

If you didn’t want to stay in Oregon, I would recommend Rutgers and Stockton University. They are honestly great schools with marine science programs.

6

I think posters not familiar with oceanography or geology underestimate just how strong OSU and UO are in the fields. By the way, geologic oceanography is not restricted to coastal schools. In fact the University of Kansas has historically dominated in one of the subfields.

It is also worth noting that if the OP does end up majoring in geology with a focus in oceanographic science, almost all of his classes will have almost nothing to do with oceanography.

7

^
Agreed. You won’t find a better bang for your buck than your in-state publics. Oregon State in particular is good for all things aquatic.

I second Whenhen’s suggestion of scoping out WUE schools. In addition to Humboldt State, there’s Washington State, Western Washington, U Alaska-Fairbanks (already on your list), U Hawaii-Manoa, and several of the CSUs (especially Monterey Bay).

I would definitely keep Whitman on your list if it’s affordable, though your GPA is a bit low. Consider Occidental as well.

8

Further away than you may wish, Eckerd College. It is noted for their marine science and environmental studies programs, (they have majors and minors in marine geology). Fantastic mentor programs, you are engaged with your professor/mentor as early as freshman year. All classes are taught by Professors, there is no competition for lab space with grad students because their focus is on the undergrad. They have an award winning newspaper and a writers in paradise winter term.

9

University of Washington Honors Program

10

Don’t rule out Eckerd or New College of Florida. They both offer very good financial aid. My son attends NCF from out of state and it costs about the same as our own state public colleges, after his automatic scholarship.

11

New College of Florida does not offer geology.

12

I will also bang the drum for the marine sciences programs at Oregon State (though the actual marine lab is on the coast and not in Corvallis). Really no need to look further if you are an Oregon resident. If your grades bring sufficient scholarships and financial aid to you, you can consider out-of-state options; Richard Stockton College, U of South Carolina-Columbia, Western Washington University; the big boys in the field include U California-San Diego/Scripps, MIT-Woods Hole and U of Rhode Island. But again, Oregon State is not inferior to those places.

13

Here is a list of the marine labs on the west coast. Two are in Oregon. Look them over and see which ones are active in areas that interest you and check to make sure undergrads have access.

http://marinebio.org/marinebio/careers/research-labs/

Another approach is to just choose a strong general undergrad program independent of marine studies and spend a semester “abroad” in a special marine science program (usually offered through a school with a marine lab). Since this is only a semester, you could in theory go anywhere in the world. The semester spent abroad would serve as your minor in marine science.

Here is an example at Woods Hole biogeochemistry
http://www.mbl.edu/ses/courses/

Another example at Woods Hole
http://www.sea.edu/academics/affiliates

Note that some of these programs are hard to get into.

Here is some background on non-bio marine careers

http://www.physicstoday.org/jobs/profiles/ocean-science-jobs

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/earth-atmospheric-and-planetary-sciences/12-742-marine-chemistry-fall-2006/

https://www.whoi.edu/main/mcg

14

Earth/Marine Sciences is an area that is marine related that includes the hard sciences. University of Washington has a strong Phd program in that area which may provide research opportunities and coursework at the undergrad level.

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2015/earth-marine-sciences#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=

15

Summer marine science labs for undergraduates can be competitive but there are several that you can apply to. They probably prefer upperclassmen.

U Rhode Island
Woods Hole MBL
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Friday Harbor (U of Washington)
Scripps San Diego
U of New Hampshire

16

Here is a list of National Sea Grant Universities by region. These are the institutions where ocean related research tends to be concentrated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sea_Grant_College_Program