<p>Well...im a junior in high school starting my college search and like above, i really love animals and the oceans and would love to work with them. In marine biology im interested in whales and other large marine life and the coral reefs, and in zoology, i would love to work with exotic animals like elephants, gorillas, etc... I dont know if im asking to much, but can you help me find good colleges for my reasons? Any help is appreciated, thank you!</p>
<p>I’ve seen this topic come up a lot over the years. Since you’re a junior, I’ll give you a more detailed response than I normally give. </p>
<p>First, be aware that marine biology and zoology require at least a master’s degree and usually a PhD. These jobs require a lot of education and research experience. Most people interested in studying marine biology either apply to (1) PhD programs in biology or ecology/evolution and concentrate in marine biology or (2) PhD programs in oceanography and concentrate in biological oceanography. The two fields are somewhat similar but nevertheless distinct; in simplest terms, marine biology focuses on the organisms themselves, whereas biological oceanography focuses both on organisms and their role in their environment.</p>
<p>When choosing a college, therefore, you need a good college that will get you into a good graduate program. This college does not need to offer a major in marine biology or zoology. In fact, I highly discourage taking such a route. Marine biology and zoology are too specialized for the undergraduate level and limit your options if you decide not to attend graduate school. Your best option is to major in biology and focus on ecology or marine biology as a concentration/track. </p>
<p>What you should be looking for:
[ul][<em>]Strong science programs
[</em>]Abundant research funding for undergraduates
[<em>]Research opportunities for undergraduates (including underclassmen!)
[</em>]Field and lab-based seminars
[li]Biology programs with dedication to ecology and organismal biology (look for courses like vertebrate zoology, entomology, and field botany and faculty research in areas of ornithology, botany, herpetology, etc.)[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Every college claims to have excellent undergraduate research. Rubbish. Probe around and ask questions to get more accurate information. What role do undergraduates play in labs? How many students get published or present papers? Which graduate programs have admitted students in the past? How many students get involved in research? How competitive is research funding for organismal biology? (Be sure to focus on research funding for organismal research as opposed to molecular/biochemical/neurobiological.) </p>
<p>Marine biology is a very interdisciplinary field that requires preparation in many different areas. At the minimum, most marine biologists need to have a strong biology background, chemistry through organic chemistry, basic physics, calculus, statistics, and computer science; some geology would also be very helpful. It is extremely important, therefore, that you do not (solely) focus on schools offering marine biology majors, as that often indicates little about the quality of the program. Many such schools are embarrassingly weak in the basic sciences. </p>
<p>Many schools lacking marine biology programs provide perfectly good preparation for graduate school. A student attending such a school can round out his/her education by spending a summer somewhere like the [Shoals</a> Marine Lab](<a href=“Shoals Marine Lab | University of New Hampshire”>http://www.sml.cornell.edu/) or [Duke</a> Marine Lab](<a href=“http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/]Duke”>http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/). Funded research experience in oceanography is available through the [REU</a> program](<a href=“Search Results for REU Sites | NSF - National Science Foundation”>REU Sites | NSF - National Science Foundation).</p>
<p>Finally, be aware that there are VERY few jobs in the areas in which you’re interested. Marine mammalogy is extremely popular, and there are only a handful of such research positions. There is more work to be done with corals, but the most promising research in that arena lies in marine biomedicine, which may or may not interest you. Many people do not realize that most marine biologists spend their time studying microorganisms rather than whales and sharks. Also be aware that it is highly unlikely you will spend much time at sea. Research cruises are exorbitantly expensive, so a typical research cruise normally lasts only a couple of weeks. The rest of the year is spent analyzing results and writing grant proposals for future research. </p>
<p>The best things to do at this point:
[ul][<em>]Get a strong background in the sciences in high school. You should preferably graduate having taken biology, chemistry, and physics.
[</em>]Talk with your parents about what you can afford. Run an [EFC</a> calculator](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid).
[<em>]Visit colleges in your area and decide what you want in a college. A small school or a big one? Urban or rural? What part of the country? There are many other factors to consider.
[</em>]Once you have a list of what you want in a college, create a list of at least 20 colleges that meet your criteria. You can then read about those colleges in books like the Insider’s Guide to Colleges and the Fiske Guide, visit the colleges, go to information sessions in your area, request viewbooks and information, ask for information on CC, etc. [*]After research, you should be able to whittle down a list of no more than 10 schools that includes schools you can definitely get into and afford (safeties).[/ul]</p>
<p>Wow! Thank you very much, great advice! I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>People like warblersrule makes me proud to be a Blue Devil. What a fantastic and helpful post! This is a must-read for anyone interested in marine biology.</p>