<p>I'm a junior and starting to seriously look down the road to my future. I always wanted to be a dolphin trainer growing up, so I wanted to major in marine biology. However, after starting to do some research, I'm not sure anymore considering dolphin trainers average about $40,000 a year, and that marine biologists don't actually do much field work and just sit on their butts and write up documents. It also turns me off that I have to get a PhD and all that jazz, which is a lot more than 4 years of college. My main question is, is do marine biologists actually do all that boring work? Isn't there a career which involves diving and lots of field study instead of two weeks out of the whole year and working with the animals to research? I really got turned off reading about the actual career of marine bio, and I would do the work to get into it if there was some possible job where I could work with them every day and do research on them in the wild very often.</p>
<p>Also, what are some good colleges for biology? I understand I must first major in bio then branch out.</p>
<p>Post on University of Miami thread. They have a great program and some students can help you answer this question. Also, check out UM’s website for their marine bio program as that may help you as well.</p>
<p>Yes, but I have heard it’s best to start at regular bio so you don’t limit yourself too much. And what about the actual career questions I had? Can anyone help me with those?</p>
<p>There are many good colleges for biology. What geographical area are you looking for? Any thoughts about size of school? Personality types of students? Is cost a factor? What do your parents say about what they can afford?</p>
<p>Seriously? This is what your ‘research’ has revealed to you? I recommend you go back and ‘dive a little deeper’. One of the jokes on campus at the University of Miami is that every ungrad is a Marine Bio major at some point until they realize that it’s more than “swimming with dolphins”. Marine Biology is a science, as such you need to understand the biology, chemistry and physics behind the subject. </p>
<p>As far as being a trainer, every job has good points and bad. You’re going to be up against people who are passionate about dolphins and the science around them. If you can’t see doing the job because it doesn’t pay enough then you’re likely to lose out to the people who can’t imagine doing anything else no matter how small the check.</p>
<p>Dolphin trainers are NOT marine biologists! Vinceh is correct, many students who want to work with marine mammals start off as marine biology majors and are not prepared for the intense rigor of the sciences. That’s ok, the courses are not what will prepare them for their career path. Biology, psychology and zoology course are what you should be looking at.</p>