Hi I’m in high school right now and I have been trying to find a major I like. I like being outdoors and Natural Resources and Ecology seem very appealing. I was just wondering if anyone has any important information about this field or anything to do with something similar like ecology. Is it a tough major, tough to find a job, what kind of jobs, could I be a wildlife biologist, forester, etc? Really any info about this degree or something similar is appreciated.
Here is the information on becoming a certified wildlife biologist
http://wildlife.org/learn/professional-development-certification/certification-programs/
http://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AWB-Certification-November-2016-restricted.pdf the application
Some colleges specifically state whether or not their major will result in this. Otherwise you can fulfill the requirements on you own.
What state are you in? Your flagship university probably has a good program.
My vet was a natural resources and forestry major from http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/Pages/default.aspx At the time he was graduating the forestry majors were being hired by the paper companies. I don’t know if that holds true today.
My kid was looking at U of Minnesota Twin Cities depart of Natural Resources https://www.cfans.umn.edu/academics/majors-minors/fisheries-wildlife , U of WI- Madison http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu, Juniata College http://www.juniata.edu/academics/departments/environmental/areas-of-study/wildlife-conservation.php, University of Maine https://nsfa.umaine.edu, Michigan State http://www.canr.msu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate_majors_specializations/, SUNY ESF http://www.esf.edu, and she ended up at a liberal arts college that has a conservation track in the biology department.
Here is an older thread on CC that I had bookmarked at the time. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1099009-what-best-undergrad-ecology-wildlife-program-me.html
On the Internships forum I listed opportunities that I have found http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1957208-natural-resources-environmental-science-internships.html#latest
Do you do any volunteer work connected to the field already? My kid volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center. The work was interesting in and of itself but she also got to talk to the college interns and get ideas for her education.
In my opinion, hand on experience and internships will be important as you progress through college. Consider taking a year or semester off in order to rack up the hours and experience.
Thank you! This helps so much!
Do most colleges let you take a gap year during college?
Most colleges permit a leave of absence. My husband did one so that he could have a year long internship.
I think the reason a lot of people don’t is that they get caught up in wanting to graduate with their friends and not be off by one year.
https://wiscience.wisc.edu/SSI#Apply
University of Wisconsin Summer Science Institute
If you are a junior in high school, apply to this program. They have a long term study going on the ecology of storm ponds. In the past most students applying to the program wanted projects in genetics or neuro science. Applicants to the ecology projects were fewer.
Thank you. I will look into the program and will definitely consider taking a year off in college.
I can help you with the outlook portion. If you want to be a BIOLOGIST a PhD is required. Biology is a field with a major case of education inflation. If you want to work in the field (Park Ranger/Forester/DNR), you’re ok with a BS and/or MS.
Be weary of the major and what the major requires, it varies a lot by school. At some you are basically a regular Biology major and have to suffer through the pre-med weeder classes which are notoriously difficult. Try to find a program that doesn’t require organic chemistry if at all possible.
As for salaries- not great for the amount of work it takes to get a PhD and varies widely for the fieldwork positions.
Mandalorian seems to have something against organic chemistry. Grad programs are going to require it.
@Snowball City- organic chemistry is the devil’s own science and has killed more dreams than Freddy Krueger.
Lol!
My kids both did fine in it, worked hard but made good grades. They really liked it.