<p>After 4 years as a Biology undergraduate on a pre-med track, I got derailed by multiple factors including GPA and MCAT scores. </p>
<p>Because of this I shifted my attention to continuing my education in the field of Biology, specifically Ecology with a Marine focus. My goal after getting a Masters is to either work in that field or possible pursue path to an MD again. </p>
<p>For the work, I would take joy in working either for the government or a private firm in marine conservation/ecology. </p>
<p>Since I don't know if I want to make this my life or simply something before I try medicine again, I can't afford to take on much if any debt during this process. Due to this, not only am I looking at programs that meet what I want to study but also those that are fully funded. </p>
<p>Does anyone suggest any specific programs. So far the only fully funded programs I have found are the Masters Ecology programs at Florida State University and Michigan University.</p>
<p>Any advice or help is appreciated.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think you’re going to have a hard time getting funded if you don’t have any research or field experience in marine biology.</p>
<p>I would take a year off to pursue internships or research assistant positions - it would also help you make sure that marine biology is really the direction you want to go. Graduate school isn’t something you just do to fill in a gap because you can’t think of anything else.</p>
<p>I don’t have marine focused research (my school offered a fantastic study abroad summer program in the Caribbean focused on coral reefs and sharks and I really wanted to go but couldn’t due to financial reasons) but I do have research experience.</p>
<p>I worked for my professor as a lab assistant for a year and a half doing ecology based research. I also did a DIS involving Maize Genetics. While I have the ecology experience, I know I am still lacking the marine side.</p>
<p>The good thing is that most marine programs are actually under Ecology umbrellas. If I can explain to professors that I do have a passion for marine ecosystems, I might be able to put get my foot in the door.</p>
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This. Marine ecology/conservation is a field with a lot of interest but low salaries and few jobs, and graduate school is a must for any chance of employment. Consequently, even MEM programs are highly competitive. Graduate school is extremely demanding, and even people who LOVE what they do sometimes question why they’re there – let alone people who aren’t as dedicated to grad school. </p>
<p>I think your background would be sufficient for a MS program in (marine) ecology if your ecology research background is decently strong. A research background in marine ecology is neither required nor expected for most applicants; I know students who have undergrad research backgrounds in everything from limnology to ornithology to plant genetics.</p>
<p>Rather than look for ecology programs, many (most?) of which prefer PhD applicants, you might want to look into programs in schools of natural resources at land/sea grant universities – programs like marine conservation, fisheries science, wildlife management, etc. have decent (though far from great) job prospects and typically provide good funding for the best applicants. Schools like UNH, WWU, Oregon State, etc. would be well worth a look. U Miami has some decent master’s programs, but Rosenstiel is highly unreliable with providing MS funding; USF is typically a better bet, especially for FL residents. </p>
<p>Incidentally, have you considered merging your interests and working in marine biomedicine? It’s a very hot field right now with a lot of interesting research going on.</p>