<p>i really have no one else to ask for advice, so i decided to give this message board a shot.</p>
<p>here is my story:
i am an environmental sciences major, and i am about to graduate in may. basically, for the first half (or maybe even a little bit more) of my undergrad years, i was still very unclear about my path in what i was studying/what i wanted to do.</p>
<p>it wasn't until my senior year that i came to the realization that i wanted to study environmental toxicology. i concentrated on that subject within my major, and i started working in my prof's aquatic toxicology lab at school (doing lab maintenance, and those sorts of things --- no research at all though, because i started so late).</p>
<p>i have decent grades, but no major lab research experience. this could be a problem. i wish i had figured things out sooner.</p>
<p>should i work as a lab tech? and how would i go about getting a job like this, if i have no skills to contribute? it seems that all lab tech postings i come across are ones that want people with some prior experience with some sort of laboratory procedures. and also: not many of them are environmental/toxicology related.</p>
<p>should i start cold calling environmental labs in the area, and asking if they want interns/volunteers? i feel like they would all say no.</p>
<p>should i apply for a post bac? could you give me some suggestions? i feel like a good chunk of them are aimed at students who want to go to medical-related things, or to minorities. i am neither.</p>
<p>so what do you think? sorry for the long post. any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>oh yeah, i don’t know if this makes any difference or not but:
i am not looking to get into any top tier grad school. i am average, so the schools i would eventually be applying to would also be average.</p>
<p>also, do you think it would be beneficial to get a second bachelor’s degree instead (in some closely related field)? and this time i would immediately hit the ground running, instead of wasting so much time. or is that just a stupid idea?</p>
<p>Can you be more specific when you say ‘decent grades’? It is important you get solid 3.3+GPA when focusing on the courses relevant to your field.</p>
<p>I don’t know how hard it is to find a tech job in your field, but ya you should start working your way up in a lab.</p>
<p>My friend was in the same scenario so he took a summer student research position cuz one proff chose to give him a chance. He continued on as a student throughout his next year after finishing undergrad (pay was comparable to that of a summer research student but through an entire yr- nuthin like lab tech pay). He was taken on as a lab tech and worked his tail off. He was first in the lab and last to leave.</p>
<p>Take 2 yrs to work as a lab tech and get a level footing with regards to all thats going on in your life then when you feel you’re ready for grad school, apply.</p>
<p>This delay may be a blessing in disguise–this isn’t a race. A lot of undergrads jump into PhDs thinking they’re ready. Often, they’re not.</p>
<p>Best of luck!!</p>
<p>The second bachelors is pretty stupid IMO. Doesn’t seem to serve any purpose.</p>
<p>And don’t sell yourself short with regards to top tier schools.</p>
<p>Get yourself that 3.3 major GPA or higher–anything below 3.3 is rlly pushing it, get 2 yrs of full time research experience, ace those GREs and you may be surprised at the kind of schools that’ll take you.</p>
<p>And with 2 yrs of lab tech work, a publication is a very real possibility. That’ll definitely help.</p>
<p>my gpa within my major is something like a 3.25 (i don’t remember off the top of my head though). i will try to raise it up this semester though. but with my environmental toxicology classes, i have all A’s in those.</p>
<p>also, if i do apply for lab tech jobs, what do they look for in job applicants?</p>
<p>Your GPA is fine. Lab tech positions are posted on the hr website for the university. Without prior lab experience, you will want to carefully prepare your app to showcase the experience you have from lab courses. Include methodology that you are comfortable with from those courses.</p>
<p>Alternatively, there are lots environmental testing companies that are willing to take people on with little or no experience. Finally, don’t be afraid to apply to jobs that say “XXX many years of experience required”, these jobs don’t pay enough to get everything they want in a candidate.</p>
<p>Your problem is lack of experience/research, rather than grades, so yeah, try to get a lab tech job or other field-relevant position. If you can’t find something, get a job to pay the bills, and then do part-time volunteering in the field.</p>
<p>The idea of getting a lab tech position to gain research experience is a good one. Your GPA is still in decent range for graduate programs, as long as you have sufficient hands-on experience to go with it.</p>
<p>“Alternatively, there are lots environmental testing companies that are willing to take people on with little or no experience. Finally, don’t be afraid to apply to jobs that say “XXX many years of experience required”, these jobs don’t pay enough to get everything they want in a candidate.”</p>
<p>True, and good advice. And entrance to a lot of Env. Science graduate programs isn’t super-competitive. </p>
<p>Personally, I’d start looking for full-time laboratory positions with private companies and take an on-campus lab tech position as a backup. Might want to start with an online search. </p>
<p>Where do you live? I could give you some advice on things in Louisiana.</p>
<p>oh wow. thanks, you guys, for all the advice.</p>
<p>i am just having trouble landing a lab tech job.</p>
<p>and LAGator: i live in massachusetts. but i would not mind relocating anywhere. i like having a change of scenery every now and then. so go ahead and give me info. if anything, at least it will give me an idea of where exactly to search.</p>
<p>You can’t be serious about relocating out of MA for a science job. People usually do the other way around. I would check craigslist, university human resource departments and your local BIO organization.</p>