<p>Basically I applied to almost all of my schools for Business or Engineering, but at this point I've started to realize I hate business and I hate math and I'm pretty bad at physics (I just starting taking Physics under 2 months ago). My parents, obviously, have pushed me to pick a major with job security and relatively not too "tiring like Premed, for example". But I have always really been interested in Marine Biology and I've consistently very easily pulled A's in oceanography, marine bio, bio, environmental science, and all of my English classes. While I pretty much have averaged B's or C's in my math classes.
I always figured I should do something that would earn me a decent salary and have a job that isn't stressful. If I became a marine biologist it would certainly not be easy. I'd probably stare at seaweed or collect water samples all morning and file for grants all night, but at least I would actually LIKE it, and I would like it a lot! It's my dream job basically, and before you guys say "you do know you won't be swimming with dolphins all day, right?", Yes, I am aware. It would be cool to observe dolphins and whales but even if I were just studying algae everyday that would still make me really happy.
Okay so moving on, the colleges I got into were all competitive Business/Engineering schools and I am wondering now what I should do. I don't want to go and fail all my classes because I genuinely despised them, but I can't just magically admit myself into a school that offers a good Marine Bio program because it is far too late for that now.
Do you guys have any advice for me at all? I'm at a complete loss and to be honest although a lot of the schools I got into are very great schools and I am grateful for being accepted, I would truly hate attending any of them.</p>
<p>Does your school have a marine bio program and/or any professors doing research in marine biology? I think a good first step would be to get involved with research in marine biology to see if you are still interested in it, to get a better idea of what the career path would look like, and to get experience that would be valuable in the future. If you want to do research, you’ll likely need to get a graduate degree, but what might appease some of your parents’ concerns is that if you get a PhD, your program will most likely be funded.</p>
<p>If you’re school doesn’t have a marine biology program, why is it too late to transfer? If you’re just starting into physics now, you can’t be too far along in your degree, can you? You could look into transferring to a school with more options. If you can’t transfer, you may be able to get research experience over the summer at other universities or do a research program abroad.</p>
<p>EDIT: Wait, are you still in high school? I was under the impression that you were in college, but I realized that it sounds more like you are in high school and trying to choose a school to attend. Do any of the schools you were accepted to have a marine biology program?</p>
<p>baktrax I am a high school senior now. I believe only 1 of them does offer Marine Bio but it’s in Indiana so it’s not exactly stellar. I have interned and done some work in the field but the issue is I think I’m stuck in Business or Engineering now. And people have told me it’s difficult to transfer next year into a different school that offers a strong Marine bio program.</p>
<p>You’re not stuck in business or engineering. You just don’t want to do the options that will let you study marine biology. That’s a perfectly valid and reasonable option to take, but it is a choice.</p>
<p>Do you have any information on the marine biology grads at the one school with a marine bio program? Do they go on to graduate school? If you’re interested in doing research in marine biology, you’re likely looking at a PhD in the field. If you can go to an undergraduate program that will prepare you for marine biology graduate programs, then you can go to a better marine bio school for graduate school. You would likely need a school that will give you coursework in marine biology and give you research experience in the field. If you can’t do research at your school, you can go to other universities or even abroad to do research during the summers. If you aren’t competitive enough to get into a good graduate school right after undergrad (for whatever reason), you can take a gap year or two, and get more research and work experience in the field, perhaps even taking courses in marine bio as a non-degree-seeking student to demonstrate your preparation for graduate school.</p>
<p>Have you looked into transferring to a school with a marine biology program or are you just going off of what other people have told you? Look at the requirements and the rates of accepting transfer students. You may have to go to a less than ideal program because you also have to account for which school is more likely to accept you but it’s still better than no program. Could you go to community college and then transfer to a school with marine biology program.</p>
<p>Or you can take a gap year, and apply again more broadly during the next application cycle. You’re parents will likely not be on board with this, but it’s a lot better than tanking your GPA because you feel like you’re being forced into something that you don’t want to do. Why do you hate business and/or engineering? Have you had any exposure to jobs in those fields?</p>
<p>Where did you do your internship and field work in marine bio? Was it at a university or with a company? Could you ask them for advice on what you should do?</p>
<p>There are a lot of things to consider, but if you really want to pursue marine biology (and not just as a passing fancy, but you’re willing to devote your career to it), then there are ways to make that happen. Some of them may seem harder than just going into business or engineering, but if it’s really what you want to do, then you’ll make it happen. If you’re not willing to make it happen, then maybe you don’t want it enough. You can still learn about marine biology without making it your career. But no matter what you decide to do, do try your best to keep your grades up even if you’re not thrilled with your program. That will give you the best option to transfer should you decide to try, and regardless, it will keep the most doors open for post-grad plans.</p>