<p>Ok, first of all, I'm not sure where exactly I'm supposed to post this so I posted this on other sections. (Just ignore them if you come across them ^^)</p>
<p>Second, here's my story:</p>
<p>I changed my major this Spring semester (as a sophmore) from Psychology to Geology. I plan on going to grad school for a Geology (or Earth Science) masters however, to be a competitive candidate, I should do some independent research or become a research assistant, right?
So I'm just wondering... can I do research in other fields of Science (like Psychology, since I took it for 2 years) even though I intend to apply for a Geology program? I'm only starting my Geology curriculum this semester so I can't do any Geology research stuff by myself or with the professors until probably junior or senior year... </p>
<p>And also, If the graduate admissions committee saw that I did research in other fields, would that have a positive, negative, or no effect ("not geology, ignore") on my application? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It depends on the field, and I am not familiar with geology. I’m under the impression that they will simply ignore it though, especially since it’s not in a closely allied field.</p>
<p>Any research experience will be helpful, but it is better if it’s within your field. You really don’t need a great deal of coursework to start basic research in geology, though a knowledge of the basics is useful. I started oceanography research as a sophomore, and I knew many others who began as freshmen, so I wouldn’t let limited coursework stand in your way. I recommend finding a professor with similar interests and asking about becoming a research assistant; the undergraduate advisor(s) in the department would also be a good resource. Most geology departments don’t have that many majors and are thrilled when undergrads show interest. </p>
<p>Try to take a field geology course if it’s available. It’s great experience and will give you a taste of what geology is like outside the classroom.</p>
<p>I would agree that research within geology would be more helpful, but also that you should not panic about this yet. I just graduated from a top-10 geology grad department, and although most of the people I worked with had done some research as undergrads, very few had been at it for several years. Geology is a field that gets a lot of switchers (presumably because it’s rarely taught in high school), so just work on forging some connections with your professors to get involved in research going on at your school. </p>
<p>Also check out REU for off-campus opportunities - you can travel to another university to work with a professor you think is doing something cool, usually over the summer: [US</a> NSF - REU - Search for an REU Site](<a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm]US”>Search for an REU Site | NSF - National Science Foundation)</p>