<p>Hey all, I'm a sophmore in highschool right now considering a major in zoology. Is it worth it? What are some possible jobs I can get after I finish? How/can I get a PhD in zoology?</p>
<p>What's the best college for zoology? Is there one that specializes in zoology (or maybe is more well known for biolgy)?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
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Is it worth it?
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It depends on what you mean by "worth it." You certainly won't get rich being a zoologist (or a scientist in general, for that matter). For those who love getting out in the field, it can be a very rewarding career. For those in academia, teaching may be part of their satisfaction (or not). Constantly struggling for funding and writing up research proposals is a huge drawback, though. The growth zoology experienced in the '90s has drastically slowed. Certain sectors of zoology are still going strong, though- the government needs mammalogists in public health, for example.</p>
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What are some possible jobs I can get after I finish?
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It depends a great deal on how flexible you are. Zoology grads can go in any number of directions- veterinary medicine, conservation, environmental policy, postsecondary teaching, research, government (Fish & Wildlife, Park Service, etc.), and even public health. With a solid background in chemistry, physics, math, and computer science, you should be well-equipped to enter any number of fields.</p>
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How/can I get a PhD in zoology?
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If you plan to do anything in the field of zoology, a PhD is almost always necessary, although it's often easier to break into the field with a MS. I would suggest a broad biology major for undergrad and then specialization in grad school.</p>
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What's the best college for zoology? Is there one that specializes in zoology (or maybe is more well known for biology)?
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There are some schools known for zoology- Michigan State, NC State, Miami (OH), Auburn, etc. However, my personal opinion is that it is wise to major in biology rather than specialize at the undergraduate level. Most colleges have phased out their zoology programs, and with good reason. Biology is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. A knowledge of botany, biochemistry, genetics, etc. is vital to zoology, so a broad major gives you a solid foundation. You should look for colleges that have biology programs with stengths in a number of areas- Duke, Cornell, and Stanford are some examples. The narrowly-focussed biology program at Johns Hopkins is an example of one to avoid. It is also wise to pick out schools strong in the other sciences, since it is highly likely you will be taking several courses in them.</p>
<p>First of all, I just want to say how glad I am that someone replied! Thanks so much for helping!</p>
<p>In response to my "worth it" question, I think that it now sounds like it is. Going out into the field is something I look forward to very much. I don't think the money factor is something that will sway my decision right now, but maybe later. I would also love to teach! Would I have to get a seperate degree or something to become a teacher? How about a college professor? Teach what I've been taught.</p>
<p>The career question is still up for grabs. Our school is having a career day this wednesday, and I get to meet someone from the zoology field, so I will be sure to ask some more questions there.</p>
<p>An MS sounds like the ideal choice for me. Is undergrad 4 years, then grad school? How long are the both combined? I think I will follow your advice by going with biology first, and then zoology.</p>
<p>I researched each and every college you posted, the percentages of biology students is high in each, which is very reassuring. But with Standford and Duke I noticed that they are private and top notch universities.</p>
<p>I have very poor grades right now, and it looks as if I will have to goto a local community college for 2 years. I constantly hear that upon completion of a community college, you can transfer into ANY university. It sounds like a pipedream, but maybe you have some clarification on this. Assuming I do well, would this allow me to go to even Stanford or Duke?</p>
<p>Again, thank you so so much for helping me out here! You have no idea what this means to me. How is it you know so much about all of this? Did you major in biology aswell?</p>
<p>To become a high school teacher, you would need to be certified. Usually this means taking a few education and psychology classes and then doing a teaching internship your senior year. To teach at the college level, you need a PhD or sometimes some postdoctorate (paid research beyond a PhD) experience. You might be able to secure a teaching job at a community college with a MS. </p>
<p>Undergrad studies usually take four years. The time it takes to get a Masters degree can vary, but usually it takes about 1-2 years after getting your BS. For a PhD, you usually take classes for 2-3 years and then work on your dissertation for 2-3 years. Most people earn their PhD 5-7 years after their BS. </p>
<p>Transferring from a community college to a top school can be difficult, but don't worry too much. There are <em>plenty</em> of strong biology programs out there, many of which would gladly admit a CC grad with good grades. This may seem like odd advice, but the prestige of your undergrad college is not nearly as important as your graduate school. The important thing is to get a broad science education, get involved in PLENTY of research, get close to professors so they write good recommendations, and get a good GPA and GRE scores. </p>
<p>You're only a sophomore, so don't worry about your poor grades too much. Many colleges completely ignore your freshman year grades, so a rising trend in your GPA could work in your favor. There are other factors, like essays and extracurriculars, that can be worth a lot in the admissions process.</p>
<p>Again, thanks alot for the help! I don't have many more questions, except for a tiny one about community college. What classes should I take there, knowing I will be working with biology when I leave?</p>
<p>I have career day wednesday, so I will get to talk to a professional then. If you're still interested.</p>
<p>Thanks alot for the help!</p>
<p>It's always good to see Warblersrule's advice on forum because typically he gives great suggestions.</p>
<p>Here's my two cents. Yes, the Zoology degree has been darn near eliminated at many colleges, having been collapsed into the Biology or "Biological Sciences" major. As was said, a great zoology program remains at Michigan State University (The Lyman Briggs School). Over the weekend the MSU admissions representative I met at a college fair was a recent Lyman Briggs Zoology graduate. Boy was she enthusiastic! That being said, it does seem that the academic field of Biology has become much more broad, so expect Ecology, Botany and Organismal course requirements wherever you go (at the larger Biology departments).</p>
<p>Excellent undergraduate Biology programs abound throughout the country, so do not limit yourself to so-called "prestigious" schools. Of course, some schools excel at specialties and, thus, have excellent laboratories for organismal/ molecular/ ecology/ biochemistry/environmental science, etc.</p>
<p>I run in a different direction from the crowd, so I avoid recommending Ivy League colleges and the like. Their quality is well-known, so why beat a dead horse? For Biology studies, I like to recommend colleges who have excellent programs but are on a "less well traveled path," if you get my meaning. So here goes.</p>
<p>Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts
Assumption College, Massachusetts
Hood College, Maryland
Lehigh University, Pennsylvania
Michigan State University
University of the Sciences in Philadephpia
Colorado State University
U of Texas at Arlington
U of Alabama at Birmingham
Occidental College, California
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio University
Washington State University</p>
<p>Look into the 5-year combined B.S./Master's degree at Texas-Arlington and Alabama-Birmingham</p>
<p>When I was a sophomore in high school, I as well decided that I wanted to pursue study in biology at the the college level, but I also did not believe I wanted to become a doctor (my father is an anesthesiologist at a hospital and I just didn't feel medicine was for me). I had an awesome biology teacher in school who works as a conservation biologist and used to work for the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. After talking to him I knew I wanted to work with animals as a career (even though I was already very interested in wildlife). </p>
<p>There are a lot of directions someone with a major in zoology or ecology & evolutionary biology (as some colleges call it) can go. 2 summers ago I got to volunteer at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, and this spring break I did my senior project at the National Zoo's Conservation and Research center in Virginia. Zoos have a large variety of jobs for people with many different talents and aptitudes, depending on the size of the zoo. Bigger zoos have substantial research divisions, employing conservation biologist and population biologists that often travel overseas. Reproductive physiologists, endocrinologists, and theriogeneticists all are vital for the assisted reproduction of animals in capitivity (a very big part of zoo activity), veterinarians and veterinary technicians are hugely important of course, and ecologists often are affiliated with zoos but do much of their work in facilities overseas. Often these jobs will lead to curating when you become more senior. </p>
<p>Outsode of the zoo world there are still more jobs for people with this interest. Of course as someone previously stated many people get their Ph.Ds and teach at the college or high school level, but colleges and natural history museums often have liaisons for professors to do field work overseas with university/museum funding. A LOT of research goes on at natural history museums, and this summer I'm actually interning at the Field Museum in Chicago. </p>
<p>As for college choices, I will be attending Princeton University in the fall (they have a small but very diverse and active E&EB department with lots of opportunites for undergrads to do research with renowned professors and independent research overseas).</p>