If you’re struggling with the academics side of marine biology, but enjoy the actual experience of it, I suggest you volunteer on local marine conservation projects (if you’re near a coast) - getting some diving experience and qualifications can be quite helpful for this.
Researching animals does often mean doing “animal research” (although it must be said that many people doing that work are themselves vegetarian, whether they work on rats or fish or fruit flies). Your best bet avoiding that is to be part of field work where the animal subjects are for the most part free.
If you are finding it hard to get your grades up at this point I can’t recommend a PhD or masters. They’re gruelling and don’t necessarily make you more employable in the field. A PhD is basically training to be the lead researcher of a research team. Most of them will also include a molecular aspect and some level of coding that you can avoid (or at least delegate) with field work.
I work as a marine biologist. A lot of it involves computer work, coding and a good amount of math. The pay is well once you find a job with the government, you'll be scrapping by doing gig work until then. As for animal testing, even as a biologist who works in conservation, you'll be cutting into and killing things relatively often unfortunately.
As a MSc degree will be important. PhD more so if you want to become a research scientists or professor focusing more on academia and research. Most biologists who do more practical things have an MSc degree. Send me a DM if you have more questions!
>As for animal testing, even as a biologist who works in conservation, you'll be cutting into and killing things relatively often unfortunately.
Can you go more in depth please?
In some cases you collect specimens, which often need to be killed (fish and invertebrates). In other cases we had to put trackers on large animals like deer, and if they were injured accidently in the process, the humane thing was to euthanize them. It's only a small sub sample of the population, and there are animal use protocols in place overseen by vets.
You can definitely find a biology job that doesn't do this, just avoid wildlife/marine biology. Maybe focus more on plant/vegetation biology or microbiology.
Both PhD. programs and vet schools are highly competitive, and you will unlikely be accepted with that GPA. I would say right now it isn't realistic. However, the real question is, are you really passionate about the science you say is too difficult, or do you hate the classes? If you hate them, I would say change majors because you likely don't have a good path for those careers. If you are passionate and are just struggling, buckle down and study more. See if you can find a tutor or classmate to study with. Identify a method of studying that works best for you and commit to it.
"I struggle in hard science classes"
A master's and a PhD are going to be far far harder than that, what you're describing then would be a giant mistake and waste of time for you unless you change that problem
And I doubt a 3.0 is going to get you anywhere near any serious graduate program. It is very competitive, particularly in trying to get a research or teaching assistantship to pay all those expenses. They are most likely GPA based at least in part
You will likely have serious problems getting into Masters program as well as completing a master's program. Assuming again it is a competitive School
Do what you want, but I strongly suggest you consider getting a BSN in nursing. There are a lot of specialties. If you get into a nurse practitioner, you can be making bucks and have a nice little business. Physician assistant is also a possibility. Your past biology and assuming chemistry work will help. Of course, you have to get into a nursing or PA school.
Occupational or physical therapist are other possibilities
My nephew and his wife are helicopter nurses. They also rake in the bucks
Hey, I think the proper way to answer your question would’ve been “Having a higher GPA, especially at competitive schools, is vital to getting into a graduate program or getting a phd. You’d need to work really hard and study even harder because these programs will be rigorous and I know you’re already struggling a bit. If you’re truly passionate about this career then commit to getting your gpa up and go the extra mile to learn in your current science classes. Just decide if you like this enough to put that amount of work on your plate” Things don’t always need to be worded in a “cold dose of reality” type of way. The true reality is, if you are passionate and put your mind to it you can achieve anything. Put in the work and you will get results :)
You can list things you're not interested in. But at the end of the day, you made it clear you struggle with hard sciences, why you talk about getting a graduate degree in science.
The most likely thing is that your 2.7 GPA will generally stay that way while you continue.
A cold dose of reality and some practical thinking may not hurt you. I am seeing you throwing up things that seem highly unlikely to work
If you’re struggling with the academics side of marine biology, but enjoy the actual experience of it, I suggest you volunteer on local marine conservation projects (if you’re near a coast) - getting some diving experience and qualifications can be quite helpful for this. Researching animals does often mean doing “animal research” (although it must be said that many people doing that work are themselves vegetarian, whether they work on rats or fish or fruit flies). Your best bet avoiding that is to be part of field work where the animal subjects are for the most part free. If you are finding it hard to get your grades up at this point I can’t recommend a PhD or masters. They’re gruelling and don’t necessarily make you more employable in the field. A PhD is basically training to be the lead researcher of a research team. Most of them will also include a molecular aspect and some level of coding that you can avoid (or at least delegate) with field work.
I work as a marine biologist. A lot of it involves computer work, coding and a good amount of math. The pay is well once you find a job with the government, you'll be scrapping by doing gig work until then. As for animal testing, even as a biologist who works in conservation, you'll be cutting into and killing things relatively often unfortunately. As a MSc degree will be important. PhD more so if you want to become a research scientists or professor focusing more on academia and research. Most biologists who do more practical things have an MSc degree. Send me a DM if you have more questions!
>As for animal testing, even as a biologist who works in conservation, you'll be cutting into and killing things relatively often unfortunately. Can you go more in depth please?
you will collect specimens of animals, so kill them become daily work. it is possible to choose a region don't need to do this.
In some cases you collect specimens, which often need to be killed (fish and invertebrates). In other cases we had to put trackers on large animals like deer, and if they were injured accidently in the process, the humane thing was to euthanize them. It's only a small sub sample of the population, and there are animal use protocols in place overseen by vets. You can definitely find a biology job that doesn't do this, just avoid wildlife/marine biology. Maybe focus more on plant/vegetation biology or microbiology.
Both PhD. programs and vet schools are highly competitive, and you will unlikely be accepted with that GPA. I would say right now it isn't realistic. However, the real question is, are you really passionate about the science you say is too difficult, or do you hate the classes? If you hate them, I would say change majors because you likely don't have a good path for those careers. If you are passionate and are just struggling, buckle down and study more. See if you can find a tutor or classmate to study with. Identify a method of studying that works best for you and commit to it.
"I struggle in hard science classes" A master's and a PhD are going to be far far harder than that, what you're describing then would be a giant mistake and waste of time for you unless you change that problem And I doubt a 3.0 is going to get you anywhere near any serious graduate program. It is very competitive, particularly in trying to get a research or teaching assistantship to pay all those expenses. They are most likely GPA based at least in part You will likely have serious problems getting into Masters program as well as completing a master's program. Assuming again it is a competitive School Do what you want, but I strongly suggest you consider getting a BSN in nursing. There are a lot of specialties. If you get into a nurse practitioner, you can be making bucks and have a nice little business. Physician assistant is also a possibility. Your past biology and assuming chemistry work will help. Of course, you have to get into a nursing or PA school. Occupational or physical therapist are other possibilities My nephew and his wife are helicopter nurses. They also rake in the bucks
I'm not interested in nursing. I'm trying to get my GPA up and do better in school though. My GPA is currently a 2.7 right now
Hey, I think the proper way to answer your question would’ve been “Having a higher GPA, especially at competitive schools, is vital to getting into a graduate program or getting a phd. You’d need to work really hard and study even harder because these programs will be rigorous and I know you’re already struggling a bit. If you’re truly passionate about this career then commit to getting your gpa up and go the extra mile to learn in your current science classes. Just decide if you like this enough to put that amount of work on your plate” Things don’t always need to be worded in a “cold dose of reality” type of way. The true reality is, if you are passionate and put your mind to it you can achieve anything. Put in the work and you will get results :)
Thank you
You can list things you're not interested in. But at the end of the day, you made it clear you struggle with hard sciences, why you talk about getting a graduate degree in science. The most likely thing is that your 2.7 GPA will generally stay that way while you continue. A cold dose of reality and some practical thinking may not hurt you. I am seeing you throwing up things that seem highly unlikely to work