Interested in Marine Biology (College)

[quaos]

I'm interested in Marine Biology as a major to pursue in college. Obviosuly the many colleges that provide Marine Bio as a course are in the coastal states. I, however, live in Michigan. What colleges would you recommend for Marine Bio in Michigan? If not for all four years, for the first two. I am currently a junior in HS and obviously in no rush but am trying to figure out where I'm headed in life. If anyone could give their opinion I would greatly appreciate any help.
Thank you!

 

[demartini]

look up schools on collegeboard.com you can search by major, state,...etc

 

[sethw]

hwy, junior is hs aswell, alwyas like to know others of the same age range... well, idk about michigan, but i know the university of Miama has an EXELLENT marine biology school.... but that really doesnt help u out much, im looking to study marketing, sales, im good at it, but go with ur gut......

 

[jenni620]

Texas A&M has a campus in Galveston...I attended for a year thinking I wanted my degree in marine biology, but I wound up changing majors...It just seemed like it was going to be a lot of school only to get out and have trouble finding a job. It is a good school though...lots of hands on stuff and a ton of internships are available. Part of me kinda wishes I had stuck it out...but the other part is glad I moved on! You should check it out if you are really interested! :happyfish

 

[ophiura]

I would very strongly encourage you to get a general biology degree for an undergraduate - maybe some marine bio courses - and then do marine bio in grad school. There are loads of marine bio majors out there, and very few jobs, so you need the diversity, IMO, to make yourself more marketable.

 

[eoalulavis]

couldn't agree w/ ophiura more biology or zoology then once your in grad school focus in on marine biol.

 

[sea_star]

Hey jenni how did you like the Galveston campus of A&M?? I'm trying to find good schools for marine biology/zoology.

 

[jon321]

I dont know what University in the USA is like, I assume its similar at one of the better establishments, but Im doing my 3rd year of a general bio degree now and believe me, its HARD and ALOT of work. I was straight A's through highschool, and within the top 5% of my graduating class and Im barely pulling B's. I have 10 hours of class, 16 hours of scheduled labs, PLUS homework, prelabs, studying, and about 200 pages of reading PER week and thats only taking 4 classes. All this while trying to get out and have a life...just something to think about.
Jon

 

[jenni620]

Hi sea star,
A&M Galveston is very small, which is good. Lots of interaction with professors...the campus is on an island, so there is a lot of hands on stuff. You get to do a lot of things out in the field; I got to volunteer at a cephalopod lab a few times...that was awesome! They also have lots of opportunities for internships and stuff. I liked it, but just felt like pursuing a different degree. You should check it out! :joy:

 

[teen]

im taking marine biology now in my first year in college and so far its not as great as i thought it would be. its mostly classifying stuff, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. i too have to agree with ophiura.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by teen
im taking marine biology now in my first year in college and so far its not as great as i thought it would be. its mostly classifying stuff, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. i too have to agree with ophiura.

Although I must say that this is the root of biology in general.

Taxonomy rules.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by ophiura
I would very strongly encourage you to get a general biology degree for an undergraduate - maybe some marine bio courses - and then do marine bio in grad school. There are loads of marine bio majors out there, and very few jobs, so you need the diversity, IMO, to make yourself more marketable.
As a graduate with a Degree in Biology/emphasis in Marine Bio I totally agree. Getting your Masters and even Doctorate will allow you to get the education AND make the contacts neccessary to get a job. Don't slack off either... find an Aquarium or State or Federal Agency to volunteer with. Again, the contacts and experience will help you later.

 

[ophiura]

I agree.
I really can't say it enough - you really must stand out. There are A LOT of marine biology undergrads...and a lot of marine biology PhDs who do not have jobs. Now if you are doing what you love while you have no obligations like family, etc, more power to you. But if you intend to get a job in this, be aware from the outset - you must stand out. Anything you can volunteer for, any research you can do, any down and dirty grunt work you can do for a researcher or grad student...DO IT.
But be realistic. I taught a course on Tropical Marine Biology in the Bahamas and all the students thought that meant one thing: coral reefs. Kinda the dolphin issue. But it was all marine environments - and associated environments that are impact by the ocean (eg maritime forests). It is an extremely broad topic...just life in/associated with the ocean and what impacts it. So that means you take the good with the bad, and again, you must be good at what you consider bad.

 

[teen]

a lot of kids are in it for what they thought would be a few easy credits, but now most of them are doing terribly. im finding it pretty easy, because i like everything the course has to offer. im interested in the reefs as well as the salt marshes, mangroves, trenches and since im interested in all of it, it just makes it easier to learn about. the other kids came in thinking we would just learn about a few fish or what a dolphin eats, but they were in for a big surprise.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Kinda the dolphin issue....
Hehe, I was in the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.. I hated the "Flipper" syndrome. A sick dolphin washed up and we'd have 50 volunteers show up to help; Dead one washed up and there were about 3 of us willing to necropsy it.