Anyone here a Marine Biologist?
- Thread starter Reef1589
- Start date
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
I am... Ask away, might be interesting for others...
OregonReefer
New member
There was a thread with this subject not to long back
I hope this one doesn't turn out like the last
I hope this one doesn't turn out like the last
Reef1589
Anemones for life
well honestly, let me give you a small tad bit background on myself..
im 22 years old, been into this hobby about 1 year now.. (but when i was growing up my dad always had a tank setup but i never paid much attention to the details)
but here's my situation, i was a tree trimmer for comed...trimmed tree's around the powerlines out here.. and i recently became unemployed...
looking for a job, viewing my options, unable to find a job... and ive been getting a few things in the mail about school.. and it kind of hit me about a month ago, like why not go to school for marine biology ?
i HATED high school with a passion, mostly hated homework..and math.. 2 years ago when i was 20 i went to go back to community college, and did all the placement testing and everything, and got all the way up to registering and backed out cause i still didnt know what i wanted to do..
now.. 2 years later, 22 i dont think i've ever found something ive been so passionate about in my life, i actually pick up a book and read about stuff to better knowledge my self on proper keeping of my reef, but not even just in my tank, i find myself reading articles about the ocean... and watching coral reef movies, magazines... and to me, thats alot.. i never read books in highschool, and the fact that im willingly able to read books hours on end... to just learn some knowledge about whats going on.. i think thats a huge step personally for me..
but here's the thing.. my community college doesnt offer the greatest Marine bio classes being out here in the midwest.. and i went to talk to a councellor and she told me i should probably find a school i really want to go to, then base my curriculum off that schools req's for the degree..
so with that being said i guess my main questions are..
Whats some schools you recommend?
How much actual math is required in marine biology? (my math test scores werent the greatest in my placement test)
Is it possible to be good.. in this field while being pretty lousy in math?
i fully have the drive to learn and better myself, but i see math being a huge opsticle..
and how easy is it actually find a job...after getting a BS in marine biology?
to the Troller's... dont flame me for trying to better myself.
im 22 years old, been into this hobby about 1 year now.. (but when i was growing up my dad always had a tank setup but i never paid much attention to the details)
but here's my situation, i was a tree trimmer for comed...trimmed tree's around the powerlines out here.. and i recently became unemployed...
looking for a job, viewing my options, unable to find a job... and ive been getting a few things in the mail about school.. and it kind of hit me about a month ago, like why not go to school for marine biology ?
i HATED high school with a passion, mostly hated homework..and math.. 2 years ago when i was 20 i went to go back to community college, and did all the placement testing and everything, and got all the way up to registering and backed out cause i still didnt know what i wanted to do..
now.. 2 years later, 22 i dont think i've ever found something ive been so passionate about in my life, i actually pick up a book and read about stuff to better knowledge my self on proper keeping of my reef, but not even just in my tank, i find myself reading articles about the ocean... and watching coral reef movies, magazines... and to me, thats alot.. i never read books in highschool, and the fact that im willingly able to read books hours on end... to just learn some knowledge about whats going on.. i think thats a huge step personally for me..
but here's the thing.. my community college doesnt offer the greatest Marine bio classes being out here in the midwest.. and i went to talk to a councellor and she told me i should probably find a school i really want to go to, then base my curriculum off that schools req's for the degree..
so with that being said i guess my main questions are..
Whats some schools you recommend?
How much actual math is required in marine biology? (my math test scores werent the greatest in my placement test)
Is it possible to be good.. in this field while being pretty lousy in math?
i fully have the drive to learn and better myself, but i see math being a huge opsticle..
and how easy is it actually find a job...after getting a BS in marine biology?
to the Troller's... dont flame me for trying to better myself.
OregonReefer
New member
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be an a-hole... the last thread with the same subject was... lets say.... non productive
Thumbs up to you for finding something you love and have the possibility of making a living at
Thumbs up to you for finding something you love and have the possibility of making a living at
Bilk
New member
Hey Robbie. My prior post was just an attempt at a joke. Sorry if the humor was lost 
I'm not a marine biologist. However, if this is something you're passionate about, something you think you'll love doing and something that you believe will be rewarding, then go for it. Yes' I'm pretty sure there's a lot of math, but then knowing "math" is a means to do what you love, then it's not "math". It's a tool and you'll probably have a better aptitude for it looking at it from a different perspective.
I'm an architect and I hated "math" LOL But when physics wasn't just "physics", well then it became easy. It became a tool to do what I loved doing.
I'm not a marine biologist. However, if this is something you're passionate about, something you think you'll love doing and something that you believe will be rewarding, then go for it. Yes' I'm pretty sure there's a lot of math, but then knowing "math" is a means to do what you love, then it's not "math". It's a tool and you'll probably have a better aptitude for it looking at it from a different perspective.
I'm an architect and I hated "math" LOL But when physics wasn't just "physics", well then it became easy. It became a tool to do what I loved doing.
Reef1589
Anemones for life
haha my trollers comment wasnt towards you, but i know topics on here can really get off track..really fast.. and i hope this one doesnt turn into that.
and bilk when i read your comment, i laughed, haha
and thats something im hoping when i took my placement tests i tested really good in everything...except math and the councellor handed me a ''study guide'' ... for math and suggested i re-do the testing part of math to try and place higher ...
and im going over this guide and just have a blank stair on my face.. ha..
but im hoping i can start viewing it as a tool... to help me do my job..
also another question..
how many different sub fields are in marine biology? ive been looking at undergaduate programs at Umaine school of Marine SCiences...and they got quite the amount of sub fields, as far as
- Marine biology itself
- Oceanography
- Aquaculter
- Microogranism
- Physical Marine Science
i think i would definantly like to go into Aquaculter and Marine Biology ...
i could only imagine how much more different it is actually working on the ocean..instead of your tank...
and bilk when i read your comment, i laughed, haha
and thats something im hoping when i took my placement tests i tested really good in everything...except math and the councellor handed me a ''study guide'' ... for math and suggested i re-do the testing part of math to try and place higher ...
and im going over this guide and just have a blank stair on my face.. ha..
but im hoping i can start viewing it as a tool... to help me do my job..
also another question..
how many different sub fields are in marine biology? ive been looking at undergaduate programs at Umaine school of Marine SCiences...and they got quite the amount of sub fields, as far as
- Marine biology itself
- Oceanography
- Aquaculter
- Microogranism
- Physical Marine Science
i think i would definantly like to go into Aquaculter and Marine Biology ...
i could only imagine how much more different it is actually working on the ocean..instead of your tank...
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dlp211
New member
Hey,
As someone who is also going back to school, albeit for an engineering degree, let me give you some advice. Find a mid-large size school at the cheapest price possible. Worry about the name on the degree when you go to get your MS or PhD and don't go to a for profit school.
As someone who is also going back to school, albeit for an engineering degree, let me give you some advice. Find a mid-large size school at the cheapest price possible. Worry about the name on the degree when you go to get your MS or PhD and don't go to a for profit school.
wbdevers
New member
Robbie congrats on seeking info on something you're passionate about. My degree is in Environmental Biology (minor in chemistry) and I'm a marine fisheries scientist for the state. I'll try and answer your questions completely and yet quickly. The big one seems to be math--don't worry about it. I suck in math as well but I made it. It's all about applying yourself. I've had a lot of chemistry and up to Calculus, but I'm not a chemist or a mathematician. It was just obstacles I had to overcome. Was it easy? No, but I wanted this degree so I did what I had to do. You can too.
As far as schools, it really depends on what you may want to specialize in. I went to the University of Southern Mississippi. They have a tie in with a lot of other colleges, especially ones in the mid-west, to bring students down in the summer for classes here on the coast. I would recommend looking at areas that most interest you and then search schools that offer degrees specializing in that field (i.e.--microbiology, marine inverts etc).
I will warn you now, that the pay is not the greatest especially with just a BS (of course pay doesn't=happiness). Most jobs are in the gov't sector, however, given the right specialty there are private sector jobs that pay pretty well. These can include discharge water quality testing and such for chemical companies. Even though "green" jobs are an up and coming market, given the state of the economy right now, all job opportunities are tight.
My advice (what it's worth) would be to enroll and start taking all of your prerequisite classes while you research and learn about what direction you would want to take your career. Once you decide that then you can find a school that offers what you want to do. I've told my oldest son this many times and I truly believe it. No matter what you do in life, who you become, or anything else--when you have an education that will be the only thing NO ONE can ever take from you.
Best of luck and again, congrats on wanting to take the plunge.
As far as schools, it really depends on what you may want to specialize in. I went to the University of Southern Mississippi. They have a tie in with a lot of other colleges, especially ones in the mid-west, to bring students down in the summer for classes here on the coast. I would recommend looking at areas that most interest you and then search schools that offer degrees specializing in that field (i.e.--microbiology, marine inverts etc).
I will warn you now, that the pay is not the greatest especially with just a BS (of course pay doesn't=happiness). Most jobs are in the gov't sector, however, given the right specialty there are private sector jobs that pay pretty well. These can include discharge water quality testing and such for chemical companies. Even though "green" jobs are an up and coming market, given the state of the economy right now, all job opportunities are tight.
My advice (what it's worth) would be to enroll and start taking all of your prerequisite classes while you research and learn about what direction you would want to take your career. Once you decide that then you can find a school that offers what you want to do. I've told my oldest son this many times and I truly believe it. No matter what you do in life, who you become, or anything else--when you have an education that will be the only thing NO ONE can ever take from you.
Best of luck and again, congrats on wanting to take the plunge.
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reeferstace
I'm a little people
I have never seen a college curriculum for any science major that did not require a year of calculus. I have a MS in Geology with an emphasis in paleobiology. If you plan on getting any graduate science degree you will likely need a statistics course for your thesis or dissertation.
As someone has already stated, most jobs that would be available for a marine biologist with a B.S. would likely be entry level jobs. I applaud you for rethinking your desire to go back to school. The downside is that, in addition to all the "cool" classes you take for your major, you will also be required to take courses in humanities, English comp, etc in order to fulfill degree requirements.
As someone has already stated, most jobs that would be available for a marine biologist with a B.S. would likely be entry level jobs. I applaud you for rethinking your desire to go back to school. The downside is that, in addition to all the "cool" classes you take for your major, you will also be required to take courses in humanities, English comp, etc in order to fulfill degree requirements.
jimmy_beaner
New member
I teach in Biology at Iowa and there's a decent amount of math in the course. The biggest stumbling block I see is that students get caught on the math and remembering formulas (these are given in lab, not the test). Don't let the math beat you. Those formulas represent very important relationships between variables. If you focus in on these relationships, the equations should become a lot more intuitive.
Bilk
New member
I agree. Remembering back, man it seems like a long time ago, I had so much trouble with calc, statistics and physics, offered by their respective departments, but when it came time for me to take structural analysis, concrete and heavy timber design and steel structure design, well I aced those classes. I saw the practical application of the math and formulas. I think what also helped was they were taught by profs from my major department. The entry level requirements were taught by profs from other depts. and I think it was mundane and uninteresting for them to teach At that level and it showed. They just expected us to know certain things and didn't sem to have an interest in us as architectural students. Once fully engaged in my major department for all classes, well there seemed to be a different energy about everything and every class.
Let me start by saying that i am not currently a marine biologist.
I received a bachelor of science degree in marine biology and a master of science degree in biology (specialized in ecology and taxonomy). I went to several lab courses over two summers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab south of Mobile, Alabama. I also traveled throughout the southeast and south and central america on research trips with professors. After finding jobs in florida (mainly with water ecology companies), I decided to go to Law School and am now a criminal defense attorney.
The reason I wrote all of that is to let you know that it was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it, even if you never make a career out of it. You will meet alot if interesting prople and see alot of intriguing places. You sound like you don't know the specific field that you want to be in, but that's ok. You'll figure it out over time. There are many subfields and some that you may like that aren't technically marine biology. The main thing is that you find a university with a large curriculum.
You need to research different schools that have intensive laboratory and field classes, even though you probably won't attend the classes until your junior and senior years. The first couple of years will be core curriculum, and, as someone stated above, may be intensive in math and science because of the field.
You need to find a school near the coast with access to sea labs.
You can find jobs with a bachelor's degree, but they may not pay much.
Any more questios, feel free to ask.
I received a bachelor of science degree in marine biology and a master of science degree in biology (specialized in ecology and taxonomy). I went to several lab courses over two summers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab south of Mobile, Alabama. I also traveled throughout the southeast and south and central america on research trips with professors. After finding jobs in florida (mainly with water ecology companies), I decided to go to Law School and am now a criminal defense attorney.
The reason I wrote all of that is to let you know that it was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it, even if you never make a career out of it. You will meet alot if interesting prople and see alot of intriguing places. You sound like you don't know the specific field that you want to be in, but that's ok. You'll figure it out over time. There are many subfields and some that you may like that aren't technically marine biology. The main thing is that you find a university with a large curriculum.
You need to research different schools that have intensive laboratory and field classes, even though you probably won't attend the classes until your junior and senior years. The first couple of years will be core curriculum, and, as someone stated above, may be intensive in math and science because of the field.
You need to find a school near the coast with access to sea labs.
You can find jobs with a bachelor's degree, but they may not pay much.
Any more questios, feel free to ask.
I beleive the thread ur referring to was asking for a marine biologist to ID a silly little in tank hitch hiker or something to that effect... this is completely different...
Reef1589
Anemones for life
im really taking a liking to Umaine school of Marine SCiences...but dont think i like Maine haha..
my inital plan is to take alot of the pre-reqs and General classes at my Community college.. then transfer out probably after 2 years... i have plenty of time to find a school i really like..
everyone put a damper on trying to find a job though haha.. but then again, im not employed now and still having a hard time so degree or no degree i understand in this economy it'll be hard to find a job, so mid as well try and get some schooling done in the mean time..
im going next wednesday to re-take my placement tests for math..
my inital plan is to take alot of the pre-reqs and General classes at my Community college.. then transfer out probably after 2 years... i have plenty of time to find a school i really like..
everyone put a damper on trying to find a job though haha.. but then again, im not employed now and still having a hard time so degree or no degree i understand in this economy it'll be hard to find a job, so mid as well try and get some schooling done in the mean time..
im going next wednesday to re-take my placement tests for math..
Reef1589
Anemones for life
just a question... between reality.. and dreaming..
i been watching Reef movies and what not..
what sub field into marine biology allows you to Dive and study the coral reefs?
would that be oceanography?
and how real is it to actually travel reef to reef and just dive, study, and write about them? and make a living. or is that more of a side job hobby people do in this field?
(this obviously would be my dream job, but not only thing about marine biology that draws me in)
i been watching Reef movies and what not..
what sub field into marine biology allows you to Dive and study the coral reefs?
would that be oceanography?
and how real is it to actually travel reef to reef and just dive, study, and write about them? and make a living. or is that more of a side job hobby people do in this field?
(this obviously would be my dream job, but not only thing about marine biology that draws me in)
D5HP
New member
You want Luiz's job then!
http://www.luizrocha.com/academic/Home.html
Don't we all though....?
At least he takes great pictures and shares them!
