Maybe he should look at the research being done in the different labs of ecologists, conservation biologists, etc and see what he's most interested in? Or maybe take a look at the coursework required for each major? I'm not in the field so I doubt I can give more help than that.
Hello, I am in my Senior year of my undergrad work and am looking for a graduate program in a related field (I have a double major in biology/natural resources). I go to Northland College, which is small, private undergrad college that focuses on environmental studies. I've been getting alot of advice from the faculty and my friends who have already graduated and attempted grad school to varying degrees of success. This is what I gather
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Thanks very much. Conservation Biology and Ecology have been the two he's been focusing on, so that's good to know.
So, it seems the more research we do, the more we find his research interests are already pretty solid. He has no doubt about what he wants to study and where--but he's open to studying almost any species (well, other than fish or insects).
His major could be a lot of things. I think the research matters more than the title.
My school within the AK university system offers graduate degrees in fisheries, marine biology, oceanography and seafood science. But there's also degrees in biology, statistics, and wildlife biology in other departments. There are several fisheries students that study marine birds and some that are practically statisticians. Here, you can pretty much do the research you want and choose from any number of degrees for the coursework. The differences between the majors are only a couple required courses. The other courses could be exactly the same for most degrees. Local agencies will hire people with any of those degrees for their positions so long as the person has the right experience.
So, overall I think he should look more into who he can work with and the projects he can work on than the name of the degree.
Yeah, that's what we're finding. The problem is selecting a program when you have to search for 5-6 different major titles at each school. I wish there was some sort of concentrated information source for the area of study.
I wish there was some sort of concentrated information source for the area of study
Don't we all?
the best suggestion I could give you is to have him talk the faculty at the college he graduated from. They're usually more than willing to at least point past graduates in the direction they ought to go. I'd speak to the as may people in the department as he can, though, because different professors have different experiences and knowledge. Compile a list of where they suggest, and make sure to know who suggested what. there's a very real and likely possibility they'll throw their alma mater out there in the mix, and if that happens to be the right school for your man he's going to want a letter of recommendations from that professor as well.
Anyway, I suggest looking at Iowa State. They have a good reputation, but I'm not entirely sure what department (Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) he should look into.
I'm hopefully going to get an MS in Wildlife Biology/Ecology at some point (in IA, if I can...), so thanks for this post! :)
Also, your partner seems to have a lot of research experience. If you don't mind telling me, did he do research after he finished undergrad or during his undergrad career? My undergrad college has no opportunities for animal-related ecology research, so I love suggestions!
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So, it seems the more research we do, the more we find his research interests are already pretty solid. He has no doubt about what he wants to study and where--but he's open to studying almost any species (well, other than fish or insects).
Thanks again!
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And hey, keep us informed on how his grad search is doing!
I know I for one would be interested in seeing what he chooses to do in the end. I'm in the process of making that choice myself, after all.
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My school within the AK university system offers graduate degrees in fisheries, marine biology, oceanography and seafood science. But there's also degrees in biology, statistics, and wildlife biology in other departments. There are several fisheries students that study marine birds and some that are practically statisticians. Here, you can pretty much do the research you want and choose from any number of degrees for the coursework. The differences between the majors are only a couple required courses. The other courses could be exactly the same for most degrees. Local agencies will hire people with any of those degrees for their positions so long as the person has the right experience.
So, overall I think he should look more into who he can work with and the projects he can work on than the name of the degree.
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Thanks very much!
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Don't we all?
the best suggestion I could give you is to have him talk the faculty at the college he graduated from. They're usually more than willing to at least point past graduates in the direction they ought to go. I'd speak to the as may people in the department as he can, though, because different professors have different experiences and knowledge. Compile a list of where they suggest, and make sure to know who suggested what. there's a very real and likely possibility they'll throw their alma mater out there in the mix, and if that happens to be the right school for your man he's going to want a letter of recommendations from that professor as well.
Reply
Anyway, I suggest looking at Iowa State. They have a good reputation, but I'm not entirely sure what department (Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) he should look into.
I'm hopefully going to get an MS in Wildlife Biology/Ecology at some point (in IA, if I can...), so thanks for this post! :)
Also, your partner seems to have a lot of research experience. If you don't mind telling me, did he do research after he finished undergrad or during his undergrad career? My undergrad college has no opportunities for animal-related ecology research, so I love suggestions!
Reply
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