Making choices for school.

[Steve O'Shea]

Now where is that Steve O?

He's here dude; just pulling himself together after a revolting year!

You've certainly posted a bit on this thread, haven't you; I'll have to read through it to find out where you're at, rather than post redundant questions online.

Some huge things happening here next year! (And yes, that web site isn't the most helpful...)

 

[Steve O'Shea]

So, it alls boils down to three overseas choices, Uni of British Columbia (Canada), AUT (NZ). I was wondering if maybe Kat or Steve O can point me in which field I should be looking at or what's the minimum grades I need, since the AUT site doesn't seem to explain much.

Don't know what happened there, but I just wrote a long response, hit a wrong button and lost it in entirety!

Before you make a final decision on the University you go to Eric you must take into consideration what extracurricular activities/opportunities and research facilities (particularly those for field research in the marine environment) any one university has to offer, and what opportunities exist for you to become involved in postgraduate and/or staff research activities.

I feel sorry for you in that you already have identified what it is that you want to do, something to do with the cephalopods/the marine environment, and reading between the lines, something that also includes conservation of those resources. Unfortunately undergraduate programmes that you will end up doing are quite generalised, with very limited opportunity for you to specialise in any given discipline (as part of the prescribed course content anyway); it is only when you get to the postgraduate level that you can truly specialise in the area that already interests you. Because of this you could easily get disillusioned with an undergraduate course programme, regardless of where you end up enrolling, and slip through the cracks.

There are huge developments here; my strategic plan involves considerable development of infrastructure and facilities to support both post- and undergraduate researchers in the discipline of environmental science within the next eight months (this is what I do for a job these days; that and chasing paper around desks). I'll not let on anything here; there's much to do yet and I do not want to mislead anyone; nevertheless, there are some very good things happening.

I'd look forward to you calling through, even if only en route elsewhere.

 

[chrono_war01]

Thanks for the response, this whole university thing is hard. :???:


So which faculty should I be looking in at the AUT? Applied Science?

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Ja

 

[Animal Mother]

I just want to say thanks for starting this thread. It popped up about the same time I was looking for this very information.

Maybe I'll get my act together and bump into some of you people one of these days. I am 27 and have no college education, and only recently decided that I want to be involved with marine life on an educational/carreer level. Everyone around me thinks I'm obsessed. Which I guess maybe I am. Animals have always fascinated me, but I've never been so intrigued by anything in my life as I am with marine lifeforms. From the worms in the sandbed, to the hydroids that pop up on the glass while the tanks are still new, I am totally content just staring at my tanks for hours in awe of how diverse of an ecosystem there is.

To tell you the truth, I'm scared I don't have the brains for it anymore....haha.

 

[cuttlegirl]

To tell you the truth, I'm scared I don't have the brains for it anymore....haha.

Most people who go back to school later than when they were young (and wanting to party..) do much better. You will find it easier to study and understand the professors better than your younger cohorts. Don't let age stop you, 27 is not too old to start a career as a marine biologist, it's not like you will blow out your knee and have to retire early . Instead you may never retire because you like your career too much.

 

[Animal Mother]

Most people who go back to school later than when they were young (and wanting to party..) do much better. You will find it easier to study and understand the professors better than your younger cohorts. Don't let age stop you, 27 is not too old to start a career as a marine biologist, it's not like you will blow out your knee and have to retire early . Instead you may never retire because you like your career too much.

Considering the experiences of most of my friends who went to college immediately after high school, I'm glad I didn't jump onto the whole "you gotta go to college NOW while you're young" bandwagon. It is pretty sad to me the way our society pressures young people into making decisions they just can't make without time and experience to figure out what would make them happy and successful in the long run. What a waste of money, time, effort...

I have spent the last 10 years of my life devoted solely to music, and unfortunately, their is little reward outside of the personal gratification of freedom within artistic creativity. It has become more work than anything else, and lately I've just become extremely burned out. 2 steps forward, and 10 steps back.

All of my friends who went to college either didn't complete school, couldn't figure out what they wanted to major in, or don't have jobs remotely related to their degrees once they have finished. I on the other hand in my procrastination, have found something I am fanatical about and can actually be made into a lifelong journey of interesting reallizations and experiences that will not only benefit me and my desire to know all I can about the ocean, but possibly also benefit the world around me. I think that's what keeps me interested in this, at least as far as the hobby aspect goes. I never stop learning new things about it, and the more I learn, the more eager I am to learn more. I really feel that it would be the most satisfying route for me to take with my life. Now it's just a matter of getting started in the right direction, which is where this thread comes in...

 

[cuttlegirl]

I have spent the last 10 years of my life devoted solely to music, and unfortunately, their is little reward outside of the personal gratification of freedom within artistic creativity. It has become more work than anything else, and lately I've just become extremely burned out. 2 steps forward, and 10 steps back.

Hmm... switching careers from musician to marine biologist - well, at least you will make more money as a marine biologist! (not that either career pays well) And hey, you can always be a musician, but if you have a steady paying job, you can just to the music for fun!

 

[Animal Mother]

Yeah, I couldn't ever completely give up making music, it's something that comes naturally to me, but I'd be glad to completely drop the business end of it. I'm sure the change would inspire me.

 

[chrono_war01]

OO...nice new icon.


Speaking of banging head against the walls, I need to know what are the exact field I should be looking in order to get in.

I'm guessing it I'll need Maths, Chemistry and Physics (that's the UBC requirement) (Not sure about Bio), is there a minimum "score" I need for me to go in?? I'm not quite sure about all this.

 

[sorseress]

I would think you would want to have Bio....I mean you do want to be a Marine Biologist, right? But don't listen to me, I was a music major.

 

[chrono_war01]

I dunno, the UBC faculty of Science didn't mention Bio..didn't know why though.

 

[sorseress]

Is there any way you can ask them directly about that?

 

[chrono_war01]

Well, they have a UBC Asia Office, I guess I could send a e-mail to ask about it. But according to the little talk and booklet thing, Chem and Physics + Maths is all I need to go into the Science faculty.

 

[main_board]

Send them an e-mail, check the website, and if that's all you find then go with it. I think for getting into Dalhousie University marine I had to have a pre-calculus or introductory calculus math and english (min. 65% in each). Then just three other university-prep classes (60% in each) and an overall average of 75%. Of course, chemistry and bio are certainly recommended.

Now granted, those are just admission requirements. If many people apply then the standards go up as there are more people from which to select the best. Here's also when having that extra science or math course comes in handy: if its down to you and one other person and they've got the sciences and you've got arts, they're going to take the other person over you. Good luck with figuring it all out, though it really shouldn't be too much work.

Cheers!