When looking at different university programs, be sure to consider several different aspects of each university you are considering. You want to find a university that offers the program that you are interested in, but it should also be a good fit in terms of location, resource availability, and overall “personality” of the school. Don’t forget to look into financial aid as well. You can consider loans as a way to finance your education, but don’t forget to look for grants and scholarships as well. Ask the university’s financial aid office about what opportunities are available, and also ask the department head about scholarships specifically for students of your major. For example, attending a large, well-known university may look good on a resume, and may have more to offer in terms of educational opportunities and resources, but it may also be more difficult to get to know professors and access to those resources may be limited. On the other hand, a small university may not have the same prestige or resources, but may offer you a chance to really make a name for yourself by forging relationships with professors and other academic staff.
You may be able to choose between completing a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science. If you don’t plan to go further in your education, then you can choose whichever course of studies is more interesting to you. However, if you think you’d like to pursue graduate studies or do research, a bachelor of science may be more valuable because these programs tend to focus more on math and science. It is important to keep your grades up during your studies. You may find yourself getting involved in extracurricular activities both related and unrelated to zoology, which is great. However, if you fail to keep your grades up you may be put on academic probation, or you may be unable to graduate. If you are struggling to understand a specific topic, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your first step should be to visit the professor during their office hours to discuss the matter. They may be willing to help you directly, they might also refer you to a university tutoring center, or to a private tutor directly.
If, on the other hand, you are more interested in being a zookeeper, then you might visit the local zoo or wildlife ranch to see if there are any ways that you can get involved. Getting a job can be difficult in any industry if you have no experience. You may not see the value of spending your spare time helping someone else, but it will give you hands-on experience that can help you find a job later on. Try to stay involved with activities related to expanding your skills outside of formal education as much as you can throughout your education. By doing this, you will have an impressive CV by the time you graduate.
A master’s degree is likely to be sufficient for any applied research job. [4] X Research source In many cases, you can fund your graduate studies through research assistantships. Be sure to look into the different opportunities your university offers.
Look for Ph. D. programs that focus on the area that you are interested in. For example, if you are specifically interested in marine biology, then look for universities who are home to professors specializing in that area of research. Your Ph. D. advisor should have interests that are in line with your own.
For example, if you are interested specifically in urban foxes, then take every opportunity to demonstrate that interest. If you have to write a paper in your undergraduate about a topic of your choice, make sure it is about urban foxes. If you complete a master’s degree, focus your thesis on a specific hypothesis related to urban foxes. If you complete a Ph. D. , make urban foxes the topic of your dissertation. Doing so will show potential employers what is important to you, and show that you have experience on the topic.
If you are still in university, make sure you are constantly asking for opportunities to get involved. Many professors are happy to pass along some of the work to a responsible student. If you are unable to find opportunities within the university, don’t give up. Look for opportunities at a zoo, wildlife refuge, conservation society, or even a government agency.
If you are having a hard time finding advertisements for volunteer opportunities, don’t be afraid to take the initiative. For example, a local wildlife refuge may not have a volunteer program set up for a number of reasons, but if you show up and respectably ask how you can help, they are unlikely to turn you away.
In order to find scholarly articles you’ll have to do a bit of work. You can visit the university library to see if they have access to scientific journals related to zoology (e. g. Journal of Animal Ecology, Animal Behaviour, or Mammal Review). [9] X Research source Additionally, joining associations related to this field will typically give you access to a few journals in exchange for your membership fee (e. g. Zoological Association of America).
The median salary for a zoologist is about $60,000 per year in the US as of 2015. Be aware that this can vary significantly based on where you live and the type of work you do.
Where you work depends on what you’re interested in. If you’re interested in looking for answers about animals, then a career in research might be great for you. If you’re interested in working directly with animals, a career at a zoo or wildlife ranch might be more your style.
That said you could potentially become a zoologist and not have to travel at all; For example, by becoming a teacher or a laboratory researcher.
If you are still in school, check to see if your university has a career services department. These departments typically offer free help with resume writing, so there is no reason not to take advantage of it.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, try getting in touch with a professor you had a good relationship with at school or think of anyone you have met that works in the field. Send them an email re-introducing yourself, and remind them of when you met. Let them know that you are looking for networking opportunities. They may have good suggestions for events you could attend, or they may even put you in touch with someone they know. Networking can feel scary at first, but it is one of the best ways to find a job. The first time you do it will be the most nerve-wracking, but it will get easier with time and practice.
If you are looking for a job locally, be sure to look around town for job postings, and perhaps even in the newspaper. If there is a specific organization you’d like to work for, contact them directly to see what’s available. Take your time preparing job applications. These days, the majority of job applications are submitted online, but you should still check what you’ve typed into the form diligently to avoid spelling errors. A sloppy job application will likely be disregarded without serious consideration.
