Are you fascinated by the world of living things? Then a career as a biologist may be right for you. Read on to learn how to become a biologist.
There are many different aspects of biology that you can study or work in as a biologist. You can work with plants or animals, on land or sea, in health care or environmental research...wherever your interests lead you.
Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional educational and career counseling advice. Please contact your professional counselors before using the information presented here.
Remember that counselors and other professionals such as professional librarians helping you research your topics in academic or other libraries are not a substitute for preparations that only you can make.
Eg. Do you have experience in this field already so you know what you want to do? If not yet, some of these pages may be of help How to Volunteer, How to Take a Volunteer Trip, How to Find a Job, How to Find a Summer Job, Snag a Job, How to Find a Summer Internship. Cities often have a volunteer association that matches people with organizations. Your local librarian in public or academic library can help you find this and other resources in your research. See the Related Mahalo Pages on each page for other tips, here are a few more pages that may be relevant How to Become a Marine Biologist, How To Become An Oceanographer, How to Become a Physicians Assistant, How to Choose a Career, How to Study for an AP Test, How to Study for the SATs, How to Take the SATs, How to Improve Your SAT Score, How to Apply for Financial Aid for College, How to Study for the GRE, How to Take the GRE,
Please Note: Individual requirements for programs vary. These are only general introductory remarks. Check your specific intended programs of study and their requirements well in advance and regularly as they may change without notice. It is never too early to start, for example you may want to start some courses and skills training in public school EG. foreign language training if one or more additional languages are recommended or required.
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Consider volunteering or working part-time in some area of biology. This can not only help you decide your preference of biology work, reinforce your career goals, give you relevant skills, but also can be used on your college application form perhaps even in your admission essay and references.
Consider taking a volunteer trip to help a biologist with their work in your area of interest so that you can see what the field work and working conditions are really like. These pages can get you started looking for such an experience, also your Internet searching, local librarian or travel agent may help. How to Take a Volunteer Trip How to Volunteer
The information explosion today gives you many free opportunities to research your goals. Check out videos and links from this page, your library may have some of the suggested books, check for television, podcast, film, and other Internet sources such as youtube for relevant information.
Youtube Edu411 How To Become a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist |
This 2 minute video is very clear and has subtitles. It shows a number of video clips of wildlife biologists and zoologists at work while sharing information about the career, what kind of person might like it, and specific kinds of work that each job would involve. An excellent introduction. For advanced information start reading below, prerequisites and qualifications in high school and university courses and also job ads for the careers you would be interested in to be sure that you obtain enough education for the positions you want EG. as a biologist and not biologist or lab assistant or technician.
Step 1: Prepare to Be a Biologist in High School
In addition to taking biology classes, you'll want to make sure you've taken as much math and science as your high school offers. Biology majors in college are required to take calculus and physics, so being introduced to those subjects in high school will be helpful.
Step 2: Complete a Bachelor's Degree in Biology
- Make sure you attend a college with a strong biology program.
- Consider the research opportunities available to undergraduates at the school you select. Some restrict research opportunities to graduate students.
- Many fields of biology require an advanced degree, so you'll want to ask about the undergraduate school's track record of acceptance to graduate school.
Step 3: Consider a Specialty
There are a number of specialized fields you can focus on. Some undergraduate programs have majors in these specialties; for others you'll need to go on for an advanced degree.
