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As most of you probably know, I'm currently a high school junior. I've taken a good deal of honors and AP classes, but I'm not like top 10 in my class or anything. Definetely top 50% though. (We didn't get rankings yet obviously.)

I'm just beginning that lovely search for colleges. Oh joy.

Again, most of you know I'm very into marine life and reefs. I've already taken 4 sciences, earth science, AP bio, honors chem, and honors physics. I've done a course in marine biology through BOCES and I'm currently in oceanography. I did honors math for three years (Math A + Math B) and now I'm in precalc, and will be taking college calc next year. I've been in honors english since 7th grade, i'm currently taking AP lang and comp.

Basically I have the background for someone who wants to be involved in marine sciences. They say that obviously science, plus math and English (for writing purposes) are the important skills to have. (I knew there was a reason I didn't take AP United States History )

I do want to major in marine biology as of now. I have no idea where that'll take me, but I know it's what I love.

Right now, my top college choices are Stonybrook, Uni of Miami, Uni of RI, Uni of VT and Brockport. Of course, there's LOTS of research to be done still.

I would love to get any advice from other uni students, or high school seniors who have been dieing throughout the whole application process recently...plus, other teachers/professors and whatnot.

If anybody has a suggestion about a good school for my interests, I'd love to hear it.

PS---I'm a gymnast too. And I ski. Those would be bonuses.



-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

OK, I've been to uni in the UK, but I believe my best bit of advice is universal.

I could have applied to Oxbridge (Oxford or Cambridge universities) with the grades I was getting, and predicted. But, I didnt feel comfortable in that environment, I didnt like the department or the university. I visited many universities trying to decide what i wanted, but didnt find it. Then I went to one uni and it just clicked. I felt like I was already a student there, and I was sad when it came time to leave. I went back, just to be sure, and it felt right.

the moral of the story You will know when you've found the place for you. It will feel comfy, you will feel like you belong. Take notice of that feeling, and dont push it away when it happens. University is one of the most intense experiences of a person's life. You may see your friends fail, you may see them get very ill, drop out, or whatever. You have to be sure that, after all that happens, you will still feel happy in the place.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Purdue... we have an excellent fisheries program! One of my friends is in fisheries because he wanted to go for marine biology eventually, but found it really difficult to get into, and there if he did decide to go from marine biology to fisheries it would be a lot more difficult than the other way around. Basically, he wants to go to grad school somewhere on a coast after this and then get an advanced degree in it. Purdue is VERY strong in math and science, and liberal arts classes like history are not very hard at all I'm sure you would like characters such as Anne Spacie (the professor I had for ichthyology). The department is fairly small, so there is a lot of comeraderie and support among other students (wildlife, which I'm in, is in the same department). It's not as competitive as a lot of even departments here, not to say that it's not challenging, but classmates seem to genuinely respect each other. Another thing Purdue has with the fisheries program (as well as wildlife and forestry) is a summer practicum for five weeks one summer where you get a lot of practical skills in field work. It's really valuable and a lot of schools don't have intensive training programs like that anymore. That's my two cents anyway, I really love it here.

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"I do want to major in marine biology as of now. I have no idea where that'll take me, but I know it's what I love."

I would recommend you major in bio. specification is best left for grad school. Also Having a bio major will leave you with a lot more options should it not work out.

I started with the same thoughts but now I'll probably either major in bio minor in chem, or double major in bio and chem.


Can't give much advice on finding a college right for you. both my sis and I applied to colleges we hadn't visited or seen. we both love our schools. sure it was a risk but I'm not regretting it.

Last edited by Megil Tel'Zeke at 09-Jan-2006 20:15

Megil...I have to major in marine bio if possible. I just have to. I wont be happy if I dont. :-/

Thanks everyone, for the advice.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Marinebio.org has a list of colleges with marine biology degrees here. Some of the ones which I've heard good things about include the University of California Santa Barbara, several Florida schools, the University of Hawaii marine bio school, University of N.C. Wilmington, and Old Dominion University in Virginia. I know that some or all of these schools actually feature undergraduate degrees in marine bio, not just the graduate programs.

Last edited by sirbooks at 11-Jan-2006 13:52

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I thought I was going to have to major in Marine Biology as well, but here I am as simply a Bio major. In the beginning you're probably going to be piled with all the introductory courses anyway, same as all the rest of the Bio majors. Just sayin'.

UD doesn't have an undergraduate marine biology program (which probably is why I'm not majoring in it ), however there is a graduate program. There are also a number of courses that are open to undergraduates that help us prepare for marine biology, which is also probably the case at many good schools. I'll be taking Ichthyology next year even if it kills me to get the course in my schedule. In any case, in all honesty all of the courses in my Bio major would apply to studying Marine Bio. It really isn't so bad.:%)

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

University of Cali, San Diego. Some of the best marine bio programs the nation's got. Also, next year is going to be living hell for you until you ge tyour college apps in. . Good luck with all that.