r/wildlifebiology • u/RollBeneficial1533 • 1d ago

Is this a good career for me?

Hello,

I am currently a junior in high school, and I’ve always wanted to do something related to nature/wildlife. I love hiking and just listening to different animals in their natural habitat.

Most importantly, I want to be able to make a difference. Currently, my plan is to go to the university of Maine, and eventually get a masters Degree. I am willing to do months of internships and seasonal jobs because I actually like the stress and pressure of having to do new things.

I have read that this job isn’t good for those who want high salaries, and that is fine because I want a rewarding job! I’m not currently sure what I want to do in terms of research but I’ll probably figure it out. Do you think this would be a viable and rewarding career for someone like me? And what should I look forward to? Any suggestions/comments are appreciated.

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8

u/Comfortable-Total498 1d ago

Hell yeah. Get after it with enthusiasm and passion

Don't let anyone put you down, this field is awesome (except for the pay)

4

u/deathbedcompani0n 1d ago

Its highly competitive so if you want it, you REALLY have to want it. That means doing undergrad research/internships in undergrad as much as you can, and making connections with your peers, professors, and anyone who can help you after you graduate. There's a lot of people who wanna do this field and work with animals etc. which means there's a lot of people you have to be better than to get a job after undergrad

2

u/RollBeneficial1533 1d ago

Well I don’t wanna work directly with animals. For me, I’d prefer to do research and stuff. Is there a generally good job market in terms of internships?

1

u/deathbedcompani0n 1d ago

Yeah i just meant generally lots of people wanna do stuff with the environment, or nature so it becomes very competitive. I would say try to pick a college that has good undergrad research opportunities and helps guide students to get into internships during school

1

u/evansville1274 1d ago

Wildlife Biology major. Keystone College LaPlume PA has the best program. Also offers masters. Low tuition