College

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Vivi

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I'm giving college a second thought. I was wondering what programs you people would reccomend for someone with a strong interest in the things this forum is about. I was thinking maybe something with Botany or Zoology. I don't know, I doubt I'll ever go, but if I did, it would probably be for something along these lines. Maybe something to lead me towards being a forest / park ranger or something? Open to suggestions...
 
Vivi said:
a strong interest in the things this forum is about. ...
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KNIVES?

Mechanical Engineering and chemistery...
know what knives are made of what are the properties of the different, materials, metical and non-meatals, heat treat, etc. Understanding the manufacturing and pruduction process of knives.

MY $0.02
 
I go to SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. I major in wildlife science, botany and zoology is all well and good, but that's mostly taxonomy and physiology. You need a thorough understanding of ecology, evolution, population dynamics, genetics, and field practices to get any sort of decent job. Park/Forest Rangers dont get paid much, but then again, neither does anyone in this field. You can usually get a ranger job with an Associates degree, but in some cases you need additional law enforcement training.

I'd recomend a broad major instead of limiting yourself to botany or zoology.
 
Well I really don't have much, I have an associates in Electronics Engineering and a FCC liscence. Yet I'm a welder by day and by night, I hammer nails in my face and swallow swords for money.

Regardless of what you go to college for, do it for what interests you. (origionally I was going to take the helicopter flight classes, but the year I signed up, they crashed it.)
 
I also forgot to mention, Why not pick up some EMT training as well, it might go well on your resume even if you don't want to ride in the ambulance. You learn a lot of good things doing it, and you can snag us extra medical supplies at work too ;)

(My friends keep bugging me about medical staplers after I showed off mine)
 
Geology

Like some of the other mentioned options it lets you work outdoors, and often in remote locations based out of bush camps, but has several other distinct advantages.

Geology is a broad field that prepares you for all sorts of careers. You could work in the private sector for companies such as mineral exploration, mining, oil/gas, water/hydro. You could work for the government: geological surveys. It is a valubale background for other career paths such as investing, civil construction etc.

Geologist have the oportunity to travel all over the globe, work from home, office, or out in the bush, or a combination of all of the above. You can be employed, or work as a private consultant which is popular these days.

Geologists are very well payed (another great bonus), and if working for industry have the option to rise into managment quickly. Right now with China industrializing, and metal and oil prices on the rise, there are more jobs than geologists - basically letting us write our own tickets. (Did I mention, I am a geologist :) .)

Most people in geology programs are into the outdoors, and it is a really fun undergrad program. Lots of field trips, and several classes are completely field based where you are out in the bbush for several weeks at a time, often in tent camps. Also, being a broad area of study, it lets you experience lots of the science without forcing you to specialize early on like most other sciences, and especially engineering do. That is great if you are not sure exactly what you like right off.

Will
 
Metallurgy and materials science seems applicable to the interests of this forum as well...not much outside work there but.....
 
It does not matter.... Just so long as you go!

I've more than doubled my income since completing my BA, and now I'm back to for my MBA.

What does this have with this forum? I buy all the toys I want without a second thought and my 401k and checking account balances continue to grow. Bragging? Hell no, it was not easy, but my point is you need to go to school and finish it!

I use what I've learned in some manner everyday both in my business life and my personal life. Besides college, even though it's a lot of work (if you take it seriously), will be one the most fun a times of your life. It will also expose you to many people your own age and similar interests, etc… you get my point… It’s expensive and hard (otherwise everyone would do it) but worth every penny and every minute of time invested!

Just my .02... and I’m off my soap box:)
 
just go.

all employers want is the piece of paper. shows you're literate and committed, or some such.

i started off getting a BA in Psychology, thinking of going on to Psycho-anthropology, got disgusted with the psych' community as a whole, ended up in forensic mental health and now in law enforcement.
 
Hey Doc, what's 'ethnobotany'?

I agree with the others -- as far as wages go, any degree is better than no degree. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is.

I second what Saturnine said. If you're not certain about what you want take the broadest major possible and narrow it down as you learn what most interests you.

Just as a note I've met a few people who specialized in ecology, which seems to be a cross-disciplinary sort of degree that includes geology, hydrology, and biology. Sort of like having your own -ology collection!
 
Joel Stave said:
Hey Doc, what's 'ethnobotany'?

I agree with the others -- as far as wages go, any degree is better than no degree. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is.

I second what Saturnine said. If you're not certain about what you want take the broadest major possible and narrow it down as you learn what most interests you.

Just as a note I've met a few people who specialized in ecology, which seems to be a cross-disciplinary sort of degree that includes geology, hydrology, and biology. Sort of like having your own -ology collection!
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Ecology is interesting, but it actually a spcialized field of biology. Problem with ecology, is that on it's own, it doesn't qualify you for any specific career, especially without an advanced degree (MSc, PhD). It is a good background for being a ranger though, but so are other things that can prepare you better for for other jobs, should you either change your mind along the way, or not get into the career you want.

Will
 
I would look into the trades. Too many people have gone onto university and it has led to a shortage of people in the trades like electricians, plumbers etc. These trades pay good money and employment oportunities are good.
 
I'm just a freshman undergrad so I can't really give a good review of college yet. However, I will tell you college is HARD work and being a student is a REAL occupation. Like prepare to spend atleast 2-3 hours (sometimes more) each day studying. However, if you pick the right classes, you wouldn't mind studying the material at all ;)
 
LongDistance said:
I'm just a freshman undergrad so I can't really give a good review of college yet. However, I will tell you college is HARD work and being a student is a REAL occupation. Like prepare to spend atleast 2-3 hours (sometimes more) each day studying. However, if you pick the right classes, you wouldn't mind studying the material at all ;)
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2-3 hours, man, you got it easy!
 
well... if you dont mind coming up to canada. i attend Simon Fraser University in Burnaby British Columbia, the school is located at the top of a mountain (burnaby mountain)... it has tons of trails as well as many trails with local easy access.... you can pretty much access any place via skytrain or bus. also in the summer you can hike vancouver island which is world famous for its "West Coast Trail" which takes approx. 8 days through rough bush.

if your curious as to what it looks like try googling burnaby, bc. or vancouver bc. or even Simon Fraser University, in google images.


cheers hope to see you here =)

p.s. we have a pretty good forestry program here =)
 
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