Bioligist education

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

My ultimate dream is to be a professional bass angler. But if that doesn't work out I want to be a wildlife bioligist what kind of education does that require.I know I'm only 11 but in my mind its never to early to start thinking about my future.

[clipper]

Right now you should be concentrating on building your basic math, english, reading and writing skills.  When  you get to High School or Jr. High you should be in a college prep course (you should have a goal of obtaining at least a masters degree or better yet a doctors degree).  Read every thing you can that's not trash, good books, magazines, newspapers, and the articles on this site about fishing and fish biology.  Reading will expand your mind and increase your ability to learn and absorb information, both of which will help you in college and later life.  Contact your state wildlife agency and see if there are any opportunities for youth to get hands on experience as a conservatation volunteer.  I'm not a wildlife biologist so my advice is layman quality.

Any professionals out there that can give this young man some advice?

[JayDub]

  Becoming a pro is my ultimate dream also, but because it is such a difficult status to accomplish, you must have a plan.  I am currently a freshmen at Texas A&M University.  When choosing my major i thought about the things I enjoy (fishing, hunting, the outdoors, and computers) so i could incorporate them into a career.  It was either a computer field or Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.  I chose Wildlife and that is what my major currently says.  This degree prepares you in the field of wildlife (and fisheries) management and conservation.  You can also specialize in aquaculture, wildlife management, vertabrate zoology, etc to narrow the fields.  Students graduating with this degree go on the be game wardens, wildlife or fisheries biologists, conservationists, and many more.  

  To be honest, I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate from college.  I'm still trying to think my life through and settle on something.  Again, my major is currently Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences but I am thinking about switching to Spatial Sciences or Engineering technology.  

  My point is, to become a Wildlife biologist the Bachelor degree you are looking for is Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.  It may be called something different at other colleges. (like Wildlife biology) Once you complete that a Masters degree may be in place.   It's never to early to start researching areas of your interest. I waited to long.  Search university websites near you (or anywhere if you dont mind to distance) for Wildlife Biology, and read up on their programs.  See if it interests you.

Hope this helps you kid.  

[JayDub]

 Oh yea i forgot...

As Clipper said, get good grades in High School! Take advanced classes if your up to it.

Also, GET INVOLVED.  I can't tell you how important that is.  In college classes specialized in informing us what to do to get to the position you want to be in they preach this.  Getting invloved in your community by volunteering for organizations like CAST and other outdoor activities is a must.  Later, in High School and College experience is another thing you need.  Experience working in the field, or on the lake.

[Catt]

My I suggest you visit Shaw Grigsby's web site he is both a Pro Angler and a Wildlife Biologist.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The University of RI (URI) is world renowned for the marine biology department.  They do alot of work with the Gov.'t, NOAA,etc.

A guidance counselor there will set you straight, I'll try and find you a contact email.

[justfishin]

Listen to what " Clipper " had to say son. He summed it up well. Math, English and your writing skills are going to be the root of your education. Have your parents contact your states DNR for some info on youth programs.

I know you are young but, these are great links for you and your parents:

www.collegeispossible.org/

www.library.vanderbilt.edu/peabody/articles/guides/tenned.html

www.collegezone.com/studentzone/107_368.htm

[20_lb_sack]

Good advise with the science part but don't forget the minor in Marketing if you really want to be a future Pro.

[Tom Bass]

spnerbat101,

Everyone is giving you good advice. I would also write a letter or an e-mail to your local Department of Fish and Game and see if there is someone there that can give you advice on how you can achieve your goals. I would also ask the guidance counseler at your school about how to go about studying and planning for your goals.

Good luck to you young Man. I hope you acheive your dream.

[tmacdaddy055]

We have a real good  program here at NC State, but yea focus on your maths, sciences, and english.  You will be taking alot of sciences so its a good idea to take as many as you can.

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Thanks everybody I'll do all that stuff.

[Guest avid]

I think it would surprise and interest you to know that Mike Iaconelli attributes much of his financial success to his background in marketing.  Knowing the biochemistry of piscatorials may make you a fish expert, but knowing how to sell yourself to sponsers may make you rich.

food for thought.

[Millerman]

From what I know, you will not only need a bachelor degree but also a master's degree for anything relating to Wildlife managment/fisheries.  Especailly if you want to make any money whatsoever and be located some place in the country you don;t mind living.

I went to UWSP (University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, supposedly one of the best Natural Resource Schools in the nation).  I graduated with a watershed mgmt dgree and a minor in soils. I could NOT find a decent job in the state! I ended up working with my dad and am still doing so today.  My suggestion would be to keep the love for natural world as a hobby and do something else as a job or career. I know too many folks that are not happy with working 9-5 doing their hobby? what do you do on the weekends then? This may go against the grain of what everybody else siad...but...you can make up your own deceision.

[Lane]

Spnerbat 101,

KEEP your GPA preferably above 3.0 from your Sophmore year in high school until graduation.

READ, READ and READ some more! Fisheries biology is tough and the pay low, unless you

decide to go into the private sector. If you enjoy biology and working with wildlife, consider

going into vertebrate zoology. From there the possiblities are endless, including a doctorate in

veterinary medicine.

Hatchiesting06, if I was attending Texas A & M, I would definately be

looking into their engineering program, best in the country! They have a pretty darned good

vet program as well, but engineering occupations are in demand and pay big $$$$$. Good

luck with your degree plan.

[Chris]

The best advise I can give you is to make sure that you have your degree or whatever education you decide to have already under your belt before you make the jump to fish full time. Classes like public speaking, marketing, business, can help you down the line. While you are doing that try to gain as much knowledge about bass and bass fishing as you can. Try to fish with people that are knowledgeable and read and study bass fishing. It doesn't do you any good to know how to sell something if you can't put fish in the boat. Also if you don't know what your talking about or if you have a hard time speaking to someone then you would have a hard time speaking to a group about a technique or lure. When you become a professional then you get introduced to the "business side" of bass fishing which includes self marketing and other business skills. It is a lot easier to sit in front of a potential sponsor like Minn Kota when you have a good educational background, your a good public speaker, you know how to market things and yourself. It is very hard to sit in front of them and just tell them how good you are at bass fishing. They are going to look at you like your nuts and hand you a long list of other good fishermen and ask you what makes you better then them...what sets you apart. When you get to that level of fishing it is a business.

My ultimate dream is to be a professional bass angler. But if that doesn't work out I want to be a wildlife biologist

You would be wise to think about it in another direction.

1. Get my degree or other education

2. work on becoming a professional angler

Not the other way around