Colleges for Herpetology???

[jakemyster44]

I am planning on going into herpetology in college. I am looking into colleges that have great herpetology programs. I have heard that SDSU has a great program, but obveously there are others! Also, what type of grades etc. are required to get into these types of colleges? I (freshman) have been maintaning a 3.5-4.0 GPA at a respected high school. I am working on building my resume with various volunteer programs, beacuse I realize that is a large part... Any help people could offer would really be appreciated, Thanks in advance!

 

[snowgyre]

Most colleges that have a natural resources or wildlife degree will have professors specializing in herpetology. I don't know if there's an actual herpetology undergraduate degree out there though. Most of the time, undergraduate degrees are pretty broad because the colleges want to make sure you get a well rounded professional education before you specialize in anything. Look at me, I started with reptiles and switched to birds my freshman year. I still love reptiles dearly, but at least while I was in school there was a lot more funding available for bird related projects.

I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel from school, but I know Cornell University in New York has an excellent herpetology program. Dr. Harry Green teaches herpetology there, and he's written an awesome book on snakes. He's also one of the most enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and funny guys in the field. There's also a herpetology club that's pretty active up there. They go herping frequently. Cornell can be a bit tricky to get into (it's Ivy League, so it's right up there in terms of big school names), but if you've got good references, a good GPA, and a nice list of extracurricular activities then you'll probably get in.

Oh, and TAKE YOUR SATs!! Like, NOW, if you haven't already. Colleges are already accepting applications for fall semester, so you definitely have to get right on it if you want to start this fall.

I also know the University of Georgia here in Athens (the school I'm getting my PhD in right now) has a couple of great herpetologists. Dr. Maerz just discovered a brand spanking new species of Plethodontid salamander in the north Georgia mountains. He's a cool guy too. We also have a herpetology club here, although it's not as active as the one up at Cornell. I think the undergraduate courses are a bit easier here than at Cornell though. The first two years are rough, even for dedicated students.

I hope this helps! If you need any advice, please let me know! I've been doing this for a while, so I've got a good idea of how colleges work.

 

[thestack510]

^^ This is a very informative post ^^

 

[liljenn]

Thanks for that post, Vanessa!! My daughter is VERY interested in being a vet and really wants to go to Cornell. She will be super happy to hear they have a good herpetology program as well. (She's only 13, so we have time!!!) Reading your post will be very encouraging to her. I keep telling her she needs more than just awesome grades and SAT scores to get into a college like that. (and lots of $$$ too!)

 

[LizMarie]

Thanks for that post, Vanessa!! My daughter is VERY interested in being a vet and really wants to go to Cornell. She will be super happy to hear they have a good herpetology program as well. (She's only 13, so we have time!!!) Reading your post will be very encouraging to her. I keep telling her she needs more than just awesome grades and SAT scores to get into a college like that. (and lots of $$$ too!)

Aww.. I always tell younger ppl. that if they want to succeed in college they have to start working on it now before they even fill out an application. Many prestigious universities are looking for well rounded students that when they read their application it pops, they are looking for students that will not only better their academic standing but their overall look. Many of my friends in High School went to Cornell University on almost full scholarships. They were always on the honor roll many of them were in the Honor Society but they were also the ones that "ran" the school. Many of them held top positions in clubs some nationally recognized clubs such as F.B.L.A and did a lot of volunteer work with at risk children, abused women and the homeless. Imagine looking at their college application? lol..

When looking at a college don't close yourself off to only a few things since I read that on average a college student will change their major atleast 3times

 

[Valley Reptiles]

Marshall and Auburn university has good classes. Auburn is where almost all the vets around here graduated. They have a lot of options with working with animals. And they have the best football team

 

[liljenn]

Thanks everyone! Great info to pass on to her... sometimes it's better to hear advise from others than "just mom"! Yeah, we're at that age...LOL!

 

[snowgyre]

Jenn, if you also want her to stay closer to home, the University of Georgia is pretty prestigious and has a good vet program from what I hear. Cornell University is a great school, but I really can't recommend it unless you're an in-state student and eligible for a $13,000 tuition grant the state provides (chopping the overall cost per year to approximately 17K, it might be more now though, that's the 2003 rate). I honestly don't know how much UGA is because I'm on a graduate stipend.

How about Clemson University in SC? I hear that's a really good school, I just don't know what they offer. Plus, staying in state is generally a bonus for undergrads because universities often give tuition cuts to in-state students.

The best thing you can do as a student is participate in extracurricular activities. Grades are often weighed less in college applications than a student's resume and references. I did poorly in my SATs and still got into Cornell because of the extra stuff I did outside of school. If you can get involved in a local club, such as an Audubon Society, community service clubs, church groups, etc, that's what schools are looking for. You can have the best grades in the world and still be a dunderhead. Colleges are looking for students with ambition, dedication, and enthusiasm, not just how well they are at taking stupid standardized exams (ugh, I hate paying people to tell me how stupid I am. e_e).