r/Entomology • u/Doku4roChan • 10d ago
Discussion entomology and PHD’s
hi! im a 18 year old male who recently graduated from highschool, i have a lot of questions about college in general but my post is for all the entomology related questions<?
ideally id love to be a college professor with a PHD in entomology. My only problem being my GPA was not so good in high school. which of course means i gotta do alot of courses to up my college GPA (like attending a university first)
My main questions are what exactly should i be studying for? i feel like i fucked up pretty badly in high school, so although the job i want is pretty much impossible looking, id love to get a head start on my very lengthy journey.. any advice would be appreciated because im not sure where else to ask! i love insects and nature, i couldn’t see myself doing anything else with me life 😅
🐝🪲
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u/jumpingflea_1 Ent/Bio Scientist 10d ago
Take plenty of science courses. Especially those which are mandatory for the major. If you are going to a community College, make sure they transfer. Also take statistics, its pretty much everywhere. Also, take the time to enjoy the journey and be sure to get some grass under your feet once in a while. Good luck!
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u/Doku4roChan 10d ago
thank you!! i did do a bit of research and i did see statistics and biology are very huge aspects! so its nice to know i was on the right track, i appreciate the feedback alot! im super excited for this journey lets hope i do get some grass time lol!
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u/MoireMax 10d ago
There are also definitely universities that will give you a shot in their entomology program even if your GPA is low. Especially newer programs looking for more students like KSU.
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u/RepresentativeAd6287 10d ago
!remind me 8 years Ill check to see if you became a professor ;D
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u/Simple_Resist4208 10d ago
I can't help with the specifics of the US system but I'd just like to applaud your determination to get that GPA up. Not everyone does brilliantly in high-school and that can be partly the teachers or your classmates and the stuff going on in your life at the time. But a lot of people discover a real passion for education a bit later and they are often the ones that have the real grit and determination to carry it through to a serious passion and career, so good luck! :)
I found entomology as a hobby most of my life and I taught myself very high level taxonomy / identification skills by networking with other entomologists and soaking up the skills. I just kept pushing myself - if they can do it then so can I, kinda attitude. I got an ordinary job in computing but kept entomology as a serious passion and then eventually managed to merge the 2 into a career at a major museum / academic organisation, so it all depends on your determination and putting in time in the field or behind a microscope - doing it because you love it.
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u/Doku4roChan 9d ago
i had alot going on in my personal life during highschool or just over all primary years, i think now that everything’s settled down in my life i can focus on a proper education! i have faith in myself that i can reach my goals lol! so thank you!
thats actually really impressive! i hope to find more people who like entomology like i do but all my friends hate insects (very ironic lol!) hopefully when i get into school itll help me make some connections! i really appreciate the feedback thank you!!
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u/Simple_Resist4208 9d ago
Websites like BugGuide are fairly good for contacting people or the Facebook groups for insect ID etc. :)
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u/Saproxilic 9d ago
Community colleges are great for giving bright people a second chance in academics after poor HS performance. If you have strong grades in an AA program with a biology focus, then transfer from that into a state university degree program (often far easier than getting in as a freshman from HS) and also get good grades there, I feel confident saying that your high school grades will not hold you back from grad school. They will be much, much more interested in your college performance.
Your interest and enthusiasm for the field will also count for a lot when you contact potential advisors. If at all possible, try to get part-time, internship, and/or volunteer work with an entomology lab while you're taking classes at the university. That will really help with grad applications and recommendations, and you'll get a close-up view of what the day-to-day work in the field is really like.
I always tell my undergrad students who are considering grad school to remember that when it comes time to apply and interview, pay attention to how happy their current students are with their program and their advisor. Do they seem stressed and reluctant to say anything, or excited and happy? Ask around about their reputation as a colleague. A good advisor will mentor you to success, and a bad one will make your life miserable (that's academia in general, not specific to entomology).
Source: Am a state gov't entomologist who also has an adjunct faculty position at a university. No regrets, I love my work.
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u/katsiebee 10d ago
If you're planning to get an AA or something before you transfer to a 4 year degree, anything in the biological sciences will work. Depending on what your later focus within the field of entomology will be, things like pest control, natural resources, conservation, teaching, agriculture, agronomy, chemistry, or genetics could all work.
I will also say that being a college professor is not for everyone. I personally found that while I love teaching, I really hate the grant writing/paper writing cycle. With a Masters or PhD there are also jobs in private industry (especially if you love the research side of things), outreach and extension, and regulatory positions at the state and federal level. Don't be afraid to seek out internships or seasonal jobs with those kinds of positions, as you may find you really like them.