Hello DML subscribers,
I am in a bit of a rut. I'm a recent graduate of university and am really interested in pursuing paleontology as a career. However I'm not sure how to go about it, whether I need to go to grad school, etc. I'm really
passionate about paleontology (not to brag, but I think I have collected more books on the subject than some professors) and took paleo courses at uni, but my specialization is in physical geography. I was told by one of the paleontology professors that the
economy probably isn't great for someone like me wanting to go to grad school and I'm worried about my grades not being hot enough to qualify for institutions with paleo programs.
I thought DML would be a good place to direct my plea, because I'm looking for a way to get into doing actual research while also (hopefully) making enough dough to sustain the operation. I've been a DML user for many years and am grateful for all the valuable
discussion and assistance other list members have shown me. My main questions revolve around how hard it is to get into graduate level paleo programs; what are the best institutions or jobs for a novice; any informal or unpaid opportunities that need a hand;
and just any general advice for someone who's having trouble finding opportunities to be part of professional palaeontology. I've been doing some of my own research but I feel that specific advice from people who've gone through the process of becoming professional
paleontologists is invaluable.
Many thanks in advance,
Thomas Yazbeck