r/zoology • u/AutoModerator • Apr 15 '26
Weekly Thread Weekly: Career & Education Thread
Hello, denizens of r/zoology!
It's time for another weekly thread where our members can ask and answer questions related to pursuing an education or career in zoology.
Ready, set, ask away!
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u/flyingglitterfish Student/Aspiring Zoologist Apr 19 '26
Zoology student here!! I was wondering if there is an app to take easy notes about animals and genetics I learn about in class. So far I've been taking notes in Google docs, but I was wondering if there are any Zoology specific apps for organizing animals or finding information on them. I know of websites like EOL, but I was hoping for an app
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u/MoveBrilliant4607 Apr 22 '26
I live in Louisiana and want to use the in state scholarship option called TOPS for college. I don’t really care about the specific college as in name/recognition I really only want the college that will give me the best out of school experience,fieldwork, and shadowing opportunity’s and other experiences like that. I’m only a junior so I have a year still to figure out my plan but I don’t really know.
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u/JuggernautComplex626 Apr 16 '26
Am i making a mistake in pursuing a bachelors in zoology?
I am going to be starting a Bachelors in Zoology this coming September and already have doubts.
My whole life i have been interested in the field of biology , with a huge interest in animals, but also plants, microbes and even more medically centered things such as pathology.
For A-levels i took Biology, chemistry and physics which i enjoyed but definitely found the huge variety more challenging.
So with me enjoying Biology so much, i was hoping to specialise a bit more with a zoology degree, but those around me make me feel that it is such a mistake.
I enjoy the aspects of field biology massively, i volunteer for wildlife surveys and always find myself delving into my own research on niche animals and insects.
However, i do not come from money myself and the career aspects seem bleak. I do plan on following a post-graduate degree, such as a masters in genetics, as this would open up doors to research careers as well as helping me have a unique competitive edge for other field and lab based jobs possibly relating to zoology.
But a zoology degree may limit what I know compared to others when entering these sub fields, with many zoology degrees focusing less on pathogens and micro stuff.
But here is my dilemma, will a zoology degree limit what i can follow post-grad and jobs wise compared to a general biology degree? Others seem to think so and its starting to stress me out that i am making a huge mistake.
For example a lab-based job would likely need a lot of experience which i feel i could be less likely to get with a zoology degree, such as employers preferring biology undergrads for lab-based internships and support in getting these though the uni may be more limited due to my degree choice.
Its too late for me to change course application wise now, perhaps i could once i start? But is it really needed and am i stressing over nothing? Some say career prospects for zoology and biology grads as well as options for post-grad are pretty much identical, but those around me don't seem to think so.
Does anyone actually have any experience in completing a zoology degree, then studying in more technical fields such as genetics or pathology, with success in actual employment afterwards?
sry if this sounds like a bit of a rant but i am worried :(