on the raod to herpology

[$nake$]

Hey,
I'm about to enter highschool and I was wondering what I would have to take to later be a "herpologist" - not shure if thats a word?

thanks!

[JLC]

If I were in your shoes, I'd focus on biology and any other life-sciences your school offered. And I'd work hard to keep my grades in the excellent-range to give me a head start towards finding a good college.

[elevatethis]

First off, if you were a biologist specializing in reptiles and amphibians, you'd be a Herpetologist.

To go into the field of herpetology, you'd first need to focus on your high school grades across all areas of study in order to be competitive in college admissions. Take as much biology as your high school offers. Remember, you'll have to wade through all the plant bio and boring stuff like that, but everyone's got to do it.

After high school, apply to a college that offers a degree in the biology department and a specific focus in herpetology.

[$nake$]

Ok but is a herpetologist a good paying job??
Thanks again!

[elevatethis]

Depends how you measure what "good pay" is. Bob Clark (first guy to produce albino burms in the 80s) has a masters degree in herpetology, and I'm sure he lives a comfortable life. The Barkers (VPI founders) are biologists by profession as well. The types of jobs you'd have as a herpetologist by and large would be related to doing research, probably through a university or government organization.

If you wake up in the morning get to do what you love and get paid for it, that's got to amount to something, right?

[JLC]

Just a reality check....it's like winning the lottery (odds-wise, not effort-wise!) to become a highly paid herpetologist. Of course, you can accomplish whatever you believe in enough and work hard enough at......but only a fraction of a fraction of biology specialists achieve the kind of income that Jeff Corwin or Ralph Davis enjoy. The success would be in making your life's work that which you are passionate about....not how much money you earn.

[PJ FF]

have fun taking biology. Im taking it right now..... I have an F but I know for a fact everyone is smarter than me. I passed it last semester with a C tho so theres still hope. HA. But that sounds like a good career choice. Good luck

[greenmonkey51]

Even though you may love it, the money is most likely not gonna be there. Its funny to see a lot of kids wanting to go into animal science programs but they dont realize what the pay and job opportunities are. I would much more have a job that I tolerate with decent pay, that allows me to keep the fish/reptiles I want than to get a degree in something that interests me but I can't do anything with it and I end up getting some crap job, and not have the money to keep what I want.

[Diceman]

Yeah herpetology isent exactly an easy job to get into..be easier to become a lawyer or doctor lol and the pay isent as good as most 9-5 jobs (unless your lucky) so its not a job you do for the money but more of a hobby you get paid enough to do

[Colin Vestrand]

Remember, you'll have to wade through all the plant bio and boring stuff like that, but everyone's got to do it.

hey, the plant stuff is interesting! besides, what good is knowing about animals if you don't know about the other living organisms that they cohabit their respective ecosystems with?

(sorry i just have a soft spot for botany)