College Applications for Aspiring Paleontologists
It’s that time of year again: college application season! To all aspiring paleontologists working on their applications this year: I’ve been there too. I applied to college back in 2015, and I wish I had a paleontologist around to ask questions when I was deciding which school to go to and planning for this next step in my educational career. High school students and their families often ask our staff questions about how to get into this field, so I’m here to share my experiences and advice for future paleontologists! Here are my answers to some of our most common questions about going to college for paleontology:
“What major should I choose in college?”
One of the biggest concerns of soon to be college students is what major to choose. Lots of potential paleontology students are discouraged by the fact that they can’t find many schools that offer undergraduate degrees in paleontology, but that is actually a good thing! Getting an undergraduate major in paleontology is rare and so specific that it can hinder you when it's time to turn that major into a career, whereas other degrees will actually be more useful to you in the long run. Studying a more general subject for your undergraduate degree will give you a more broad skill set, and leave you with more options for future jobs. Majoring in a broad natural science subject like biology or geology will allow you to study essential subjects in paleontology, like Earth history, anatomy, and evolution. Even getting a double major or picking up a minor can be helpful to ensure you are getting a comprehensive science education.
“How do I know which school’s program would be best for me?”
If you have an idea of what you’d like to major in, check out the different departments at the schools you’re exploring. For example, many biology departments tend to lean towards subjects like microbiology, genetics, and biomedicine, while others focus more on evolution, zoology, or ecology. Do the programs you’re looking at have any faculty members in that department who are paleontologists? Lots of paleontologists have teaching assignments in biology or geology programs, but some may be in other departments, like the anatomy or even veterinary department.
If you already know what subjects within paleontology you’re interested in, check out some current research in those areas and reach out to professors who have written papers you find interesting. Most professors love hearing that a prospective student is interested in their work, and it’s a great way to make connections and start a conversation. If you get the opportunity to speak with faculty, students, or alumni from the program you’re interested in, this can give you a much better idea of what opportunities you might have at that school.
“How can I get paleontology work experience in college?”
One of the biggest factors in my decision when I chose where to go to college was the relationship that my school had with our local natural history museum. Thanks to my college being walking distance to a fantastic museum, I was able to get myself into a paleontology lab as a freshman, where I started to learn fossil preparation and eventually had a chance to do some real research, getting my first scientific paper published just a year after graduating! See if there’s a museum near your school, and find out if any of their paleontology departments accept student volunteers, workers, or researchers. Sometimes you might even find that the museum’s paleontology staff are adjunct professors and teach classes at the school you’re interested in.
If you’re interested in doing research as an undergraduate student, try to find out how much support is available for undergraduate research at the schools you are applying to. Does the school publish a journal of undergraduate research or have research fairs where you can present your work? Are there any funding opportunities for undergraduates? Any labs that take student workers?
If you’re interested in field work, which is my absolute favorite part of being a paleontologist, check out schools with field programs or check what their transfer credit policies are so that you can join another expedition in the summer. Our GEOL 491 course with Montana State University Billings is a great chance to get some field experience over the summer and you’ll earn college credits for it!
“I’m not applying to college just yet, what can I do now to prepare?”
Even if college applications are a few years away for you, there’s plenty that you can do to gain experience in the meantime! In school, it’s a great idea to focus on science classes. If you have the opportunity to take advanced science courses that will help you prepare for core science classes in college, and high scores on AP exams can even earn you college credits. We also recommend taking classes that will improve your research and writing skills. A research project on Oscar Wilde may not seem relevant to paleontology now, but having a strong foundation in writing will serve you well along the way. I learned a lot of research and writing skills in college and high school while studying a wide range of subjects outside of paleontology, from Macbeth to modern American history to antibiotic resistance.
Outside of school, there are plenty of ways to get paleontology experience before college. Volunteering at your local natural history museum is one of the best ways to get experience, and many museums accept high school students as volunteers. You can also look for other paleontology related groups near you, like fossil clubs or societies. These avocational paleontology groups are an excellent way to get practical experience, make connections, and learn more about your local paleontology!
In addition to these things, you can start a science education social media account (not your personal account) and use it to learn how to create engaging content about natural sciences, paleontology, and your experiences in science. Social media is a kind of business card and schools and employers will look at what kind of content you put into the world. Have something great to show them.
Remember, there are so many different ways that people get into paleontology, so there’s no definitive right answer that fits each person. On the small Elevation Science team alone, we have staff members with backgrounds in geology, anthropology, education, art, science communication, and biology. These diverse perspectives are a part of what makes paleontology such an exciting field to work in. Whether you’re interested in learning about extinct animals themselves, recreating them through paleoart, running field expeditions to dig up bones, sharing your science knowledge in person and online, or preparing fossils and overseeing their preservation in museum collections, it takes a wide variety of people to make the science of paleontology happen.