DD wants to study Paleontology or Neurology

[Anonymous]

However, she’s expressed that for Paleontology she has no desire to work in the field nor at a museum.

She is completing Sophomore year as an average student solidly A’s and B’s. PSAT Test scores are median level, 50th percentile.

What would you encourage her to explore? Where?

We’re Virginia residents.

[Anonymous]

So what does she think you will do as a palaeontologist? It seems like field work and museums would be the main employment.

I’d probably encourage her to go into healthcare and be a PA. She can work in neurology if that is her interest.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, she shouldn’t major in paleontology if she doesn’t want to do museum or field work.

[Anonymous]

How about forensics? (The physiological kind).

Or medical/laboratory pathology?

Just thinking of similarities.

Paleontology sounds like a no because of lack of job possibilities.

[Anonymous]

In terms of common undergraduate majors, paleontology branches from geosciences/geology. Neurology branches from neuroscience. When researching colleges, seek those with available majors in both of these fields.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like she's interested in science (not engineering), but isn't yet sure what area. I'd encourage her to take as advanced classes as appropriate, especially in math and science, go to a liberal arts school, and spend the first year or two exploring different science fields before declaring a major.

[Anonymous]

What about archeology?


https://www.montpelier.org/events/excavate-high-school-archaeology-expedition/

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/research/archaeology-opportunities/

https://fairfieldfoundation.org/internships/

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks PPs!

Keep the ideas flowing this is great! Thank you!

Re: Neurology. She has a particular interest in Multiple Sclerosis as her mother has that disease. She’s been able to do projects on it along with other brain disorders in school which has been fascinating for her.

[Anonymous]

There are areas of paleontology that do not require fieldwork or museum work. Many academic paleontologists (university professors) do modeling work, lab work (on existing collections), statistical analyses, etc. But I agree with PP 08:20 that she should target a broad science degree and perhaps focus on biology (common to both of her interests) at first but take a broad range of math/science to understand better where her intellectual and career interests lie. She wouldn't really be committing to either path until graduate school, regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are areas of paleontology that do not require fieldwork or museum work. Many academic paleontologists (university professors) do modeling work, lab work (on existing collections), statistical analyses, etc. But I agree with PP 08:20 that she should target a broad science degree and perhaps focus on biology (common to both of her interests) at first but take a broad range of math/science to understand better where her intellectual and career interests lie. She wouldn't really be committing to either path until graduate school, regardless.

I seriously doubt you can become an “academic paleontologist” without doing fieldwork regularly.

I would just assume the kid has no actual idea about careers but not worry about it too much. She’ll find something that interests her and as she gets older she’ll get clued into actual expectations for the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about archeology?


https://www.montpelier.org/events/excavate-high-school-archaeology-expedition/

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/research/archaeology-opportunities/

https://fairfieldfoundation.org/internships/

OP says student does not want to work in the field or a museum.

This is a bit of a brainteaser. My guess is that the student likes history of science (fossil discoveries), analysis/detective work on body structures, etc.

If there are schools where you can major in evolutionary biology, maybe that? I guessed forensics and pathology above.

[Anonymous]

Married to a paleontologist. It is rarely a standalone degree, it tends to be nested under either geology or biology, so it's not exactly a major, more like a specialized interest within a broader major. People my spouse graduated with are now working in museums, in universities (typically teaching biomedical core courses like anatomy and very little paleo), or in oil & gas in Houston or Anchorage.

Given her neurology interest, she should definitely go somewhere with a strong bio program as well as some geoscience, try out both and see what she wants to do. If she is even potentially interested in medical school, make sure to do the premed science requirements regardless of major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are areas of paleontology that do not require fieldwork or museum work. Many academic paleontologists (university professors) do modeling work, lab work (on existing collections), statistical analyses, etc. But I agree with PP 08:20 that she should target a broad science degree and perhaps focus on biology (common to both of her interests) at first but take a broad range of math/science to understand better where her intellectual and career interests lie. She wouldn't really be committing to either path until graduate school, regardless.

I seriously doubt you can become an “academic paleontologist” without doing fieldwork regularly.

I would just assume the kid has no actual idea about careers but not worry about it too much. She’ll find something that interests her and as she gets older she’ll get clued into actual expectations for the field.

You can, but it's soooooo niche that she just needs to study basic science as an undergraduate anyway. And honestly if my kid had interests like this, I'd encourage them to explore medical careers as well - radiologists do a lot of problem solving based on imaging rather than direct patient care, and they get paid several multiples of what academic paleontologists make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However, she’s expressed that for Paleontology she has no desire to work in the field nor at a museum.

She is completing Sophomore year as an average student solidly A’s and B’s. PSAT Test scores are median level, 50th percentile.

What would you encourage her to explore? Where?

We’re Virginia residents.

Go to the best Virginia school she can get into. She won’t get the top three with those scores or grades but might get JMU. CNU, Mary Washington, others. Major does not matter. She can look in the anthropology department for paleo classes or biology department for neurology courses.

[Anonymous]

She should look into becoming a neurology PA