Expert: Bruce - 11/6/2007

Question
My daughter is a junior at a good college in California, majoring in biology.  She is a bright girl and tests well, but has not done well thus far grade-wise.  She has wanted to be a conservationist since she was very young and she feels now like she is in the wrong major and the wrong school.  She loves everything about her school but the academics (but not in an "I love the parties, but hate the work." kind of way)  She feels she would do a lot better pursuing environmental studies in a nontraditional program but doesn't want to leave her friends and doesn't think it's possible anyway to do anything about it now but stick it out in biology at her current school and do something different for her master's.  I am afraid that if her grades stay as they have been, she won't get accepted into graduate school and don't know that she has anything to lose by looking around at the possibilities now but have no idea where to tell her to begin or even if my advice to "see what's out there and be open to the possibilities" makes sense or if she should just stay where she is and stick it out.  She has always had a hard time getting herself motivated to sit down and study or write a paper but seems to do best on these things last minute when she is under pressure.  Since she has been at college though, she seems to get very sick every midterm and finals period and her last minute studying catch-up strategies have not served her well.

Answer
Jennifer,

Sorry for the delay in replying, had mechanical challenges at home and my son's soccer team unexpectedly made the state finals - you know how it goes!

I have a few thoughts and ideas for you.

First, your daughter is interested in conservation, perhaps there is another way to be involved in this effort. Every conserv society has field workers (bio and env sci types) but behind them is an army of professionals that are equally vital - managers, accountants, PR staff, educators, HR staff, etc. Perhaps your daughter could find a rewarding career for a env concern - but not necessarily in the field, but still feels vital and uses her gifts.  If this idea interests her, perhaps she could still pick up a minor that, paired with her bio work, would make her an attractive candidate for an env org.


If she has not done so, I would encourage your daughter to go to her career office and take the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and also an interest inventory. These can offer takers good insight into both personaily and possible career pursuits.

During the upcoming break, perhaps you can spend some time with her explring the Web site for the Nature Conservancy. This has a careers section that describes actual careers in this company, and shows the breadth of skills the NC needs. Also, it will list internship and other opportunities that may be of interest.

As far as grad school goes, if your daughter can finish strong, that will be helpful. Also, if she gets some work experience behind her and has zeroed in more on a career, that could also sway grad schools in a positive way.

I hope these ideas prove useful. Your daughter is bright and sounds like a good kid; she will find her way, but it seems like a little guidance from you can help.

Feel free to send back more questions if you have them.

Bruce