Is it too late to start?

dodderangler

Hi folks
Well been out of work for while now and doesn look like jobs aren't comin up so decided its not too late to give me dream job a shot and do what's best for my family and little girl so I wanna be a zoologist as I have been since I was young but was offered apprenticeship so I took it now I'm unemployed
I love everything with animals worked in a vets for summers and farms also big into working with birds of prey as I am a falconer
I am 23 years old
Is it too late to become one
I did passed all subjects on my leaving cert 5 year ago does that help
Thanks alot

L1m1tless

Hello Check out the NUIG Zoology Department.
http://www.nuigalway.ie/zoology/

Your Leaving cert does not matter much as you would now be considered a Mature Student, You can probably get entry based on an interview and with your experience already you would have a great chance.

Best of Luck.

Mickeroo

dodderangler wrote: »

Hi folks
Well been out of work for while now and doesn look like jobs aren't comin up so decided its not too late to give me dream job a shot and do what's best for my family and little girl so I wanna be a zoologist as I have been since I was young but was offered apprenticeship so I took it now I'm unemployed
I love everything with animals worked in a vets for summers and farms also big into working with birds of prey as I am a falconer
I am 23 years old
Is it too late to become one
I did passed all subjects on my leaving cert 5 year ago does that help
Thanks alot

I've not studied in the field but if you're only 23 then it is most definitely not too late, plus you should be able to get in as a mature student now too.

OpenYourEyes

UCD and Trinity both have Zoology courses too! 23 definitely isn't too late! If anything your maturity and interest in the subject will probably be a benefit! Good luck with it!

Not sure how many jobs there are in zoology though I should probably add! But that said, if you have some experience at a vets that should increase the amount of jobs you could go for!

dodderangler

Thanks folks was just checkin it out and trinity have it and it's a 4 year course and I'm hopin I have an edge on it with the knowledge I've locked up over the years I also had some reptiles over the years so I know bits and bobs with most animals

Birdnuts

dodderangler wrote: »

Thanks folks was just checkin it out and trinity have it and it's a 4 year course and I'm hopin I have an edge on it with the knowledge I've locked up over the years I also had some reptiles over the years so I know bits and bobs with most animals

Go for it lad as it will definatly open doors for you - Zoology concerns among other things wildlife resources, and overlaps diciplines like Ecology, Marine Biology, Environmental science, resource manegement etc. All of which are only going to become more important in the future as the planet and its biodiversity which sustains all life, continues to be impacted by our growing numbers and demands.There will be opportunities for professionals all around the world in that respect.

PS: I've dabbled in this area too as part of my own academic career so If I can be of help in any way just drop me a PM:)

steddyeddy

dodderangler wrote: »

Hi folks
Well been out of work for while now and doesn look like jobs aren't comin up so decided its not too late to give me dream job a shot and do what's best for my family and little girl so I wanna be a zoologist as I have been since I was young but was offered apprenticeship so I took it now I'm unemployed
I love everything with animals worked in a vets for summers and farms also big into working with birds of prey as I am a falconer
I am 23 years old
Is it too late to become one
I did passed all subjects on my leaving cert 5 year ago does that help
Thanks alot

Dodderrangler people often become zoologists at 40 plus! Your still very young and I would encourage you to to what you want in life! You will love zoology. Im working in ucd now and I know that has a fantastic zoology programme as does Trinity. If you didnt want to get in as a mature student you could do a thing called the access to science course in ucd or trinity. Its a year long course and the lecturers are very encouraging. You dont even need a leaving cert just an interest in the course you get into!

If you get 60% or over in the course your guaranteed a place in science. You would be more or less guaranteed a place in the access course. Even if applying as a mature student you would have a good chance given your work experience.

In short your far too young to be worrying about starting a career in zoology. Good luck with it! If you want I can send you information about the ucd zoology programme and even some past exam papers so you know what sort of stuff you would be covering.

g'em

At 23 you're only just a mature student, you're definitely not to old

You do the Zoology Degree in Trinity via Natural Science (TR071), doing a general scince course in first (Junior Freshman) and second (Senior Freshman) years, then specialise in Third and Fourth years (Junior and Senior Sophister). Entry to Zoology is very hotly contended and it's usually one of the top three sought after courses, so you need to get good grades in JF and SF to increase your chances of entry.

Application Guidelines for Mature Students

Undergraduate Natural Science Syllabus

TCD Zoology website

Like steddyeddy said the Access Program Foundation year is another option:

TAP Program

dodderangler

Thanks for the replies everyone
I am doing the TAP course and I have to write a 4 page essay about myself and my interests towards zoology and I have to hand it in before march 2013 and I've already started it
Hope I get it
Anyone know what I get if I complete my college in zoology
Do I get a degree or anything not that I mind
I just wanna do it either way regardless
Thanks for the replies
Atb

Birdnuts

dodderangler wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone
I am doing the TAP course and I have to write a 4 page essay about myself and my interests towards zoology and I have to hand it in before march 2013 and I've already started it
Hope I get it
Anyone know what I get if I complete my college in zoology
Do I get a degree or anything not that I mind
I just wanna do it either way regardless
Thanks for the replies
Atb

You would get a BSc degree in Zoology - Hons or General depending on your results. At least thats how it worked in my time. If you get a second class Hons or better you could then go on to do an MSc etc. if you wanted - or eventually a PhD if you fancy being called Doctor by your lesser mortals:cool:;)

dodderangler

I already have a PHD
A
Pretty huge ***+
Just jokin well I definately won't stop at just a degree
4 years in college is nothing might aswell keep going till I can't get any higher
Can I ask what jobs is open then for me?

Birdnuts

dodderangler wrote: »

Can I ask what jobs is open then for me?

At that level a broad range of consultancy,academic, NGO etc. jobs would be availiable to you right around the world depending on what branch/area of Zoology you specialize in.

Kess73

When I saw the thread title I was expecting you to be quite a few decades older tbh. At 23 you are still very young and your age is in no way an obstacle. Hell if you were 33 or 43 I would still be saying to go for it if you have an genuine interest/calling .

cambridge

To do zoology in trinity you will have to go through 2 torturous years of learning things like maths, biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, geology etc., a massive heap of unzoological stuff. if you manage to get through this you need to perform reasonably well in your end of 2nd year exams to ensure you get into zoology and not put in enviro science or botany.

if all goes well you'll leave college with a zoology degree, which doesn't really qualify you to do anything or give you much advantage against the man off the street getting a job in a zoo.

zoology is an academic discipline, and it sounds like you don't have a strong academic background or potential. i think this could be the biggest waste of your time possible. you will not get a good job out of this.

cambridge

Birdnuts wrote: »

At that level a broad range of consultancy,academic, NGO etc. jobs would be availiable to you right around the world depending on what branch/area of Zoology you specialize in.

this is almost complete cobblers, i'd say 5% of zoology graduates get jobs in zoology

OpenYourEyes

cambridge wrote: »

To do zoology in trinity you will have to go through 2 torturous years of learning things like maths, biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, geology etc., a massive heap of unzoological stuff. if you manage to get through this you need to perform reasonably well in your end of 2nd year exams to ensure you get into zoology and not put in enviro science or botany.

if all goes well you'll leave college with a zoology degree, which doesn't really qualify you to do anything or give you much advantage against the man off the street getting a job in a zoo.

zoology is an academic discipline, and it sounds like you don't have a strong academic background or potential. i think this could be the biggest waste of your time possible. you will not get a good job out of this.

Wherever you study Zoology the first few years will be spent teaching you the background knowledge you'll need to know, so a bit of everything in chemistry, maths, biology and maybe physics! But yeah bits of zoology until 3rd year and thats when you'll concentrate on it!

Zoology qualifies you to work in either the study of evolution, or whatever ecology interests you! Generally zoos hire vets, very rare they hire zoologists - but your work experience at a vets combined with a zoology degree would defo help!

If you're interested in zoology and determined to do well, you will do well -its that simple! Few people like the first 2years because there isnt much zoology, but its well worth it when you get to 3rd and 4th year!

Don't let an uninformed, trolling post like the one above put you off

OpenYourEyes

cambridge wrote: »

this is almost complete cobblers, i'd say 5% of zoology graduates get jobs in zoology

And to the OP, most ecology-based jobs specify that they want someone with a degree in environmental biology, zoology, botany or a related discipline, so a zoology degree enables you to work in whatever type of ecology interests you!

cambridge

I think it's scandalous people are telling a guy on the dole, with no a poor leaving, with a kid, to go back and study zoology. There is nothing there jobs wise. nothing. Calling me a troll or uninformed is just pointless slander, pathetic ad hominem.

how about everyone in this forum who has a zoology degree tell us what zoology job they have and what salary bracket they are in. just so the original poster can get a good idea how naive he is being.

steddyeddy

cambridge wrote: »

I think it's scandalous people are telling a guy on the dole, with no a poor leaving, with a kid, to go back and study zoology. There is nothing there jobs wise. nothing. Calling me a troll or uninformed is just pointless slander, pathetic ad hominem.

how about everyone in this forum who has a zoology degree tell us what zoology job they have and what salary bracket they are in. just so the original poster can get a good idea how naive he is being.

Well your arguement certainly is uninformed. You seem to be putting artificial limits on a zoology degree. A person with a zoology degree isnt confined to watching animals in the wild or working in a zoo. A zoology degree gives you an understanding of genetics, biochemistry and anatomy. Many with zoology degrees have went on to study or work in those areas. One former ucd zoologist recieved the congressional medal for his work in curing a type of eye disease. Another now teachs genetics.

The other point would I would make is that I dont see anything wrong with advising someone to follow his dream.

cambridge

As usual I have to question the reading comprehension of people on this forum. The original poster is supposedly passionate about zoology but you are championing people that read zoology degrees that went on to work outside the field. This proves MY point, not yours, that opportunities lie OUTSIDE of zoology. None of the people you mentioned would have done zoology if neuroscience and genetics degrees were available to them.

No point doing a zoology degree if you are going to work in biomedicine, better off doing a biomedical degree, does that make sense to everyone else?

I think your posting record speaks for itself steddyeddy concerning the difference between being informed and uninformed, you don't even have a zoology degree

steddyeddy

cambridge wrote: »

As usual I have to question the reading comprehension of people on this forum. The original poster is supposedly passionate about zoology but you are championing people that read zoology degrees that went on to work outside the field. This proves MY point, not yours, that opportunities lie OUTSIDE of zoology. None of the people you mentioned would have done zoology if neuroscience and genetics degrees were available to them.

No point doing a zoology degree if you are going to work in biomedicine, better off doing a biomedical degree, does that make sense to everyone else?

I think your posting record speaks for itself steddyeddy concerning the difference between being informed and uninformed, you don't even have a zoology degree

Zoology includes population genetics, anatomy and can include nueroscience. As for the only other point im going to address I think you need to understand how a science degree works. In ucd for example once you get into science you generalise in either biology, chem or physics. Once you get in you can attain any science degree.

cambridge

UCD has the weakest zoology programme in Ireland. I know how it works in UCD, it works the same way an arts degree works.

Zoology is a hobby subject and people on this forum shouldn't be encouraging that man to make a big mistake pursuing this hobby as a career.

Chloris

You're completely right, cambridge. He'd be better off applying for jobs in Dublin Zoo and Fota than making a a huge commitment and investment in doing a four year course. Or maybe a career change might be in order if the work isn't forthcoming in the field you're in.

I also agree that not having a strong academic background is, in itself, grounds to just steer clear of college altogether. Do a night course in something, by all means, but doing such a full-on degree would require so much memorization, writing and work that ambition would barely even factor into it towards the end of second year, where you're becoming disenfranchised about even finishing the course.

Of course, I don't know the O.P. so I can't make a fully informed decision. But just based on what I know about two different zoology courses (which one of my friends completed and the other dropped out of), they're pretty full-on and you need to do a lot more than "love everything of animals" to succeed in the fields you go into. The one friend I have who finished her course is a marine biologist now and she largely doesn't even interact with animals, just carries out research-based studies about them.

By the looks of things, if you want to get a job working directly with animals, you might want to work in a stable or at a rescue centre, and even then it's quite tricky to get a cushy job just caring for the animals (just based on what my buddies work placements entailed).

steddyeddy

cambridge wrote: »

UCD has the weakest zoology programme in Ireland. I know how it works in UCD, it works the same way an arts degree works.

Zoology is a hobby subject and people on this forum shouldn't be encouraging that man to make a big mistake pursuing this hobby as a career.

Thats news to me. Your misinformed about how a zoology degree works in ucd. I suggest looking it up. Its not insider knowledge.

cambridge

you enter undenominated common entry science, choose from a host of subjects, narrow down the subjects in 2nd year of which zoology is one, then choose your major, if you get 2.2 or above at end of 3rd year you enter 4th year for honours degree. maybe you don't know how arts degrees work.

steddyeddy

cambridge wrote: »

you enter undenominated common entry science, choose from a host of subjects, narrow down the subjects in 2nd year of which zoology is one, then choose your major, if you get 2.2 or above at end of 3rd year you enter 4th year for honours degree. maybe you don't know how arts degrees work.

And how does that preclude one from a genetics or any other science degree? Have you got a background in zoology?

cambridge

I am not addressing any more of your problems with reading. You need to read posts properly from start to finish, pause, try to understand what is being said and reread if you are uncertain. You are not making any sense.

steddyeddy

cambridge wrote: »

I am not addressing any more of your problems with reading. You need to read posts properly from start to finish, pause, try to understand what is being said and reread if you are uncertain. You are not making any sense.

No problem with me mate I done well out of zoology as have many others. Thanks for your advice though Im sure It will come in useful.

Mickeroo

cambridge wrote: »

I am not addressing any more of your problems with reading. You need to read posts properly from start to finish, pause, try to understand what is being said and reread if you are uncertain. You are not making any sense.

Cambridge, stick to the topic at hand, no more insulting other posters.

OpenYourEyes

cambridge wrote: »

UCD has the weakest zoology programme in Ireland. I know how it works in UCD, it works the same way an arts degree works.

Zoology is a hobby subject and people on this forum shouldn't be encouraging that man to make a big mistake pursuing this hobby as a career.

While I am admittedly biased, that is a joke of a statement! I know people who have graduated with zoology degrees from both NUIG and UCC and the UCD course is undoubtedly as good as them both if not better. I also had a guy who graduated with a similar degree from Trinity admit that they dont really care about biology, or at least environmental biology and zoology, over there!

Zoology is not a hobby subject. There are numerous careers it can lead to given the importance of biodiversity, the European birds and habitats directives, and other directives like the WFD and EIA Directives which all require people to study the species in any given area, and either help their populations improve or to determine the impact that developments will have on them.

At the end of the day, doing zoology will mean the OP will have a Science degree! Best case scenario he has a science degree and gets a job doing something he's interested in and passionate about. WOrst case scenario, he has a science degree and has had a lot more doors open to him than if he didnt!



For the record OP
In school I hadn't a clue what I wanted to do in college - my guidance councellor advised me to do something I'm interested in and to worry about the job bit later, because once you have a degree in anything you're instantly more employable, and nobody can say "theres no jobs in X" because nobody has a clue what the job situation will be like in 4+ years!

I did my degree in zoology in UCD, loved it! From there I went to do masters in UCD closely related to zoology, and while I don't expect to walk into a job the day I finish, I'm confident that a job in the field of zoology/ecology will come along in the not too distant future, and when it does I'm well prepared for it!

Hope thats of some help!

Capercaille

OP
Did you do the course?