College Counseling: Great Schools for Marine Science Programs

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Saturday, October 18, 2014

Emily Standish, GoLocalPDX College Admission Coach

Marine biologists enjoy careers that include shark curator, hazardous waste manager, SCUBA instructor, environmental scientist and fisheries policy analyst.

Students who want to become marine biologists have a strong affinity for science and math, and a desire to become conversant in not only the science but also conservation and policy issues in the field. Many students will begin with a degree in natural sciences and continue to earn an advanced degree in Marine Sciences. If you want to dive right in as an undergraduate, take a look at these schools:

Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK 

• Freshman and sophomore majors in Marine Biology at APU can work alongside professionals and take classes in Scientific Diving, Aquarium Husbandry, Coral Reef Ecology, Ichthyology, and more!
• The Behavior and Benthic Ecology Laboratory at APU houses the Alaska Octopus Project, investigating population structures of octopus communities around the Pacific Rim
• By the numbers: 37% acceptance rate; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 465-575, M 450-510; ACT Mid-range: 20-23.

 

Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 

• With an entirely undergraduate focus, Eckerd’s Marine Science curriculum allows students to specialize in Marine Biology, Marine Chemistry, Marine Geology or Marine Geophysics.
• The Eckerd College Dolphin Project is composed of a team of students who conduct population surveys of the bottlenose dolphin
• By the numbers: Acceptance rate:72%; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 520-620, M 510-600; ACT Mid-range: 23-28.

 

Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

• Marine Biology students and Oceanography students study aboard the R/V Kaholo, HPU’s 42-foot research vessel, in nearby coral reefs or more distant deep sea environs
• HPU’s Concurrent program allows motivated students to earn both undergraduate and graduate credit for certain courses, shortening the time it takes to earn a Master’s degree in Marine Sciences
• By the numbers: Acceptance rate: 64%; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 430-550, M 440-560; ACT Mid-range: 19-25.

 

University of Maine, Orono, ME 

• Semester by the Sea program allows students to spend 16 weeks in residence at the Darling Marine Center studying the organisms and environment of the Gulf of Maine
• Marine Science majors can choose from these concentrations: Aquaculture, Marine Biology, or Physical Marine Science.
• By the numbers: Acceptance rate: 83%; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 470-590, M 480-600; ACT Mid-range: 21-27.

 

University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 

• The Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology major begins with a first- semester freshman course in marine science field methods.
• UNH students are encouraged to study abroad in locations that broaden their understanding of the world’s marine ecosystems, with popular destinations in Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas
• By the numbers: 74% acceptance rate; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 460-550, M 470-580; ACT Mid-range: 20-25.

 

Other colleges and universities that offer a degree in Marine Biology or Marine Science include of Hawaii at Manoa, University of South Florida, University of California at Santa Barbara, Oregon State University, University of Wisconsin/Whitewater, University of Miami (FL),and SUNY Stony Brook.  For an extensive list of colleges and universities that offer majors in Marine Science, see MarineBio.org. Want to start next summer? Check out the listing of summer marine science experiences here.

Emily Standish is a partner in Portland, Oregon-based College Admission Coach LLC (www.collegeadmissioncoach.com) which helps students identify and gain admission to right-fit schools where they will thrive academically and personally. Contact me at [email protected] 

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