Should I stay or should I go now

[Wizard Mentor]

In the zoo keeping field, a 4 year zoology/biology/animal science degree isn't higher or lower then a 2 year zoo keeping degree. You just have to have some sort of degree. Getting hired is based on experience. They always say "the degree gets you the interview, the internships/experience get your the job".

I'm a sophomore, but I know there are certain classes coming up that are going to be a real bitch to pass. A real bitch as in IDK if I can do it. I'm a horrible student, always have been, but even when I try my damndest I'm coming up short.

As a physics prof. who likes the "math shit", here are some of my thoughts:

First, I would give this simple advice: Don't let fear make the decision for you - neither the fear of math, nor the fear of moving to a new place.

You may think you are having trouble, but actually you're not! Why? Because you know what you want to do! Sounds like either path will take you where you want to go, so neither is a bad option unless you drop out because you hate math.

Take some time during Christmas break, and decide whether you can EMBRACE the stuff you find useless. If you don't think you can do that in ND, move on. Dedicate yourself fully to whichever option you choose. Life is too short to be miserable.

As a prof, I am compelled to point out that a 2-year degree may come with a promotion and a monetary ceiling. You could end up in a few years in a job you love, but being pissed that some incompetent jackass becomes your boss or just makes more $ than you because of his degree.

 

[barfo]

You could end up in a few years in a job you love, but being pissed that some incompetent jackass becomes your boss or just makes more $ than you because of his degree.

On the other hand, a 4-year degree won't prevent some incompetent jackass from becoming your boss or making more $ than you. It just means you'll have to work harder to explain it to yourself.

barfo

 

[Paxil]

I would say stay... because you will have more options than just being a zoo keeper. If you change your mind about your career in 5-10 years you will have more options.

I was faced with a similar choice a looooong time ago. I decided to go the CC route... but at the same time I did all my Fresh/Soph general studies classes. The experience I received at the CC was WAY better than if I would have attended a 4 year college with the same major... but guess what... I changed my mind on my field and had to go back and finish my last two years for my BS. Try doing that math shit after you have a family and are have been working in a field for 10 years... trust me it isn't fun then either.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

GO FOR IT! You'll regret it if you dont.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Stick it out, give it your best shot . . . and if you don't pass, transer to the 2 year program.

In the end, it doesn't matter if you get a C- or A+ in math, it is the degree that matters.

 

[dpc]

My input on this would be to get concrete placement numbers from the Colorado Springs school. What percentage of people that graduate with the degree from them get a job in the field within a year? They should have numbers to give you. You might even be able to get a contact number of someone that's been through the program, or at least talk to someone on faculty about what they think the difference in getting work with a Bachelors vs an Associates in that job.

Also, the Springs is a little "god-happy" so if you have problems with that you might want to see what other areas have a similar program.

I have a good friend who graduated there, and he is a keeper at the Minnesota Zoo. He, along with all the other keepers, said it does not matter at all if its a 2 or 4 year degree, as long its a degree in a animal field, and then you have experience. Really the only reason they say you have to have adegree is so that its not like the old days where some crazy guy comes in thinking he can handle a elephant and then he gets smashed his 2nd week on the job.

Ben loved it there, he said its a great town and theres no better training in America because you are solely training in the areas you'll be in. Every class matters.

As far as the God thing, that could bother me. I'm very accepting of other religions, but if its been shoved at me all day that could be annoying, but I don't know if its big enough to make me stay away from the place. Thanks for the heads up though lol

 

[maxiep]

I believe in flexibility. At your age, I was convinced I wanted to be in the Foreign Service. Today, I couldn't think of anything more useless. A four-year degree allows you more options. You never know if you'll want to move from being a zookeeper to being a vet. What if you one day want to manage a zoo?

You have two more years. My advice is to stick it out.

 

[BlazerWookee]

How hot is she?

 

[dpc]

How hot is she?

Funny you mention that. We have had, lets say a complicated past. But my friend Chris guarantees that if I go through with this and move in with her I have officially decided to marry her. That scared the shit out of me...

 

[mook]

I transferred after my freshman year of college. Was really glad I did it. If for no other reason, it's just a nice opportunity to live in a different community and a different academic environment.

I'd transfer if I were in your shoes. Besides, if the zookeeping thing doesn't work out, you can always just enroll in a different university and transfer your credits.

I wound up attending three different universities before I graduated, (U of Idaho, U of Oregon, semester in a Mexico university). Even though it was a crazy mishmash of different credits, I wound up finishing it all in just 4 years, without ever taking more than 18 credits or any summer courses. And that's with Oregon's screwy quarter system.

Follow your dream.

 

[mook]

BTW--If I could give a single piece of advice to the 20 year old version of myself, the one thing I'd says is "Take more risks." Not that I didn't take any, just that I could've taken more.

When you are that young, you can fuck up in so many ways and still straighten out your life by the time you are 35. And if one of those risks early on pays off, you'll reap those rewards a lot longer.

Now that I'm 36 and have a wife/dog/kids/mortgage, it's a lot harder to push any envelopes. Life risks I take now are much more couched in fall-back plans.

 

[dpc]

BTW--If I could give a single piece of advice to the 20 year old version of myself, the one thing I'd says is "Take more risks." Not that I didn't take any, just that I could've taken more.

When you are that young, you can fuck up in so many ways and still straighten out your life by the time you are 35. And if one of those risks early on pays off, you'll reap those rewards a lot longer.

Now that I'm 36 and have a wife/dog/kids/mortgage, it's a lot harder to push any envelopes. Life risks I take now are much more couched in fall-back plans.

lol I love how you bring up your dogs before your kids lol

But yeah, good advice.

 

[mook]

lol I love how you bring up your dogs before your kids lol

My dog has been around longer, is far far cheaper, and is significantly more obedient and grateful.

 

[bintim]

Funny you mention that. We have had, lets say a complicated past. But my friend Chris guarantees that if I go through with this and move in with her I have officially decided to marry her. That scared the shit out of me...

It would scare the shit out of me too. Sounds a little to aggressive. I would prefer to be the one making that big decision. Let me rephrase that.......you should be the one making that decision. Well if you wanted me to............

 

[MARIS61]

Funny you mention that. We have had, lets say a complicated past. But my friend Chris guarantees that if I go through with this and move in with her I have officially decided to marry her. That scared the shit out of me...

Wait, are we still talking about "The" HCP's wife?

 

[dpc]

Wait, are we still talking about "The" HCP's wife?

lol no, I'm speaking of the girl I would move to Colorado with, Jessica. She is also in the zoo keeping field and is thinking about transferring from Minnesota to this school. I would live with her.

 

[bintim]

lol no, I'm speaking of the girl I would move to Colorado with, Jessica. She is also in the zoo keeping field and is thinking about transferring from Minnesota to this school. I would live with her.

I have two boys and a dog..........that means I am in the zoo keeping business most days.

 

[dpc]

I have two boys and a dog..........that means I am in the zoo keeping business most days.

I'll get paid for it though... and a yearly date with worms, but its a nice trade off.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I'll get paid for it though... and a yearly date with worms, but its a nice trade off.

dcp . . . how many zoo keepers are there in an average size zoo?

 

[dpc]

dcp . . . how many zoo keepers are there in an average size zoo?

It really depends on the zoo, how they do things, and how they divide sections up. The zoo I'm at, the Minnesota Zoo, has about 3000 individual animals. The zoo is divided up into

The Northern Trail
Minnesota/Tropics Mammals
Birds
Discovery Bay
Dolphin Lagoon
Farm
Zoo mobile

Each section has anywhere from 5 to 10 keepers, depending on the group. Northern trail is very big land wise, and also time consuming as it has the biggest exhibits (more poop) and the biggest animals (more diet prep/training), so they have the most keepers. More positions usually open up for the summer also. Zoomobile are just small animals and birds that travel to schools for assemblies and such, so they only have about 4 or 5 keepers.


The Red River Zoo here in Fargo has about 300 animals, and has probably about 10 total keepers.