Hello all,
I’m a Junior and am getting hit with the sudden stress of preparing for graduate school. While I’m quite happy with my college experience, there are still things I wish I did differently. I’m not sure why I feel this way, because I consider it quite fulfilling. I can’t explain it, but does anyone else ever feel this way? I’ll give details:
- I am a geology and biology double major. Since freshman year, I wanted to pursue vertebrate paleontology in graduate school. As of this year, my interest has been modified to micropaleontology of ancient microbes and the biogeochemistry of the early Earth.
- I have had several research experiences, but feel as if I should have pursued projects more specific to my current interests. In summer of 2013, I went to Sweden to help my prof and a senior student studying glacier mass balance. Unfortunately, the project flopped due to that student's lack of motivation when the school year started. in summer of 2014, I helped another professor studying salamander ecology in prairie wetlands. This project was more rewarding, but I feel that it is not the best thing I could have done. If I had been interested in geobiology at the time, I would have hoped to pursue projects focusing more on microbial lab work or water quality and microorganisms (algae, diatoms, etc.) Point being, my research was rewarding, but doesn't reflect my current interests for graduate school. I can't pursue research this summer because I will be participating in geo field camp and visiting grad schools as I can.
- I also wish I took more specific coursework. When I wanted to do vertebrate paleontology, I took vertebrate biology, whereas I wish I now took microbiology. I also stopped chemistry after O-chem I, which is all that's required for a bio major at my school. I know wish I also took O-chem II, maybe biochem, and maybe inorganic chem. These are classes that I don't need for my major, but would have probably good if I took them in time. Now that I'm going to be a senior, there's not enough time.
I have no doubt that my experiences were worthwhile, but I see many of my classmates who have done amazing things in opportunities I never considered at the time (one of them published in a journal, and attended 2 national conferences for her research in our microbio lab). I shouldn’t feel this way, because many things may not have worked out, but I feel like I’m planning to go into a graduate program with little more than an informed interest with unrelated training.
Thank you for reading. Any words would be appreciated.