I hope this is the forum for this so here goes.

I don’t post much but read regularly here on BT. I have met a bunch of the BT’ers on our several trips to Bonaire. We haven’t been there since Christmas/New Years ’03/’04. We will be back soon though. High School studies/sports and limited time off have contributed to not making the trip – I need to do more than 1 week at a time in Bonaire. 1 week is just a tease.

Since folks here have various backgrounds (and probably some in this arena), I have a question about Marine Biology/Oceanography. My son Dan is a sophomore in High School (where does the time go?) and is interested in this type of program. He LOVES the sciences AND the ocean/water. He was PADI certified at 10 years old and has very much enjoyed diving.

I was wondering if any of the BT’ers have backgrounds in this and maybe recommend Colleges/Universities to pursue these studies. He is currently carrying a 3.6 GPA so I hope his studies won’t be a problem. I want to get a head start on looking around and seeing what’s available.

Funny note on this – 2 weeks ago we were talking about this subject and he proceeds to tell me of a school in Florida with such a program. I looked at him and said “I’m sure your surfboard wouldn’t be making the trip to Florida with you?”. He gave me the look and grin of a 15 year old that is priceless.

Thanks in advance for ANY advice.

Tom

Hi Tom,
Give this link a hit.http://www.whoi.edu/

Tom, My son is going to Coastal Carolina. They have a very good Marine Science department, and he likes it very much.

Thanks Patrick. Coastal is on my radar screen. It's good to hear of someone going there and their pleasure with it.

Jerry - are you familiar with WHI? I have looked at that before and I believe it's more post graduate rather than under graduate. Do I believe correctly?

Thanks for the replies.

Tom

Hi Tom,
Took this off web page.


Summer Student Fellowship Program
Annual application deadline: February 15
The objective of this program is to provide a promising group of science and engineering undergraduate students early experience in oceanographic and ocean engineering research that will assist them in their career choices. Ten to twelve week summer fellowships are awarded to undergraduates, who have completed their junior or senior year, interested in the sciences, mathematics, engineering or marine policy. Full description

Guest Students
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution does not conduct a formal internship program, but a limited number of college graduates and undergraduates and advanced high school students are accepted as student volunteers in our laboratories on a year-round basis. This is a very informal program, since the Institution’s ability to place a Guest Student depends on whether the student’s interest and academic background coincide with available openings based on a review schedule. Guest Student appointments are made for periods of not less than one month and not more than one year. Full description

Here's a good link on that subject.

More south sounds better than more north, Tom. Easier and cheaper for him to meet you in the Caribbean; nicer than the Carolinas for a wintertime visit from you. Most of the pictures in the Humann book are taken in Florida, you know. Plus REEF is there, he might get an internship with them or a job.

Tom -

Here's one you might not have thought of: http://www.tamug.edu/admrc/. Most people would not associate this institution with oceanography.

Regardless, I've heard quite good reports about the program and simply offer it to give you and your son as many options as possible.

And just so the moderators don't accuse me of promoting a product: I am a Longhorn!

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Tom, My son graduated from UNCW in Wilmington, NC with a degree in Marine Biology. It's a well respected school with a really good marine studies department.

Although it's probably more expensive, Duke University also has a very good marine studies department. It's also where DAN is located.

I agree with Seb, although our winters aren't all that bad! I'm not sure about UNCW but I know that Duke does part of their studies in northern Florida.

There's some very good diving in the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" with lots of wrecks and a very good chance of seeing sharks without chumming them into a feeding frenzy.(When they're most dangerous.) They are beautiful and magnificent animals when they're swimming along side of you!

Good luck to your son in his choice of schools and may "ya'll" blow many bubbles!

Bob

Hi Tom, My daughter is a senior this year and plans on going into Marine Biology of some sort. Pretty big field. That said, she has applied to many and got accepted into all, but she really liked Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas. She went to see it and was sold. It is on an island off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. Then she is still thinking of Eckerd College in Florida. That is in St Petersburg, I believe. They sent her quite a nice scholorshop to make it very affordable for the four years she would go there. I have to take her to see it, but the booklets and info packet look really nice. Both of these are not real large universities and she liked that, she doesn't just want to be a number in the crowd. Georgia has quite a few too. She wants to be down south. She didn't think Georgia was cool, though. This is what we came up with after a year of searching as good ones for our daughter. North Carolina has one too, but they raised their tuition big time in one year, so I am staying away from those kind of increases. Charles has posted the website for Texas A&M, it is not the main campus at Corpus Christi, it is at Galveston, like I mentioned. Good Luck! We had a hard time narrowing down the options and applied to at least 13 of them! You know how kids have a tendancy to change their minds. My older son wanted to be a sports physical therapist, then after all the applications were sent out, he changed his mind and is now a teacher for elem. ed. He is very happy and doing well, but what a complete turn around!

You may want to make contact with Caren Eckrich of Sea & Discover on Bonaire (www.seandiscover.com) and perhaps do a day program with her while you are there. She has a Master's in MB and is originally from TX. I'm sure she would be happy to share her thoughts on various schools. Good luck!

Yes, Caren was great with my daughter. She also graduated from Texas A&M as well.

Jerry - Thanks for the C&P

Cecil - Thanks for the link. I have it bookmarked.

Seb - I hear you on that. We are certainly looking more south than north for the reasons you've stated.

Charles - I'm sure it hurt promoting A&M! ;-)

Bob and Debbie - It's great to get your input concidering you have children involved in the studies/field. The "first hand" type of input is very valuable.

Dara - We hope to get there within the next year. If we are lucky enough to, we will look up Caren.

I knew I could rely on BT for some good info/advice. He's our only child so we are new to this game from the parent perspective!

Thanks to all and I'll keep ya posted. Who knows, he may change his mind this afternoon!

Tom

Tom, I need to correct myself on a few things. The main campus for Texas A&M is College Station, made a mistake on that one. I meant to say there are good ones in Alabama too, not Georgia. Sorry about that, was multi tasking at the same time of post.