Geology/ Geoscience?

[Starforsaken]

Does anyone here have any experience in the field of geology or geoscience; or perhaps your are a geologist. I've been thinking about going to college majoring in geology but I wanted to hear from someone who has been working in that field. Anyway if you happen to read this Id appreciate some info, thanks.

 

[fossilman]

Hi Star,

As a kid my family often vacationed in Utah and we visited many of the gological and dinosaur museums. I absolutely fell in love with rocks and fossils. So, except for a brief time in high school when I wanted to be an artist, I've really never wanted to do anthing else. I currently work for a government agency as a research geolgist.

As far as recomending anyone go into the field, well, that's kind of hard to do. For one, it's a rather difficult major. Because geology interacts with just about all the other sciences, you have to take a broad range of courses like calculus, physics, biology, statistics in addition to your geology courses. On the other hand, if you have a broad interest in the general sciences, or in just how the earth works, there isn't a better way to "get it all" in one major.

As far as a profession in geology goes. It has it's good points and bad points. It's very cyclic. I interviewed with a oil and gas company in the early nineties. I didn't get the job. However, many of the people that I had met at the interview were laid off a couple years later. So, I'm pretty glad that I didn't get the job. If you don't mind moving and changing jobs often then it's ok. Me? I like a little more stability, and that's why I went with a government position. Because of the travel and job changes in many of the industry jobs, it can be pretty hard on the family. I once heard that other than firefighters and police, geologists have the highest divorce rate.

It all boils down to what aspect of geology interests you, what kind of work you'd be satisfied with. To be honest, I've always been honest with my kids, and though I have encouraged them to take a geology course or two in college, I've never encouraged them to major in it.

I notice that you consider yourself a young earth creationist. That will be a position that you will always have to deal with and justify in your work in geology as all geological concepts and tools used in the industry are based on an old earth/evolution position. I consider myself a theistic evolutionist, btw.

Well, good luck in your decision. I don't want to be negative. I really don't. I love the work I do, but I also know of a lot of geologists that are selling real estate.

 

[Mechanical Bliss]

Does anyone here have any experience in the field of geology or geoscience; or perhaps your are a geologist. I've been thinking about going to college majoring in geology but I wanted to hear from someone who has been working in that field. Anyway if you happen to read this Id appreciate some info, thanks.

Geology is a great major. I had fun with it because I was really interested in it.

But, like fossilman said, it can be a lot of work as any scientific major can be, but since geology incorporates other sciences, it can be considerably hard because you'll have to take several courses in each of physics, chemistry, calculus, statistics, perhaps biology, and likely post-calculus mathematics. And that's on top of all the other requirements and the numerous geology classes themselves.

Plus you'll likely get a bunch of travel experiences (required and elective) to see the stuff you learn about first hand, particularly if you go to a good school with a good geology department.

As for work after college, it's not easy to find if you only have a Bachelor's degree (without at least a couple years of experience), and even then you'll find yourself working outside of what you learned in college. If you have an M.S. it's easier to find a good job, for sure, but if you want to be immersed in science and a research scientist, then you might as well go for a doctorate and try to work at a university. It all depends on what you want to do.

As for being a young earth creationist, you wouldn't be one for long if you studied geology, that's for sure.

 

[Starforsaken]

Thanks for the info guys, I actually made this name a while back and for my opinion on Earths creation I just clicked a random option. Its pretty obvious to me that the earth isn't young from still like the glacial mograins, striations, worn away river beds, etc.

I gave a lot of thought about this. Science is really a field that I like a lot and especially the earth. I spoke with my earth science teacher also, he told me the same things you guys have stated. While I really have an interest in studying the earth I dont think geology would be something for me. Like you said, my teacher said that many geologists work off of grants, so while some months theyll be working but others their totally dry.

As of now I really have no clue what I want to do because I'm horrible in math and many of the things I like require a lot of math skills. Computer science/engineering, programming etc... cant do that stuff because of reliance on calc. I guess I'll have to start thinking of other options...