Advice on getting into research

[MadiG]

Hi, everyone!

I'm 23F and have a BS in marine biology. I want to go to grad school and obtain my PhD to study marine mammal behavior. I was told my whole life that any experience counts, so I have done a total of 4 internships - all in an aquarium setting. Now I'm stuck. I got offered a minimum wage, temporary job at a theme park working with reptiles and birds and everyone is telling me to take it - because everything counts. But I REALLY want to move on to the research aspect of things and to grad school. I've had no luck with other jobs and have been denied into grad schools for 2 years now (with the typical response). When I ask for more information about getting in, I am told my resume looks good and to just keep trying. I feel like 4 aquarium internships got me too far into aquariums/zoos and nowhere with behavioral research. Would an animal educator job really help me with marine mammal behavior research? How do I get that first research job?

Thank you all! Any advice at all helps!

[GradSchoolTruther]

What was your GPA and GRE scores? How many programs are you applying to, including master's? What do our want to study in your program? Are your LOR writers giving you strong recommendations? 

[MadiG]

My GPA and GRE were average, but I was told they were both outweighed by my experience from a graduate program director. I applied to 3 programs a couple years ago and to 2 last year. There's only one that I really want, but for 2017 I'm planning on applying to 5 programs. The application fee is also a problem for me, so that limits me to how many programs I can apply to. I want to study abnormal behavior in cetaceans, but will do any animal behavior program. And I do luckily have great LOR writers. I guess my big concern is if I should take any job I can get with animal experience (after having 4 animal care internships) or to not take zoo/aquarium jobs and only take research jobs (to build that part of my resume).