Contemplating a Career in Botany?

Question

I've been contemplating going to school to become a botanist, but while the field really does interest me, I'm not really sure what I'd be doing for work once I graduated?

The idea of working in a college or university lab doesn't particularly interest me, and ultimately I would like to do something that has a good chunk of outdoor/field work.

Am I barking up the wrong tree? What kind of jobs are there in botany?

Answer 1

Teaching at a college or university does not preclude your getting out with your students to do field work.

You don't say where you are. High school? College? Is there some one you can ask?

What do you mean by "botany?" Could it be molecular biology, but with plants? Could you get interested in crop science?

Whatever you decide, you will have best success going to a university rather than to a liberal arts college. Also, you will fare better at, say, Iowa State University rather than University of Iowa. This is because botany will be bigger there. And the university will have a school of agriculture where you may want to go.

To do what you want to do, count on going four years to a university to get a bachelor's degree. Then go four more years for a Ph.D. You will be 26 when you get out. Once you get a bachelor's degree, you can earn your way to the Ph.D. by working as a laboratory and discussion class instructor at the university.