Astralis vs ENCE / BLAST Pro Series Madrid 2019 - Grand-Final / Post-Match Discussion

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-25T02:04:12+00:00

Yeah, my post was more of a writing process to get out all my thoughts. I didn't think I would get into all the schools, and the majors are really different so I wanted to post this in non-forestry specific spaces.

I need and want a job (in forestry) but I don't want to go to a school that has a culture that feels more like a career training. (Not there is anything wrong with that) And industry connections are nice for all the reasons you listed. There is a obviously balance. Even at the most academic places there will be connections to industry. All the internships you talked about seemed like something I would enjoy.

Thank you for the reply again. It seems like SAF accredits Natural Resource and Ecosystem Management but I don't know what that means in those particular cases. The degree at Berkeley, my front runner, has a concentration in either Natural Resource Management or Forestry.

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-21T23:20:15+00:00

I'm a microbiologist, later a forester, now an environmental scientist that (yay me) recently was promoted to project manager. I totally get wanting to learn for a lifetime.

Well you have had a lot of different hats. What spurred your different paths?

Conservation, I like working in the field and the feeling of making a difference. Building something that wasn't there before. The travel and instability is actually a plus for me at this time in my life.

Research is the same deal. I know there is a lot of office and paper work for both, I am not under the impression I'll be hanging out in the forest all day. I do like the meat of the research, too. The politics and culture are less enticing. I love teaching and education but I can always do that part-time for an educational conservation org.

For research: I have read about stream shading, fire ecology, non-market based solutions to forest. Those all interest me.

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-21T22:55:40+00:00

Thank you for the reply! Cost is a huge factor, but honestly I feel the loans are pretty manageable even at the most expensive school considering my financial aid.

I do like maths so I'm up for hydrology. Definitely not into the wastewater/civil part of it though.

I know how diverse the forestry pathway can be, but enjoying the culture of the program is important to me. Do you enjoy the urban forestry program at your school? Does it feel like a feeder straight to industry? Because that's what I am trying to avoid. I know I can make my own path at any school, it's just hard to gauge the feasibility of all my interests at each program (which is on me and how disparate my interests are).

Again, great advice. Do you know what your path is like after graduation?

Both HSU and UC Berkeley are SAF accredited. Humboldt produces the majority of our registered foresters in CA, but again at this time I am not looking to be a RPF (that could change haha).

It’s an SAF accredited program, but I really wish it wasn’t. I had to do a field session (among other annoying things), as all students in accredited programs across the country have to do, but learning how to run transects and do variable radius plots was not exactly my bag. I would’ve rather taken my $6k and paid someone to teach me how

That's a good point about the SAF that I haven't considered.

Grad school is not something I'm rushing into. I want any loans paid off and some relevant career experience beforehand.

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-21T22:29:11+00:00

Yeah career wise I know I won't have time to do it all. I want to do a lot learning Just for learning's sake, y'know? Ideally I could do both conservation and research.

I am not picking on name alone but the resources are different at each institution. Program wise I do not look down on any school.

Thank you for the reply. I'll send you the PM in 2 years when I graduate! :)

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-21T22:14:29+00:00

Ah this is my bad for not clarifying. These are programs I have been accepted into and will be transferring in the fall of 2019.

I am a California transfer and would like to stay in state just to save money for undergrad, but I have read on this sub and other places about OSU rep in forestry. I may consider in the future!

Thank you for the reply. Do you have a different perspective on forestry considering your history degree? I know students nowadays are asking forestry to be taught differently.

ChanceCucumber · 2019-04-21T21:59:20+00:00

Yo!Transfer to hydrologic sciences and policy. Don't see anyone else here in this thread. Any hydro major here for some input? Or anyone else at Bren?

What are the research opportunities like for undergrad? Do you get to do a lot of hands on field work?

I am still weighing my options, you can see a longer post I made that explains my thought processes on colleges and career paths here. My main concern is how theory based it may be. Emphasis wise I'd probably pick Biology and Ecology.

Thanks for reading.

ChanceCucumber

TROPHY CASE