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Can I still be a Marine Biologist if I am bad at math?

I am in a Junior in Highschool and I am looking into going into Marine Biology, but I have an issue. Math is very hard for me, and I know it is a significant part of this job. How would I still be able to become a Marine biologist, or does anyone know of any similar fields I could go into, where I could still do things that I love. I have a big passion for the ocean and sea life. I also live in a land enclosed state, so what are some good college options? I am also underage for the volunteering opportunities at different aquariums.

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Jacob’s Answer

It's completely okay not to be the best at every single aspect of a profession. What matters much more is that you are willing and able to put in the work, even when it gets hard. The old axiom definitely applies here: "practice makes perfect."

Once you really start working toward becoming a marine biologist, you'll learn which specific areas of math you actually need to focus on. You might find that with a little practice, the math is totally fine, and that you were worrying about advanced areas of mathematics that don't even apply to the day-to-day work. As a software engineer, people assume I am supposed to know a lot of math. I don't, and that is perfectly okay!

I highly recommend trying to connect with a marine biologist (or someone in a related field) to discuss what they actually use on a daily basis. If you have a zoo or an aquarium nearby, you might be able to network with someone there. If that isn't an option, check out LinkedIn. Speaking for myself, I always love it when folks reach out to ask for career information.

You could also look up different college degree programs—specifically their course syllabi—to see exactly what math they require and the types of work you would actually need to do to get the degree.
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