- dong xinliang
- Beijing
- China
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what really do you want? can you ensure it right?
I major in ecology now, but I found that I am favor of statistics more recently. In the next semester I will have a opportunity to apply Ph.D. of ecology without testing, because I will graduate in 2013. In addition, I want to take part in the Ph.D. exam of statistics for my dream. I know it is very sweet to make the dream true, but there is also many risks and hinderings on the way to get it. Think it simply, if I apply the Ph.D. without testing, I could save a lot of time to do something else, for example, learning the statistic by myself, writing, reading and so on.
so how to select? Thanks.
Edwin Nazarian 10+
this is the motto of most successful entrepreneurs and top athletes.
Before you quit, Give a GO
I agree sometimes in live we have dilemmas, sometimes we have blockages in brain.
and sometimes we need some one to push us forward.
We lived / live / will live through these processes - this is part of the life.
Good luck with whatever you start, but just Start, take the first step.
M Jordan failed many shots to become a top player.
Edison failed many times when he was inventing lightbulb -
(can you imagine what would happen today if he quitted? - maybe some one else will give a go)
I have strange philosophy for the word TRY.
If I say "Try to stand up" what am I actually saying to you, Do It or Don't do it: Stand up or Don't stand up?
you do it or you don't do it, it is quite simple.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I would guess that regardless of whether your doctorate is in ecology with a great deal of graduate coursework in statistics or whether the PhD was in statistics proper, you would have the opportunity over your career to do much of the same work if you are interested in applied work.
If you want specifically to be a professor of statistics, you may need the doctorate in statistics.
If you wanted an academic or professiona position in biostatistics, you may well be able to work or teach in that area with a doctorate in ecology supported by a lot of graduate level coursework in statistics.
So I think whichever route you take, you will have great opportunities to develop competency in statistics and an opportunity to use statistics professionally.
dong xinliang
Honestly, PhD is just a label but not the real power. I really want to engage myself to the research of statistic, even though ecology has it interesting character. Everyone could choose only one main way to approach.
Edwin Nazarian 10+
I would say that you are suffering because of the over-choice you have there, but I won't. because the choice is yours.
and there is only one choice which feel right to us. the over-choice is an artificial invention which doesn't allow human's to make a decision that is right for the future. (yes today's decision for the future)
It is the moment of your decision that your future is shaped.
What I really wanted yesterday, is not what I wanted for today.
What I really want today may not be what I really want for tomorrow.
but one thing is certain choosing the path that will take me there where I really want to be.
(If I don't know where I want to go, then any roads will take me there, it doesn't matter which one to talk)
as Martin Luther King Jr once said: "Take the first step in faith, you don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step"
My 1000 miles cycling trips started with one pedal - yet before that I had a vision, a mental picture, me being there already. I felt what I would feel when I would be there. I saw what I would see when I would be there. I heard what I would hear when I would be there.
Now, How would you feel if you had Ph.D ? What would you see if you had it? what would you say to yourself if you had it? what you would hear people saying if you had it?
whatever you are see around you, has been in someone's mind before they became things.
My point is: Instead of creating a dilemma for yourself, seek ways to achieve the highest peak you dreamed for.
No one ever wandered around Mount Everest hoping to get on the top. and the one on the top didn't just fall there.
Cheers
dong xinliang
You are very energetic and valiant, and I believed that you are a very good leading card to me and guys around.
I like statistics, and I can learn more in the professional environment, maybe that is why I want to get a statistic's degree of the field in the future. I don’t know what will say to me, but I will never say sorry as long as I have tried. Additionally, what someone else say is not important; we cannot be liked by everyone. Just do it.
Cheers
Barry W
You don't have to choose between ecology or statistics -- you can do both!! Although statistics might be your passion, you have invested so much into ecology that you should not throw that knowledge away. Knowledge is never useless.
For practical or economic reasons, you may need to initially go ahead and begin working in ecology. But as you said, you can still pursue your passion in your spare time. Or, for a more creative option -- find ways of including your passion (statistics) into your professional job (ecology).
A quick google search for the phrase "Statistical Ecology" shows that there is a whole world of people just like you -- who share your background in those 2 subjects. GO MEET THEM!! :-)
NCSE: National Centre for Statistical Ecology - www.ncse.org.uk
CSEES - Center for Statistical Ecology and Environmental Statistics - stat.psu.edu/~gpp
International Statistical Ecology Conference - www.cees.uio.no/isec2012/
dong xinliang
James Zhang 30+
I am now at Georgia Tech as a Computational Media major, some new major that is a blend of communication and media studies and computer science. And now, being exposed to so many cool things like games, media, digital technology, film, digital art, web design, social media, programming, computational logic, etc. I am no longer limited to just simply math, art, and animation, and I feel that this unique mix of backgrounds give me an edge over a lot of people, even though I don't go into too much detail into each field of studies. And really, I could go into any one of these fields, do well, and live a sustainable life if I really wanted to.
So my point is, don't limit yourself just because your major tells you that you shouldn't do statistics. The exam itself and the PHD label itself are not important, what's important is the opportunities that the exam and the PHD provides. You do what you think needs to be done and what you think are important.
And personally, I don't see why you shouldn't do ecology and statistics. That would make an interesting combination of knowledge/skillsets that would put you an edge over a lot of other people.
And finally there was a recent tedtalk where there was one girl who stopped pursuing her Master's to do what she believes needs to be done: http://www.ted.com/talks/caitria_and_morgan_o_neill_how_to_step_up_in_the_face_of_disaster.html
dong xinliang
James Zhang 30+
Anyways, no problem! Just do whatever you think/feel is right and nature will take its course for better/worse depending on how you look at it :)
dong xinliang
Debra Smith 200+
Only take that test in a year when no one can hurt you with the results.
James Zhang 30+
dong xinliang
Debra Smith 200+