Undergraduate Zoology Student Seeking Guidance on Courses, Research, and Specialization
I’m currently an undergraduate zoology student and I’ve recently become very interested in going deeper into biology beyond just my university syllabus. Over the past few months I’ve been exploring fields like herpetology, entomology/myrmecology, and research methodology, and I genuinely want to build strong knowledge rather than just collect certificates.
What I’m confused about is what actually helps at this stage.
Would doing online courses in specific fields (like herpetology or entomology) be valuable for someone at the undergraduate level, or would my time be better spent reading textbooks, learning research skills, writing papers, volunteering, etc.?
I’m especially interested in:
* Herpetology
* Entomology / myrmecology
* Zoological research in general
For people already in academia or research:
* Are online certifications respected at all?
* What skills should I focus on early if I eventually want to do serious research?
I’d really appreciate honest guidance from people further along in biology/zoology.