JMSSaspirant Its their choice. Public skl environments aren’t always the best. By what you’re saying your implying that ppl from normal skls cant become things like doctors. Sometimes the environment in a normal skl is bad, like there are ppl who don’t care abt skl and maybe they don’t want to be surrounded by those sorts of ppl

      din yeah I guess tho, I’m not the one who really tells someone what to do

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          Hi, let me clarify a few things @MMHS @JMSSaspirant

          1) It's not a rule that SEHS and JMSS only accept people who are aspiring to work in "academically challenging fields". So I think that you are implying that I would be taking up someone's place if I go there and then go through into the zoological field. However, SEHS and JMSS is full of people who would be a good influence. They are good schools. Most public schools usually have people who are rude, lazy and careless. Private schools have a lower number of such people, but they cost money that my family does not have. I don't want to grow up to become any of those qualities, which is why I'm aiming for SEHS or JMSS.

          2) The animal field is changing everyday, and I could end up in a position that doesn't even exist as of right now. And yes, it is academically challenging. It's also mentally, emotionally and physically demanding. Zookeepers are underpaid and underappreciated. As I mentioned earlier, psychology is a very useful degree to have. As I have heard, that is what you would define as academically challenging. Furthermore, working closely with animals as complex as pinnipeds requires a deep understanding of biology, psychology, math, medical sciences, coding and so much more. Keepers need to know how to read the animals' body language, they need to calculate each animals' unique caloric needs. It's not as simple as "oh 2kg of fish each day for each of the dolphins" that's how so many animals die in parks. Training is not as straightfoward as it seems, and i encourage you to read up on it because there's only so much that I can explain to you.

          3) As I mentioned before, zookeepers are extremely underpaid, which is why in order to support myself if I go forward with that kind of career, I'll need a stable side job. Now as we should know, simple jobs like McDonalds or Tutors are very likely going to be replaced with robots, so I'll need some kind of good degree behind my back. SEHS or JMSS will get me that.

          I'm not saying this to be rude, but please do your research before saying stuff like this. Things are not always as they seem.

            FinFin-3rdYearUni That's great! I'm sure you'll be an awesome teacher someday

            Also yes! I have had a few conversations with the keepers and I've done a ton of research on the field. I've started volunteering at a farm and doing training with their bovines, so yeah things are going pretty well 🙂

                whisper you’re absolutely right, my bad for not acknowledging that, however in my opinion you don’t really need selective schools to become a Professional Zoo Keeper. And plus there’s a 90% chance that job interviewers won’t look at what school you attended, but what ATAR you got, otherwise I wish you the best luck in the future and hope you become what you actually want NOT what your parents want!

                  whisper yea i get your point but when you say 'academically challenging' that could be taken many ways. Because sure you would need to do research on animals and what not but definitely not as academically challenging as studying a medical or law degree just for arguments sake. Also, i would say that a psychology degree is most fitting for this job aspiration as its mostly as you said about being cognizant and recognising behavioural changes and moods etc. Though I do undermine that being a keeper is that academically challenging with maths and other complex sciences unless you are a scientist working on the animals to monitor their health or prevent/find ways to stop diseases common to them. From the seems of it you will most likely do biology, psychology, English and other subjects, but if you were to do like methods, i just don't see how that would cross over with your occupation, unless I'm totally wrong and you want to pursue languages or history or smth. Also, if you said that being a zookeeper is so physically and emotionally challenging, doing another side degree would surely add more pressure onto this? Also this would be at least 4 years of pure study as a 'side job'. Anyways don't want to seem like a moral scrutinizer but this is my take on zookeeping.

                      MMHS Yea no I completely agree that although it does include some form of math, methods and more specific topics is useless. Yes, doctors, lawyers, etc are definitely more academically challenging; there's definitely no denying that.

                      And yep, a side job would likely add to the pressure, however, there are tons of resources to help with this and oftentimes keepers are really close with each other, so they tend to support each other through times of hardships. Plus just seeing the animals everyday is dream-like, so that is definitely the main motivator. Most keepers/trainers have roommates and they share costs together. A side job isn't necessary, but yea it would definitely help. Plus, if I do end up doing psychology, then I wouldn't need another degree because I believe counsellor, or something related would be a stable side job

                      It's really interesting hearing your views on this, and it definitely doesn't seem like moral scrutinising so yea

                      And no I haven't gotten into SEHS yet, and I honestly have no hope left lol, so JMSS or SEHS Yr 10 entry is my goal rn

                          whisper i respect that honestly, and it has been good getting to know your POV because you really do seem quite invested in pinnipeds! Honestly, what I want to do is somewhere in the medical field, either a cardiologist or a heart surgeon and i love learning the sciences so yeah. ANyways, we should settle the debate and say que sera sera

                              whisper That's excellent! I hear that volunteering is a really good way to get into that sort of field, and working with farm animals, as opposed to cats and dogs means that you'll be familiar with less-common animals