#thanksnigel

Hi there! Thanks for contacting me! I’m afraid I might not be able to help completely, I’m UK based and our school system is a bit different. I studied Art, Geology, Geography and Computing for A-Level (we do these to get into university in the UK).I got into palaeontology via the Geology route, I did a 4 year MSci in Geology at Southampton, UK, but got lucky with my master’s project as they happened to set up a Vertebrate Palaeontology course the year I was doing my master’s. I was interested in it before then, and there were a number of palaeo-related modules in my geology degree anyway, but I didn’t initially plan on specialising.One way of getting into palaeo would be to do a bachelors in a subject like geology or biology first, and then do a master’s in palaeontology afterwards. Alternatively, look around and see if you can find any palaeontology courses that interest you. I’m not sure how the university system works outside the UK, but your earth science route sounds like a solid plan.

Be aware that there’s not many jobs at the end of a palaeontology degree, you have to be extremely resourceful, enthusiastic and will prrrrobably end up in academia rather than a well paid job, but

You post a status saying that you want to kill yourself and you see no point in living.

Even though we're not friends, I send you a private message to make sure you're okay.

You doubt that I actually care (understandable--we're not close and I really am not a big fan of you).

I explain that even though we're not bffs I do still care whether you live or die.

You tell me you're not actually suicidal.

I say that's good to hear and that I'll leave you alone if you want or we can keep talking--it's up to you.

You tell me that I'm the last person you'd want to discuss your issues with, tell me you've "observed the way you treat Draven" that I have "mood swings" and call me a bitch.