High school subject choices for a future Paleontologist (U of Alberta bound!)

[Vinay Mathews]

Hi everyone,

I am reaching out to this knowledgeable group to seek some guidance for my son, who is very passionate about pursuing a career in paleontology.

He is currently in 10th grade (IB MYP 5) and has three years left before heading off to college. While he is highly motivated, he is a bit conflicted about which science subjects he should prioritize as he transitions into his final high school years.

Here is a quick overview of his interests and his current dilemma:

• His Interests: He is fascinated by DNA and ancient genetics, but he also loves the idea of hands-on field work and discovering fossils.

• The Dilemma: He is unsure whether he should lean more heavily toward Biology or Geology/Earth Sciences for his upcoming coursework to best support this dual interest.

• Target University: He has already identified the University of Alberta as his top choice for an undergraduate degree in Paleontology.

If anyone has experience in this field, knowledge of the University of Alberta’s program, or general advice on what high school classes he should take up, we would be incredibly grateful.

Please feel free to share your thoughts with the group or message me individually. Thank you so much in advance for your time and insights!

Best regards,

Vinay Mathews

[Thomas Yazbek]

Hello Vinay,

Not a professional paleo here but I did take many relevant courses in my undergrad. Defer to others here who may be more precise and accurate, but I hope you find this helpful anyways.

Paleontology can get very multidisciplinary but many universities class the paleo courses under the geology program for a reason. Geology is the most important foundation, and for me was harder to understand than the bio stuff. If you know you want to do a lot of field work, a geology track is highly preferred. Plus, I think it makes the holder more employable, esp. in a place like Alberta where oil industry is important. But, if your son is really passionate about the bio side, especially genetics (which is a pretty involved topic on its own, even separated from paleo), then a biology-heavy track is better.

Being forward-thinking and knowing your son's research interests ahead of time will help. What taxa, geobiological events, units of time, or preservational modes does he seem most interested in? What areas of research does he seem most excited about? Remember, these can change. But there's many subdisciplines which need different skillsets. Vertebrate paleo (birds, mammals) might involve a lot of detailed anatomical knowledge. Physics, math, statistics, computer sci may require more attention than usual depending on research avenues. 

Meet/correspond with as many people as you can at the university or in the field, do your homework, and try to get your son some hands-on experience (perhaps with a geology club or academic institution that's inviting assistants to do a fossil dig, prepare fossils, or even allow him to access museum collections to familiarize himself with them and maybe even do some project). Specific subject matter experts should be happy to explain how they got from high school to where they are now. Above all, GET GOOD GRADES. If concerns about employability as a paleontologist arise, remember that ANYBODY can contribute to this field of science - amateur collectors, fossil preparers, educators, artists, and scientists working primarily in other fields have all made huge contributions without officially calling themselves paleontologists. 

Thomas Yazbeck

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[Vinay Mathews]

Dear Thomas,

Thanks a lot! This means a lot. Will make my son read and discuss and get back to you for clarifications.

Best, 

Vinay Mathews

Founder, Faircent.com

9810403565

On 22 Jul 2026, at 2:37 PM, Thomas Yazbek <yazbe...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Justin Pate]

Hi Vinay

I’ll echo some of the below

I am currently Studying Palaeontology here in Australia.

There really are a couple of streams to think through

Some Palaeos are great with Geology

Some are great with Zoology (think animal behaviour)

If he wants to go into research then maths (statistics) is important (however there are computer programs that can help with that nowadays)

Ive spent time listening to many of the established men and women in the field - most are very strong in one aspect and surround themselves with a team who are stronger in other areas.

As Thomas says there are many options and it’s important to find the option that works best (less Geology and more Biology/zoology as an example)

Most Palaeontologists (including students) are happy to discuss and correspond with others trying to get into the field.

All the best

Justin Pate

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[Mike Taylor]

Also relevant: this tutorial on finding work experience relevant to palaeontology.

https://svpow.com/2019/10/25/tutorial-35-finding-work-experience-relevant-to-palaeontology/

-- Mike.

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