• Question: if i was bad at school before but am getting better can i still be a scientist

    Asked by Sheldon Cooper to Eleni, Hannah, Jenny, Oli, Steven on 14 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Hannah Bolt

      Hannah Bolt answered on 14 Nov 2016:

      Hi,

      Of course you can! Having a passion to study something is far more important that grades. If you continue to study science subjects, there is nothing stopping you becoming a scientist!

      Scientists are a very broad and varied group of people. Not everyone has to go to university and not everyone has amazing grades. I work with a few people that failed science A Levels but are still working in science now. Lots of big scientific companies (for example, pharmaceutical companies) allow people to train with them straight after school and don’t need you to go to university.

      Good luck!

      Hannah

    • Photo: Steven Street

      Steven Street answered on 17 Nov 2016:

      Hi Sheldon Cooper,

      Yes, of course! It’s never too late. You just have to have a little faith in yourself… Never give up on your hopes and dreams. If you want to be a scientist, then make sure you keep working hard, and never stop until you get to where you want to be! Determination is key 🙂

      Look at me for example, I got an E at AS level chemistry and was once told by a tutor that “I wasn’t learning anything… and would never be any good at chemistry”. Fast forward 5 years and I got a first class masters in chemistry, with the second highest grade in my year (and the ‘most improved’ award too!). Fast forward another 5 years and I’ve published papers in top chemistry journals, and am about to complete my PhD! I never stopped believing that I would get there one way or another 🙂

      I truly believe that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it, and your willing to work for it!

      “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” – Winston Churchill

      Hope that helps!
      Steve

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