What does it take to become a research scientist and do you have to get kick-a$$ grades (over 90%'s) to be one? Do you know of any other science careers that are interesting and that don't make you sit on your butt in a lab for 12 hours ? thank you
If you want to be a kick-a$$ research scientist, you need to have kick-a$$ grades. Generally this means spending a LOT of time studying and reviewing, even if you're naturally smart. Are you up for that? I think you could get a scientist-like job with only a B.S., though if you want to be known as a scientist four years aren't enough.
You'd be working in the lab mainly if you're a chemistry or molecular biology major. Ecologists, geologists, marine biologists, and the likes spend a lot of time outside - in addition of in the lab.
There are some more adventurous types of scientists. Like scientists that have to go interview all kinds of interesting people like psychologists who study criminals, or even those biology type scientists that go traveling in the jungle to study exotic plants. There are engineers that end up as astronauts, and physicists who do all kinds of risky experiments.
