Meteorology major

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I know this is off the wall, but my son is really unsure what to major in. We were talking last night about meteorology, and I said he should seriously consider it. He has been really into weather stuff ever since he was a little kid. First, does anyone know if there are any job prospects for that field, and if so, what are the best schools for meteorology?</p>

<p>He is 30th out of about 450 in his class, has a 4.3 weighted gpa (.1 is added for each ap or honors course). He also scored 2100 on the new SAT and his scores are very balanced (680 Verbal, 720 Math, 700 writing).</p>

<p>Thanks for the help</p>

2

<p>Penn State and Wisconsin are two with excellent depts. and a match as far as admissions go. Job prospects are very good.</p>

1 Like
3

<p>Is U of Oklahoma department of meteorology well-regarded?</p>

4

<p>Additional question: We were told at a VT open house that people can get in-state tuition for certain majors if they are not offered at colleges located in the student's state. In other words, if no schools in NY offer mining engineering, a NY kid could go to VT and get in state tuition if he majored in mining engineering.</p>

<p>Has anyone heard of this in any other states? I am asking because no schools in Virginia offer a degree in meteorology.</p>

5

<p>Oklahoma is also good--especially in tornado research. The rest of the school in not so hot.</p>

6

<p>You should check with Tech on this but it may only apply to southern states. They have an educational pact with each other where in-state tuition is provided along the lines you mentioned for certain majors.</p>

1 Like
7

<p>A university may not offer meteorology as a major, but often programs in earth/ocean/atmospheric science are very similar. That said, Cornell, Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and NC State have good programs, with Oklahoma and Penn State vying for 1st. </p>

<p>For more schools:
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/majors/brief/major_40-04_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/majors/brief/major_40-04_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>For info about meteorology, outlook, earnings, etc.:
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos051.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos051.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

1 Like
8

<p>Are there any private schools or decent state schools (with non-rolling admissions) with decent programs in meteorology besides Cornell?</p>

9

<p>Cornell is #1 in meteorology
also good are
MIT
Iowa St
Penn St
U Kansas
U Michigan Ann Arbor
Purdue U
NC State
U Oklahoma
Texas A&M</p>

<p>source: Gourman Report Undergrad</p>

1 Like
10

<p>
[quote]

Additional question: We were told at a VT open house that people can get in-state tuition for certain majors if they are not offered at colleges located in the student's state. In other words, if no schools in NY offer mining engineering, a NY kid could go to VT and get in state tuition if he majored in mining engineering.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Interesting that you should mention that. I know that there's a New England program that applies for New England states. Maybe this is a regional thing - do you live near VA? I'm not sure NY to Virginia Tech makes sense.</p>

11

<p>Before your son gets gun-ho into meterology, please look into what it entails. Meterology is a lot of math...lots of it...make sure he knows this and that he needs to be interested in high level math and modeling for meterology. </p>

<p>I had a keen interest in meterology as a child, but ended up in the geosciences (mainly because the school I chose didn't have meterology). Another slightly less math-oriented degree is geology or another earth science related degree and the job outlook is amazing for geologists! </p>

<p>The really nice thing about schools for meterology, Cornell (16th by American Geological Institute), Penn St. (7th by AGI), Wisconsin (3rd by AGI) are all very good in the earth sciences as well. I'd make sure that the schools you look into have great earth science programs in general, just in case the math becomes overwhelming.</p>

1 Like
12

<p>My dad's a meteorologist and got his degree from UCLA. Of course, he graduated a long time ago, but I'm assuming they still have a program. And it sounds like there is a demand for meteorologists from what he's said--everyone in his office is retiring, and there arent a whole lot of younger people coming in and replacing them.</p>

1 Like
13

<p>Western Illinois University offers a BS in Meteorology. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.wiu.edu/users/migeog/degrees/metbs.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wiu.edu/users/migeog/degrees/metbs.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

1 Like
14

<p>Unless he is really fixed on that major and won't want anything else, don't pick a college around that. The first couple years of the best college he can get in/afford will help him figure out what he is good at and likes.</p>

15

<p>This string is old...nonetheless...</p>

<p>Florida State has an excellent meteorology program - the largest and most comprehensive in the southeastern United States.</p>

<p>See: <a href="http://www.met.fsu.edu/index.pl/acprograms%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.met.fsu.edu/index.pl/acprograms&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

1 Like
16

<p>This is where Al Roker went to college. Oh, and me, too. I loved the school, it has the small/mid (8,000 student) Liberal Arts College feel and is part of the State University of NY and is a great place to study weather, as it is nestled on the edge of Lake Ontario.
<a href="http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/earth_sciences/degree_programs/meteorology/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/earth_sciences/degree_programs/meteorology/index.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.oswego.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/earthsciences.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.oswego.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/earthsciences.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

1 Like