What subjects should I focus on if I want to major in Meteorology?

Question

Is there anything that I should focus on extra if I want to major in Meteorology? I have a long lasting love of weather and I am (on my own) looking for classes and learning EVERY cloud and everything like that, so I'm sure that will help.

A meteorology career would be both fun and rewarding for me, as I love weather and I know TV careers pay!

Thank you!!!

Answer 1

Well I'm glad you love it just make sure you become a real meteorologist and not just one who wakes up one morning and say "ooh that's cool I can do that". People can tell fake ones  from real meteorologist in a minute, especially when it counts. It's an insult when someone with no background and experience gets up there reading verbatim what the national weather service puts out without doing their own work let alone knowing what the terms mean.

Classes you should really focus on are of course all of your meteorology courses which when you take the major they will already have those set out for you. They include an intro class, weather analysis, Thermodynamics and Kinematics, Physical meteorology, Meteorological instruments, climatology, weather forecasting, mathematics in meteorology, geography, Synoptic and Mesoscale meteorology and such. The names differ at various colleges but it's basically the same. Ask anyone and the class you will most likely go crazy in a bad way is Thermodynamics, it's ridiculously hard but rewarding. Other must have classes that any school will make you take are Calculus,1, 2, and 3. Differential Equations, at least 1 year of Physics, at least 3 hours of Chemistry, statistics, computer science. To name a fem. Just make sure you are really strong in your math and science departments with those course mentioned above or it will be difficult for you to follow along. If you want a Tv Career to be high marketable will you will also need the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal. It's not required but most stations are asking for it now and you can't get it unless you have a degree in meteorology, it's a requirement, basically to weed out the fakes, in a nice way, and keep the credibility of meteorologists up. Oh and try internships at news stations as well, you have to be attending college for most of them because they are unpaid and require college credit.

Side courses that will benefit you as well are voice production classes, broadcast journalism, media ethics, and video production classes. These day you have to be the jack of all trades at stations so knowing how to shoot, or edit, all those things make you marketable as well. Good luck in your career just stay focused sometimes it's discouraging but the rewards and knowledge are great.