Thunder Road

I know this thread isn't 100% related to what my question is, but it was the first one to show up in my search so..... Here I go! I'm a junior in high school who is interested in Meteorology, but right now I'm thinking I may be inclined to major in Aerospace engineering as it is a subject I really enjoy as well and the job prospects seem somewhat better. It is obviously a bit early, but I am compiling a list of prospective colleges to look at/apply to... So far, these are some of the schools on my list..

-University of Texas

-University of Washington

-Georgia Tech

-Rice University

-University of California San Diego

As might be able to tell, I am not really into staying around New England, but that could change. So after all that background, my question becomes, do any of these schools have Meteorology programs, and if so, what are their reputations? If I start college and don't like Aerospace, it'd be good to have Met as a fallback. Also, if there any other schools you guys think of that might suit my desires, I'm open to suggestions.

In general, met isn't really a fallback. You really need to be committed to it. But if you're into some other kind of engineering and you like it, do that. Job prospects are much better in other engineering fields than in meteorology.

Univ of Washington definitely has some sort of Met program, might be only grad school, I'm not really sure.

The SCEP program has been canceled and it's being replaced by the Internship Program. The Internship Program will be different in that it doesn't allow a pathway to hire participants directly for federal employment like the SCEP program did. It's basically a cost saving measure, but the Internship Program will look good on any resume.

Whose decision was this? I want to know who to be pissed off at.

The MIC of LOT explained the hiring system, from the application to the points to the "gold group" to the interview and whatnot and it sounds nearly impossible to get in unless it's through SCEP. So it really sucks that SCEP is going away.

Oh and by the way I see you're new, so welcome. But VortMax might not be the best choice for a username.

I'm a computer moron, what is GIS? I see and hear about it all the time, I want to say its the NWS comp system deal but isn't that GFE?

I'm glad baro could speak on it a little bit, because frankly I have no idea. I just know that I've heard from now 3 different NWS mets that whatever it is, it's very valuable. I think a GIS minor combined with Teresa's FORTRAN class and maybe a refresher course in Java should hopefully qualify me for whatever SCEP will become in the future.

The NWS road show stopped in at Valpo on Monday and this year it included a Valpo grad who was working for United Airlines (technically ENSCO) as well.

The MIC of LOT and IWX were both there, and they said right now they can't desperately want people who have GIS minors, or CompSci minors, or in LOT's case, people who can speak/write Spanish. It's all about diversifying yourself, interning EVERYWHERE you can, getting good grades, and being professional. This is why I like Valpo meteorology, the program is so small that I know all the professors and they all know me, and they are telling it like it is: be a go-getter and be better than everyone else or reconsider your major.

Was Tuscaloosa ever upgraded to an EF5?

I see people referencing 4 EF5s, but I can only think of Hackleburg, Smithville and Joplin so far...

Please remember, you can help without even getting out of your chair by texting

REDCROSS to 90999

to donate $10 per text. It's not just for Japan relief.

Tuscaloosa mayor says his city is "devastated" and "catastrophic"

1 fatality, "parts of the city have literally been obliterated"

TWC reporting a mile-wide damage path is Tuscaloosa

uncharacteristically low-precip SUP near Berry and Oakman.

Usually you don't see something so LP this far south.

They are known by most in the industry but not by most who are in school and as long as their are people who keep insisting that "its like a lot of fields in that way" or "just work hard / do the right things and you'll be ok" people reading this will choose to believe the positive posts at their own peril.

:deadhorse:

I'm too lazy to look up who said it, but someone commented about TV shows like Storm-Chasers

While the popularity of those shows is something to be considered, it seems like most people who only get turned on to the idea by popular media are usually the ones who either don't finish or do finish with a B.S. and don't get a job. I've talked to girls people (didn't mean to be gender specific there, sorry) at schools where I'm applying whose goal in life is to be a "storm-chaser". Obviously, unless you're Reed Timmer or a researcher then there's no money in that!

I know it's a hard field, and being a senior in HS this stuff worries me, but:

I plan on going to a school with a good Met rep (i.e. WestConn, Kean, California State of PA will get you nowhere)

I plan on getting a M.S.

I already have a good relationship with a few forecasters at my local WFO

I'm taking AP CompSci this year, and plan on minoring in CompSci

My grandfather own his own business (not at all related to Met though) and he always says he doesn't gire the applicants who tell him why he should hire them, he picks the ones who tell him why it would be a mistake not to hire them.