Should I Switch Majors?

[gatorhater1509]

Serious question...

I've been at Miss St majoring in professional meteorology for 3 semesters now. I just got into the core met classes, and I'm really struggling. I've already had to drop cal 2 and physics 1 (which I need for classes like synoptic and dynamic met) this semester alone and am wondering if it's truly worth it. I mean, I make more at my summer job than an experienced meteorologist on the job for 10+ yrs on average. They say you go into meteorology for the love of it, not the money, but I'm not sure I love it that much. Keeping in mind that I've always been fascinated by weather and have always wanted to storm chase. However, I can take free storm spotter/storm chasing classes offered by the National Weather Service and do it as a hobby.

I'm thinking about switching my major to a bs in economics and transferring to UTC, as I've always loved the dynamics of how the economy works and would be extremely proud to have a degree from a UT school. I have to transfer back to a school back in TN or else I have to pay out of state tuition at MSU.

I'm wanting advice from someone who might've been there, done that.

Advice anyone? Thanks in advance.

 

[Nerd-Vol]

Serious question...

I've been at Miss St majoring in professional meteorology for 3 semesters now. I just got into the core met classes, and I'm really struggling. I've already had to drop cal 2 and physics 1 (which I need for classes like synoptic and dynamic met) this semester alone and am wondering if it's truly worth it. I mean, I make more at my summer job than an experienced meteorologist on the job for 10+ yrs on average. They say you go into meteorology for the love of it, not the money, but I'm not sure I love it that much. Keeping in mind that I've always been fascinated by weather and have always wanted to storm chase. However, I can take free storm spotter/storm chasing classes offered by the National Weather Service and do it as a hobby.

I'm thinking about switching my major to a bs in economics and transferring to UTC, as I've always loved the dynamics of how the economy works and would be extremely proud to have a degree from a UT school. I have to transfer back to a school back in TN or else I have to pay out of state tuition at MSU.

I'm wanting advice from someone who might've been there, done that.

Advice anyone? Thanks in advance.

Have you taken any economics classes or considered what you can do with an economics degree? I know some of those classes can be pretty tough too.

Follow your gut and your wallet. But remember. There's a reason why you put the wallet in your back pocket.

 

[VOLatile]

Economics is probably more difficult than meteorology, and you'll need Calc 2 for that. Maybe try Gender Studies?

 

[SDV]

How many meteorologist jobs are there in this country? I'd say very few. Find another major

 

[Aavoxx]

If you don't enjoy it, and it won't benefit your future, find something else.

I suggest you take an extended amount of time to consider what that something else might be.

If you go into IT, be a developer. You're welcome.

 

[ATC_VOL]

I think first question to ask yourself, which you brought up already, "is it worth it and something you want to do." If there's something out there that you're passionate about and can make living doing it, then go for it.

In general my advice is to pick a major that has classes you enjoy and are good at. In regards to finding your first job after graduation (or applying to grad school), a great GPA in some random field often times looks better than a good/average GPA in a field related to the job (this obviously doesn't apply to some jobs that require a certain degree).

Don't put too much pressure on yourself though. I got a bachelors degree, couldn't find a "real" job, went back to grad school 6 months later and found a job in a totally unrelated field that I love doing and never even considered as an option while I was an undergrad.

 

[pismonque]

Have you thought about an exciting new career in electronics?

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Serious question...

I've been at Miss St majoring in professional meteorology for 3 semesters now. I just got into the core met classes, and I'm really struggling. I've already had to drop cal 2 and physics 1 (which I need for classes like synoptic and dynamic met) this semester alone and am wondering if it's truly worth it. I mean, I make more at my summer job than an experienced meteorologist on the job for 10+ yrs on average. They say you go into meteorology for the love of it, not the money, but I'm not sure I love it that much. Keeping in mind that I've always been fascinated by weather and have always wanted to storm chase. However, I can take free storm spotter/storm chasing classes offered by the National Weather Service and do it as a hobby.

I'm thinking about switching my major to a bs in economics and transferring to UTC, as I've always loved the dynamics of how the economy works and would be extremely proud to have a degree from a UT school. I have to transfer back to a school back in TN or else I have to pay out of state tuition at MSU.

I'm wanting advice from someone who might've been there, done that.

Advice anyone? Thanks in advance.

Change majors and double down on the math by going electrical or chemical engineering.

 

[Panthro]

I was a Broadcasting major at UT and Julia Johnson (local meteorologist) was in all of my classes. She got that major and after her BS she got the meteorology part somewhere nearby, though I'm not sure how exactly she did it. If you wanted to reach to her for advice I'm sure she's help.

 

[GreveHaller]

if worse case happens and you change majors then change schools, why not transfer to UTK instead of UTC. Sorry if offends some but going from MSU to UTC is a real step down. Going to UTK is more lateral. Plus its a lot more fun. A LOT.

 

[volinbham]

If quantitative subjects are a problem for you then econ won't be much different. If quant. isn't a big barrier for you then econ offers a lot of options - one of the best preps for grad school too.

Many careers just begin with "a" college degree rather than a specific major. You are best suited by finding something that you find interesting and can do well in unless you are dead set on a specific (Meteorology) degree.

The good news is that your work so far isn't wasted and I bet there are many jobs where and understanding of meteorology could be a bonus. I could see it working well with econ. Bottomline, forecasting is forecasting - it's just the variables and models are different but if you know the process it works in many industries.

I started as a nuclear engineering major and ended up as a marketing major - best decision I ever made. I liked both topics but had much better skills and fit with the latter.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

What about business analytics? You'll still need to get that math down but i doubt physics is necessary. More modeling and computer simulations with statistics mixed in. UT has an excellent program.