Tips For The Prospective Meteorologist
So, you want to be a meteorologist? One thing that should be mentioned right away is the stereotypical depiction of a meteorologist is the exception and not the rule. Very few meteorologists (about 10%) work for a TV station or a radio station. Most meteorologists work for private sector companies (e.g. airlines), but a significant chunk also work in the public sector (for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Weather Service). The remaining meteorologists are usually involved with research and/or teaching at the university level.
It should also be noted that you really need to love the weather in order to pursue a career in meteorology, because the starting pay in most positions is underwhelming. Still, there are people who make it work, but it requires a heavy investment of time which doesn't yield much in the way of financial rewards. If you're obsessed with Earth's atmosphere and are more interested in being happy than making lots of money, then a career path in meteorology might be for you. The below outline will help you along in this pursuit based on where you might be at in life.
Elementary School
If you or your kid is currently in elementary school, it's a good idea to gauge where exactly the interest level is really at. Sometimes, an interest in something is just a phase, but sometimes it is the first sign of a lifelong passion, and it's important to determine which is the case.
Books and Documentaries
If possible, young children with a potential interest in the weather should read as many weather books as they can access and watch as many weather documentaries as they can. And this goes beyond storm chasing shows; try to find some documentaries about the history of forecasting, weather instrumentation, and historical weather events. While this is ongoing, check to see if the interest level increases, holds steady, or fades with time. If it fades with time, don't rule out the possibility of a weather career just yet; there's a chance the interest could re-emerge after other interests have been pursued and exhausted. Whatever you do, just don't force the issue; at an early age, it's easy to kill a genuine passion by trying to force the interest to increase.
News Casts
If your local meteorologist is one that enjoys explaining weather concepts while discussing the forecast, try to watch the weather segment with your kids as much as possible. Another good activity is for kids to pretend they're announcing a forecast to the public. This could be a made up forecast, or you can grab an actual forecast from the National Weather Service or a local media outlet and use that.
Middle School
Once you get into middle school, you have the opportunity to take some serious steps toward a career in meteorology. Since meteorology involves a lot of college-level math, it's good to get ahead in the math classes if at all possible.
Take Algebra and Geometry
Most middle schools nowadays offer algebra to 7th and 8th graders, and some school districts even allow 8th graders to take geometry. If you can get a good teacher in these subjects and get these classes done early, you can get a major head start on the math requirements and save some college money in the process (detailed in the "high school" section).
Consider Learning About Programming
Almost every meteorologist has at least some background in programming, and the meteorologists that have a strong programming background tend to be more employable than those that don't. That's because so much of today's world is controlled by computers, so having a programming background adds another powerful tool to your toolbox. A good programming language to start with is Python since it is free, easy to learn, and is widely used by meteorologists (and other scientists).
Attend Storm Spotter Training
Each year, the National Weather Service hosts free and publicly available classes that train citizens how to be storm spotters, which are volunteers that assist the National Weather Service by actively reporting important features. This can be a great opportunity to log some volunteer hours, but you'll also learn more about the atmosphere in these classes than from a TV show or book. Furthermore, many broadcast meteorologists also attend these classes, so you'll probably have the opportunity to discuss your interests with other meteorologists. If possible, attend both a basic and advanced session. The most advanced session currently available is part of the TESSA storm conference in Texas.
High School
If the interest follows you through high school and you're seriously thinking about pursuing meteorology, then it's time to get seriously serious once you're in high school. Most high schools offer you the ability to earn college credit without having to pay overwhelming sums of money, and this is something to absolutely take advantage of to the greatest extent that can be handled.
Take AP Classes
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are two-semester classes that cover one college class's worth of material, and each AP course has an exam. If you score well enough on the AP exam, you earn college credit for the material covered in that class. Not only will this save you money, but you'll probably gain an advantage over other college freshmen. Good AP classes for meteorology include: Computer Science (get a Python class if you can), Calculus AB, Calculus BC (if you can manage it), Physics B, and Physics C. Taking AP Chemistry would also be a good option since many universities require you to take at least one course on atmospheric chemistry.
Take The PSAT In Your Freshman Year
Although many universities are dropping considerations of the SAT and ACT standardized tests, it's a good idea to take both of those tests so that you have as many doors to knock on as possible. The PSAT is a good stepping stone that gives you an idea of what to expect on the SAT and ACT tests.
Begin Visiting Universities In Your Sophomore or Junior Year
Once you've got SAT and ACT scores that you're satisfied with, you should begin visiting any universities you might be interested in. Talk to the faculty and administrators about your SAT/ACT scores, the college's meteorology curriculum, the classes you're taking in high school, your grades, and financial aid options (if necessary). That will help you determine which school(s) will be your first choice and which school(s) you have a realistic chance of getting accepted to. While visiting a college, ask if it's worthwhile to submit a college application before your senior year. Colleges rarely accept students until they reach their senior year, but you might be lucky enough to get that burden out of the way early.
Apply To Colleges Once Your Senior Year Begins
Applying early does two things for you: 1) it makes you eligible for scholarships and 2) it gives you plenty of time to make a good decision if you get accepted by multiple schools. Some colleges have deadlines as early as October or November, so don't waste too much time getting those applications in.
If you don't get accepted into a good university, the dream is not over! Attend a community college for a year or two, get some more math and physics credits, then apply for a transfer to universities. In some respects, this avenue is better for you since you'll have more time to gain extra relevant skills to build that resumé!
College
Once you're in college, the only thing between you and your dream is 4 (maybe 5) years of hard study. But, you'll also finally meet and befriend people with the same passion as you, and those are friendships that can last forever.
Do The Math!
Take calculus and differential equations as soon as you can. Many meteorology classes require that you've taken and passed these hard math classes. Getting them done early makes your life a lot easier. Trust me, you don't want to be battling high level meteorology classes at the same time as you're taking differential equations.
Physics?
There is a lot of overlap between physics and meteorology. One class I took at OU was called "Physical Mechanics", which was essentially Newtonian mechanics with multi-variable calculus and a deep dive into wave motion. A lot of the same material showed up in my meteorology classes, and having that extra perspective increases your understanding of the concepts. If you're interested in pursuing research, try to get a minor in math and/or physics.
Broadcast Media?
If you're one of the few people who are seriously considering a job as a broadcast meteorologist, aggressively pursue any internship opportunities at any TV stations. If possible, get an internship near where you grew up since you'll be more familiar with the area. Also, if your university has a broadcasting outfit (like OU does, it's called "OU Nightly"), get involved with that as well.
Internships
Not only do internships look good on resumés, but they also allow you to dip your toes in the water of a specific job. If you're looking to get a private sector job, try to find a meteorology internship with a private sector company. If you're looking to pursue research, try to pursue a faculty-sponsored research project at the undergraduate level. If you're looking to work for the government, apply for the PATHWAYs program. It's never too early to look for an internship; in fact, it's a good idea to secure an internship early on so that you still have plenty of time to switch gears if you lose interest in a specific career path. Many universities have specialists that can help you fine tune a resumé, and applying to internships is also a great way to measure how appealing your resumé is to employers!
Job Shadows
The National Weather Service will sometimes allow a meteorology student to sit in on part of a shift and see what exactly is involved in the day-to-day operations of a meteorologist. Some private sector companies also offer these opportunities, but government entities are usually much more welcoming. If your primary interest is in something season-specific, look for shadowing opportunities around that time of year.
Practice Forecasting
As you learn new concepts in your meteorology classes, relate everything you've learned to real world examples by applying those concepts to forecasting. I'd also recommend trying to forecast all different weather hazards to find out what you're best at and what you're truly most interested in. This will also help you determine whether a career as a forecaster is viable and appealing to you.
Keep An Open Mind
Like engineering, meteorology has a wide spectrum of specialized subject matter. There's a good chance that your specific interests will fluctuate as you sample what is out there. Personally speaking, I was initially obsessed with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, but became even more interested in computer modeling as I learned more about it.
Attend Conferences
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA) hold annual conferences where meteorologists and other meteorology students with different backgrounds from all over the world convene. Some colleges will even provide you with a small amount of funding to cover travel expenses, so take advantage of this substantial opportunity to network, especially if you've done formal research as an undergraduate and are looking to share your results. When you attend a conference, have copies of a personal business card and your resumé on hand at all times!
Graduate School?
If your goal is a private sector job or a broadcast job, a bachelor's degree with some extra skills (e.g. programming) will likely suffice. If you're looking to work for the government, you should realistically pursue a master's degree to be competitive in the job market. If you're looking to do research at the university level or teach at the university level, you'll certainly need a PhD. If your plan is to pursue graduate school, take partial differential equations as an undergraduate, and begin applying to graduate schools as soon as you're eligible to do so. You may also need to take the GRE, which is like an SAT/ACT standardized test, but for graduate schools. In which case, find some practice GRE tests and study hard! The best time to prepare for and take the GRE is during the summer, so plan accordingly.