I wish meteorology wasn't so math intense...i'm willing to go up to maybe Calc 2 at most but Calc 4 plus physics and chemistry is insane. Might as well go with pre-med since the track is similar but you need just calc 1 LOL
Well, math is the language of everything in the world and is a the only way to problem solve. If you can get through the four years of math, you'll be a lot better off. At least mets don't use those levels of math daily, now that we have computers, anyway. I'm guessing that its important to learn that level of mathematics so that you understand how everything works on a level other than just the conceptual method.
I don't hate math. I like math and am willing to work hard for it, but like most majors out there (not just meteorology but engineering, computer science, finance, etc), they are math intensive not necessarily because of the math itself but because it teaches you the logic behind in mastering the concepts, and using that logic is vital for many careers.
Also my best friend is a material sciences engineering major and told me the same thing. She's doing Calc 4 and told me Calc 2 was the worst. In Rutgers it supposedly has the highest fail rate of any math course. She failed it once along with her other friends failing maybe twice. Calc 3 was medium but interesting, Calc 4 was a lot easier and Calc 1 is either difficult or managable depending on how you approach the material. I'm retaking Calc 1 because I failed it last semester but I am taking the Economics/Business/bio Calc and not the regular calc that engineers and physical science majors take.
I like weather, I'm not exactly the most passionate weather enthusiast but after all the recent stress, I can safely say it is the only profession I can truly see myself in and the only career I'd be the most satisfied about. The severe weather aspect is by far the most fascinating part of meteorology to me and our school has a pretty decent met program. My question is in the NWS and other weather organizations where you might work, would you lose your job if you had tremendous difficulty with the math required for your field? I am willing to work hard to pursue my future its just that I am not finding any majors that deeply appeal to me besides met.
You might also consider private companies as well. I've come to the conclusion after volunteering at my local WFO, attending several meteorological conferences and talking to many in the industry that the NWS isn't for me. Nothing against those who work there but the schedule is tedious and the upper level management outside the local WFOs is a mess. I can't tell you how many people who work there have told me to avoid it. It's a big field so keep your options open.
Sorry that I'm replying to this a little late, but I LOVE answering this math question. I struggled (not terribly, but enough) in math all throughout school. In high school, when I began talking to advisers about college, told me that there is a LOT of math used in meteorology. It was not something I wanted to hear. I was average in math, so my freshman year of college I enrolled in basic College Algebra (ended up with a C, which discouraged me), then moved on to Trigonometry, and then moved on to Calculus 1.
Calculus 1 was very frustrated for me. My professor gave his lectures on POWERPOINT! Unbelievable for a math class. Half way through the semester I was failing, so instead of failing the course, I dropped it. I felt horrible! How am I going to get through Calc 2, Calc 3, calculus based Physics and Differential Equations when I can barely do a freaking derivative?! I retook Calculus 1 in the summer, and got an A. It was all the teacher.
You just have to go in with an open mind. I did very well in Calc 2. Calc 3 I did poorly in, but turns out it is barely used in MET and was just a requirement for my BS sequence. But, I can tell you that there is A LOT of math/calculus involved in upper level meteorology classes. It is fun (in my opinion) to have this actually relate to what you are doing, and it all makes sense why you have to take all these math classes.
I really like Martin's response to your career field choice. I know a couple people working in the NWS who LOVE their job, but say it is a very stressful one, especially with the 12-hour shifts, some over night, that you have to do. I for one, would never want to work for an NWS office. I've done job shadows twice, and it just seemed too boring to me. Like Martin said, attending conferences is a great way to learn about the different types of fields you can go into with meteorology. I have stuck with the broadcast field, but that's just me. In fact, I just received a call from a television station interested in talking with me about an opening. It's exciting stuff, and if you really like meteorology, you'll find a way to power through all your classes!
