Ok so I have a good bunch of acceptances. two deferrals I am on the fence of. I am planning to major in meteorology or atmospheric sciences depending on the school.
I would really appreciate any insights some people might overlook on these schools. Is there anything I should consider? General opinions towards the schools.
Acceptances:
*IU Bloomington
Penn State
University of Oklahoma
CU Boulder
University of Delaware
Virginia Tech
Deferrals:
UW Madison
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Some details: Cost is not a concern here. I am very fortunate in that regard. If the school has a good Hillel or active one that is a big bonus. My residency is in Maryland. Sadly there was a shock yesterday with UMD. My deferrals are schools that I was always lukewarm about, I’m not too upset. They were on my radar because research done there.
Thanks for taking time to read this. Its my first post here after reading a lot of posts here. Any advice is welcome.
Mechanical Engineering - but for the wrong reason. The salaries in Atmospheric Sciences aren’t great - and that played a part.
We are Jewish - but he doesn’t care.
He’s OCD and a germ phobe - and chose a school that gave him his own dorm room and a shared bathroom with one other. That mattered more to him than which school.
Everyone is different.
He liked Penn State but didn’t apply…too far from mom.
His top two were Purdue (which has atmospheric science) and Alabama - where he went (large Hillel, over 1K). They don’t have the major per se but it’s housed in Geography. He did a minor - and loved all the classes - more than engineering - but alas, he’s an engineer and it’s worked for him.
You do you - where are you leaning? You’ve listed all fine schools. I’m personally not a fan of UIUC - but that’s just me.
The 5 you listed or four if OUs Jewish life isn’t robust enough (call the Hillel director) - are all fine schools - although I don’t know about the major.
So you likely end up in a good place.
I missed IU as you have it separated. Obviously a huge Jewish life - don’t know about the program there but it looks like they have an entire school focused on it.
Go check the schools out if you can - so you can make the best decision for you.
CU boulder and VT are currently my top 2 I think? I like a lot of these schools and I all chose them for a reason. The main thing drawing me to CU Boulder and VT is the nature nearby. But I then I can come of with a reason for another school.
Jewish life is not the most important thing for me. I just want there to be some people like me that I share values with nearby. A sense of community in a way.
And both have nature - but likely all schools have nature - depending on what you like.
It’s most important you are happy.
Boulder is a more “dense” area - and if you’re a skiier, that’s a bonus too.
You are like my son- his first job, his first 6 months were in Utah - and he had the best 6 months of his life - he hiked, biked, skiis - loves the mountains. Now he’s in Phoenix - likes it too - but it’s not as in your face.
Best of luck. I think VT and CU are both fine schools.
You might also ask each department for career outcomes - if you want validation - what are kids in the major doing with it.
Best of luck.
PS - I get the Jewish life thing - you want there to be “comfort” - totally get it and that is important.
Edit - I really think it is important to look at the curriculum of each. For example, CU includes the Ocean in their studies - and outcomes are especially important as it’s a new major.
The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) began offering an undergraduate major in fall 2016.
Here’s a sample course list - I’m sure there is some flexiblity.
Not to sell short VT, but the access to nature at CU Boulder is on another level. Furthermore, NCAR is in Boulder. CU is an exceptional place to study atmospheric science.
I started out my undergrad career studying meteorology at Penn State, but switched majors to geography. I did my grad work at CU Boulder and got to know the snow/ice researchers there. It’s a great multidisciplinary ecosystem of earth sciences with a host of federal labs in the region.
A lot of the schools you list have distinct specialties that may or may not appeal to you (e.g. severe storms research at Univ of Oklahoma). At Penn State, it’s soup-to-nuts weather programs. If you wanted to do forecasting, that’s the place to go. But you wouldn’t be limited to that if you went there.
My best friend’s son is a junior studying meteorology at Penn State. I know it’s one of the top programs in the country. There is an LLC for meteorology, and those kids all live in a dorm together. There’s several meteorology clubs. Sounds like the education is great. A lot of other schools have very few meteorology majors, but I think that Penn State is one of the bigger programs - although I’d guess Oklahoma is bigger.
If you have any specific questions about the classes or anything else meteorology related let me know and I could ask for you!
My son is waiting to hear from VT regarding Geography, they are under the same umbrella as Meteorology and he was not a lucky one to hear in the early sneak release. Can I ask your stats? I just want to compare. We are also Jewish, I am a Hokie grad. I did not participate a lot in Hillel other than when my cousin would drag me to events. That being said, it was nice to celebrate holiday’s with people like me. I love the campus and unlike what some others shared, it is insanely easy to get around campus and its so logically laid out. I wish you luck and please respond back if you can!
I am oos.
Gpa 3.86
a few aps two 4’s one 5
all other classes were honors and in highest math track doing ap calc bc
test optional
very strong ec’s including a meteorology media company
good essays?
good lor especially from my ap environmental science teacher talking about my help making labs for him.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for this. Tech doesnt read LORs at all so otherwise I would say my son should have a solid chance with similar numbers etc. Hopefully he gets in and hopefully you choose it…you guys could get to know each other
He’s in state with 4.04W, probably 3.85 UW if I had to guess.
SAT 1310
4 year Varsity athlete, captain
Clubs, lifeguard
5 APs, all honors track and upper level classes
I have no clue. He has over 400 in his class. I know all of his immediate friends did. I will check that site to see what I can find. Only 1 friend in his group was admitted in that spontaneous early round.
The site only will work if your son’s school uses it and he has an account. Its full of admission data and history of past students of the highschool.
