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Posted
  • Location: Lichfield
  • Location: Lichfield

Hello members, so I am really stressed at the moment as I am looking to go to university next September however can't find the right course

So I came to you guys for some help, I would love to study something to do with the environment but I feel like I am searching for the wrong key words, I have found a course in environment science one in fisaster management and one in climate change but feel there are courses out there more suited, you know, criteria that Involves hurricanes volcanoes tsunamis, things like that! I am forecast AAA but haven't took maths or physics so can't take meterology, was looking to see if any of you guys have seen any courses that might be similar, thanks!

P.s looking to go to a good university with the grades I am forecast to achieve

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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

You could always do a BSc in Environmental Science or similar and then do an MSc in Meteorology. Speak with a good careers advisor about it or explore what the MSc options are if you did another similar subject for BSc.

 

Please don't feel like your life has to go in one direction or if you can't do it now, you never will.

 

The one thing I wish someone had told me when I was your age is that A Levels aren't everything, you can always 'do over' and that life changes and what your heart is set on now, may not be what it is set on in a few years, so don't tie yourself to one path, there are many that can lead to the same destination.

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Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

Some universities offer foundation courses for those who don't quite have the right A Levels, Reading sadly no longer do this I don't think but don't think your choice of A Levels automatically restricts you. I have 2 friends who got onto the MMet course that I did with the year in Oklahoma through a foundation year.

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Posted
  • Location: Lichfield
  • Location: Lichfield

Thank you both, yes Nick I have seen the reading meterology course and would love to do it, sadly I have taken psychology, spciology and business which although I have A's in my AS just aren't the right combination! Maybe you can put a few persuasive words in for me haha!

Yes lauren I would likely be taking a MSc in meterology or climatology anyway but really not sure what to pick. Coventry do a nice course in disaster management but I don't feel it is very employable and I feel I could get into a better university. I may end up leaving a year and applying in 2016

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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

Advice on picking a uni....

 

Do not pick it because that is the best course, if you are somewhere that makes you unhappy, it doesn't matter how good the course is.

Do not pick somewhere that is really enjoyable, but the course isn't so good for obvious reasons.

 

You'll know the right place when you visit it, I know I did as did many others.

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Posted
  • Location: Ireland, probably South Tipperary
  • Weather Preferences: Cold, Snow, Windstorms and Thunderstorms
  • Location: Ireland, probably South Tipperary

Hello members, so I am really stressed at the moment as I am looking to go to university next September however can't find the right course

So I came to you guys for some help, I would love to study something to do with the environment but I feel like I am searching for the wrong key words, I have found a course in environment science one in fisaster management and one in climate change but feel there are courses out there more suited, you know, criteria that Involves hurricanes volcanoes tsunamis, things like that! I am forecast AAA but haven't took maths or physics so can't take meterology, was looking to see if any of you guys have seen any courses that might be similar, thanks!

P.s looking to go to a good university with the grades I am forecast to achieve

 

I did Environmental and Earth System science in UCC. The first year has a lot of general sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), applied maths and then a few geography modules. I think most first year science degrees like to give you a general science introduction.

The second year allowed you to focus on what you're interested in, I branched into an Earth Science specific degree (other options were geography, geology, zoology and environmental science).

Earth science from then on had a mixture of geology modules, like petrology, sedimentology, structural geology, geophysics, tectonics, etc, all stuff you need to understand volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Plenty of climate and meteorology related modules, such as dynamic climatology, climate variability, oceanography, atmospheric studies, palaeoclimatology, quaternary environment and more. Most of this doesn't involve much maths, more learning about the general concepts, methods, data collection and similar stuff. This could cover your interest in hurricanes.

Then there was modules related to satellite imagery, mapping and analysis, such as remote sensing, GIS, cartography. That's the area I then went into for my MSc.

 

Overall, I'd say an Earth Science or Geography would be a good bet. They often cover a good range and should leave you with plenty of options to specialise in an MSc later on. Definitely check the modules offered in each degree course though, see which covers the topics that most capture your interests.

 

If you'd like to know anything more specific, feel free to ask.

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Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

Advice on picking a uni....

 

Do not pick it because that is the best course, if you are somewhere that makes you unhappy, it doesn't matter how good the course is.

Do not pick somewhere that is really enjoyable, but the course isn't so good for obvious reasons.

 

You'll know the right place when you visit it, I know I did as did many others.

 

This in spades.

 

As soon as I went to Reading on an open day I immediately loved the place. You'll know the right uni when you see it! Gawd I miss uni already :(

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Posted
  • Location: just south of Doncaster, Sth Yorks
  • Location: just south of Doncaster, Sth Yorks

This in spades.

 

As soon as I went to Reading on an open day I immediately loved the place. You'll know the right uni when you see it! Gawd I miss uni already :(

 

get some b----- work done and pay some taxes to keep me in some kind of comfort young man!

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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

This in spades.

 

As soon as I went to Reading on an open day I immediately loved the place. You'll know the right uni when you see it! Gawd I miss uni already :(

 

I had a few friends that went to Reading and they said the balance was really good. I felt the same about my uni and I can't ever imagine having gone anywhere else. I knew within an hour of being there that this was the one for me, whereas as I left UEA within 30 minutes of being there as I knew it wasn't for me.

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Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

get some b----- work done and pay some taxes to keep me in some kind of comfort young man!

 

Paid my first wedge of tax today so less of that thank you :D

 

Back to the subject in hand...admittedly, your choices will be somewhat restricted with those A Levels, but there will be courses out there with more emphasis on the theory behind the topics you're looking for. Your best course of action would be to have a sit down with a careers advisor who may be able to come up with some suggestions.

I had a few friends that went to Reading and they said the balance was really good. I felt the same about my uni and I can't ever imagine having gone anywhere else. I knew within an hour of being there that this was the one for me, whereas as I left UEA within 30 minutes of being there as I knew it wasn't for me.

 

Agree wrt UEA, ridiculously out of the way and the campus wasn't particularly nice. It was Reading or bust for me.

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Posted
  • Location: Lichfield
  • Location: Lichfield

Thanks everyone!

BFTV I will pm you later if that's okay!

Lauren, why were you not keen on UEA, they have a climate course I am quite interested in!

General question for all, let's say I took environmental science at leeds uni and someone took it at leeds met, would there be a real advantage for me in later employability and also would any of you consider 'disaster management and emergency planning' as a 'dud' course?

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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

Dunno Staffy, it just wasn't for me, can't put my finger on why, but then again I did my degree in Psychology*!

 

 

* I later found out it was a good thing I didn't choose UEA because their course was not approved by the BPS. That's something to consider also, make sure your courses are approved by the relevant boards you may wish to be part of.


Thanks everyone!
BFTV I will pm you later if that's okay!
Lauren, why were you not keen on UEA, they have a climate course I am quite interested in!
General question for all, let's say I took environmental science at leeds uni and someone took it at leeds met, would there be a real advantage for me in later employability and also would any of you consider 'disaster management and emergency planning' as a 'dud' course?

 

Entirely depends on the job you're going for. It doesn't matter how good someone's grades look or the university they are from, if they come across like an unlikeable twerp in the interview, it isn't going to help them!

 

Honestly, I cannot express enough how much more important experience, enthusiasm and competency are in life.

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Posted
  • Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
  • Weather Preferences: Sunshine, convective precipitation, snow, thunderstorms, "episodic" months.
  • Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire

It sounds like a course in environmental science or geography would probably be your best bet.  I did an "Environmental Science with Maths" degree at Lancaster University and back in those days their environmental science courses contained a few meteorological modules, although I've heard that they have reduced the emphasis on meteorology in recent years (e.g. with Rob MacKenzie's departure to Birmingham).  Nowadays there are a growing number of institutions that are offering environment and climate-related degrees, e.g. Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Exeter and the UEA.

 

But there is a big problem out there with there being many people who have taken on environment/climate change-related degrees and are unable to get a relevant job afterwards, e.g. due to the Labour government's policy to try to get everybody into university and there being more climate degree places than there are jobs.  It took me over two years to find a full-time post after completing a PhD in the subject area. 

 

Incidentally, I did my PhD at the UEA- I was the opposite, I went there for an interview and immediately had a good feeling about the place.  Norwich is a good "middle ground" type of city, large enough to give plenty to do but not a densely-packed monstrosity like London, but it is more difficult to get to than most other university locations.  The UEA has risen dramatically in the university league tables recently (up to 11th in the latest one I saw- it was languishing in the 40s when I first started there) and has always been strong for climate science thanks to the presence of the Climatic Research Unit.

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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

I think what you describe TWS, in terms of difficulty getting a job goes for most graduates. Indeed most of the people I graduated with in 2010 are still trying to find a permanent job or caeer

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Posted
  • Location: Coniston, Cumbria 90m ASL
  • Weather Preferences: wintry
  • Location: Coniston, Cumbria 90m ASL

Doesn't necessarily help re University but is the Met or similar not offering any apprenticeships? When I left after A levels the emphasis was less on going to Uni and I'd had enough tutoring anyway by that point, so I got a job and did chemistry etc on day release. Have to say colleagues / friends who also did earn while you learn are in better position's now than those who went the Uni route...

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Posted
  • Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
  • Weather Preferences: Sunshine, convective precipitation, snow, thunderstorms, "episodic" months.
  • Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire

University is definitely worth it if you want to do any kind of research or academic work, and other than perhaps for weather forecasting, a degree tends to be essential for meteorology/climate-related work.  Otherwise, I don't know.

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Posted
  • Location: Crewe, Cheshire
  • Weather Preferences: Snow, storms and other extremes
  • Location: Crewe, Cheshire

I think what you describe TWS, in terms of difficulty getting a job goes for most graduates. Indeed most of the people I graduated with in 2010 are still trying to find a permanent job or caeer

I loved uni, graduated in 2012 but still working part time in a petrol station, desperately trying to keep a roof over my head. Obviously there are other factors involved like chronic anxiety (which really set in after uni) but it's not that easy to find work afterwards.

Edited by CreweCold
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Posted
  • Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire
  • Weather Preferences: Extreme Events
  • Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire

I did Geography at Leeds which was really enjoyable and interesting. The first year split its focus pretty much 50/50 between the human and environmental sides but after that you could pretty much choose which way you wanted to go. There were some great modules to choose from as well, such as a natural disasters module which did cover hurricanes,volcanoes and tsunamis in quite a lot of detail.

Here is their homepage if you want to have a look http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk. I'm sure if you were to give them a call with any questions they would be more than happy to help. The staff were always really friendly!

Just to agree with some posts above it is hard to find work after uni, especially it seems with a geography degree, I'm now a web developer so I don't really use my degree for anything these days. My (much) younger brother has just finished his degree also in Geography and hasn't found work. Despite that my second brother has just started his degree course and has also chosen Geography so maybe third time lucky.

All that said though I did do a tiny bit of web development on my course and that it is what got me interested and set me on my path to my current line of work.

Edited by Formula_1_Fan
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Posted
  • Location: The North Kent countryside
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, snowy winters and thunderstorms!
  • Location: The North Kent countryside

Also it helps if you spell 'university' right :p

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Posted
  • Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire
  • Weather Preferences: Extreme Events
  • Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire

GIS might be an area for your younger brothers to explore, F1_F.

Thanks, I might have a look around the internet to see if I can find anything and suggest it the next time I see them but they very rarely listen to me. I'm just not cool enough in their eyes!

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Posted
  • Location: The Deben Valley, Suffolk
  • Weather Preferences: Snow, Thunderstorms, very cold (inc. anticyclonic) weather
  • Location: The Deben Valley, Suffolk

I also went to Reading and thoroughly enjoyed it; it's a great uni. I must say though I didn't do the Meteorology course in the end as I didn't think my career prospects would be all that good at the end of it. Instead I trained as a Quantity Surveyor and that's what I do now. I still keep Meteorology as a hobby though and I'm always trying to further my knowledge of it :)

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Posted
  • Location: Purley, Surrey - 246 Ft ASL
  • Weather Preferences: January 1987 / July 2006
  • Location: Purley, Surrey - 246 Ft ASL

What subjects are your grades in? I got 4 A's (10 years ago now) and would love to have done meteorolgy but did not do the correct subjects.

Take your time over the decision because it will be one of the most important you ever make. I ended up studying history and politics which I loved but sometimes wonder if I should have done geology (did this and geography at A level).

Good luck - just make sure you pick a good uni and try to get A*s if you can.

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