Congrats to JonathanBelles aka Fact789

[lurkey]

Congratulations!!!! officially a Meteorologist yay!!!

First Sandy, now you .... yay!!!

[cycloneye]

Congratulations Johnathan for this big achievement in your life and now you will change colors,from JohnathanBelles to JohnathanBelles

[CajunMama]

You look good in orange!

[Florida1118]

Congratulations!

[angelwing]

Congrats!!!

[Cyclenall]

Why didn't he post it himself?

[Tireman4]

WOOO HOOO

[lurkey]

Why didn't he post it himself?

not official official ...... probably waiting for the diploma, to make sure...


I just said something because he did post about it on his FB page...

[Stephanie]

Why didn't he post it himself?

not official official ...... probably waiting for the diploma, to make sure...


I just said something because he did post about it on his FB page...

I saw his post on FB. Thanks for sharing on S2K. That's really exciting and he should be so proud of himself!

[JonathanBelles]

Why didn't he post it himself?

I didn't post it myself because I was back in Tallahassee this week for WeatherFest and a trip to Alligator Point with friends. I haven't been on the internet for a while.

This semester was a rough last semester for me, but I got through it. I don't wanna say 'If I can get through it, anyone can' because it's not really true, but I hope that anyone who wants to become a meteorologist tries to get through the program. Quite honestly, my GPA suffered a lot this last semester, but it was also the most rewarding semester. Also honestly, this semester nearly put me in the student hospital due to stress and who knows what else. It a LOT of work, blood, sweat, tears, and anxiety, but its also more fun than anyone can hope for.

Because the major is so tough (2nd hardest major at Florida State behind a part of engineering), I was able to bond with people that I will know and work with for the rest of my life. If anyone has any questions about going to FSU or the meteorology path, PLEASE ask. Don't hesitate to ask me about anything. I'll continue to be on chat and facebook as always.

[Cyclenall]

Why didn't he post it himself?

I didn't post it myself because I was back in Tallahassee this week for WeatherFest and a trip to Alligator Point with friends. I haven't been on the internet for a while.

This semester was a rough last semester for me, but I got through it. I don't wanna say 'If I can get through it, anyone can' because it's not really true, but I hope that anyone who wants to become a meteorologist tries to get through the program. Quite honestly, my GPA suffered a lot this last semester, but it was also the most rewarding semester. Also honestly, this semester nearly put me in the student hospital due to stress and who knows what else. It a LOT of work, blood, sweat, tears, and anxiety, but its also more fun than anyone can hope for.

Because the major is so tough (2nd hardest major at Florida State behind a part of engineering), I was able to bond with people that I will know and work with for the rest of my life. If anyone has any questions about going to FSU or the meteorology path, PLEASE ask. Don't hesitate to ask me about anything. I'll continue to be on chat and facebook as always.

Well I'm glad you made it through because it sounds like mathematical hell. I don't know how anxiety and stress can be "more fun than anyone can hope for"! Two questions, is your thing tropical based or not and was the hard part your referring to, the math? Which specific ones? Again, congratulations on your achievement.

[JonathanBelles]

In meteorology, you have to balance the stress and the fun times. We almost always had one or two nights a week where we all went bowling, out to dinner, or out to a bar together.

Question 1: I am tropically based, but at the bachelors level you are given basic information about all realms of weather and climate (tropical, severe weather, satellite, radar, ect). Going into my master's next year, I hope to heavily dive into a focused tropical curriculum.

Question 2: As far as math goes, you are required to go through Ordinary Differential Equations (Calc 4 at some schools) at the bachelors level at FSU. I would highly recommend you take Partial Differential Equations and Linear Algebra as well since both are used very intensively in the higher level dynamics classes. You are basically required to pick up a math major as well as meteorology, but if you have true passion for meteorology, you will push through the math with no problem. I'm not saying there are no bumps, but the mountains become less high once you get to meteorology.

My hardest meteorology class by far was Dynamics II for a multitude of reasons including the lack of PDE I mentioned above, but I also learned the most in that class.

[Cyclenall]

You are basically required to pick up a math major as well as meteorology, but if you have true passion for meteorology, you will push through the math with no problem. I'm not saying there are no bumps, but the mountains become less high once you get to meteorology.

The bolded part is total nonsense. Its the exact opposite, its what prevents most aspiring meteorologists from actually becoming. Even people who are great at math find it to be crazy. Different met programs are structured differently I'm sure but if the first year or early semesters have almost no actual met content and all math...that's a recipe for disaster. I hope most are mixed together to keep motivation up.

[JonathanBelles]

You are basically required to pick up a math major as well as meteorology, but if you have true passion for meteorology, you will push through the math with no problem. I'm not saying there are no bumps, but the mountains become less high once you get to meteorology.

The bolded part is total nonsense. Its the exact opposite, its what prevents most aspiring meteorologists from actually becoming. Even people who are great at math find it to be crazy. Different met programs are structured differently I'm sure but if the first year or early semesters have almost no actual met content and all math...that's a recipe for disaster. I hope most are mixed together to keep motivation up.

It does make sense when you get to it.

Unfortunately Calc 1-3 are prereqs (at least at FSU) for the junior/senior level meteorology classes, so they are not at the same time. You will likely be taking the lower level meteorology classes such as general meteorology and physical climatology with the mid level math classes (calcs). As I said before, if you are truly passionate about meteorology, the math will be a small obstacle. I looked at it as a reward: "if I can get through this math class, then I can get to meteorology and have some fun".

[northjaxpro]

Congratulations on a very hard but well earned accomplishment! You will reap the benefits of this down the road and I wish you all the very best!

[wx247]

Congratulations! I know the math would be out of my league so my hats off to you for being able to tackle it!!

[Cyclenall]

It does make sense when you get to it.

Unfortunately Calc 1-3 are prereqs (at least at FSU) for the junior/senior level meteorology classes, so they are not at the same time. You will likely be taking the lower level meteorology classes such as general meteorology and physical climatology with the mid level math classes (calcs). As I said before, if you are truly passionate about meteorology, the math will be a small obstacle. I looked at it as a reward: "if I can get through this math class, then I can get to meteorology and have some fun".

Nope, still not buying it. After years of looking through other people's experiences, looking into programs, and my own experiences, I can confidently say its not "just a bump in the road" that can be easily overcome. I used to think the same thing but if one doesn't have a very solid mathematical background and a good advanced academic one in High School, its a seemly insurmountable task. You even posted, "I don't wanna say 'If I can get through it, anyone can' because it's not really true..." so this further strengthens the point that non-math freaks are put to task very early on. If one is really serious about becoming a met, I would say start building the math skills from Grade 6...this can lead into a whole 'nother discussion whether all that University math is necessary to be a good met (Hint, only 1 met I have ever heard about had stated it made a positive effect on his overall understanding and performance).

On another note, did you have any chemistry yet because I think there might have been a little in some of the Canadian met programs.

I know the math would be out of my league so my hats off to you for being able to tackle it!!

Your part of a long list of individuals who feel this way.

[JonathanBelles]

By a long shot, math used to be my #1 worst subject when I left high school. I left high school only making it to precalc and trig (leaving with B's). Even with that I was only qualified to begin college at the college algebra level, classes behind my friends. I took seven straight semesters of math, still hating it to the bitter end. Even after getting through ordinary differential equations...

It wasn't until I got into the junior/senior meteorology classes that I realized that math is no more than another language. I began to treat math differently and began to like it. Today, I am alright at math, and I somewhat like it at times. Math is truly only as bad as you make it out to be. And if you need help, for the love of everything...use khan academy!! I didn't discover KA until it was too late.

As far as chemistry goes, I have only taken two classes: Gen Chem I and II with lab. You will learn the necessary chemistry in climatology and the junior level meteorology classes.

[Dave]

Said this on FB but better over here too..CONGRATS to you Jonathon! Now, your first duty is 5 recon missions in a row.

[brunota2003]

5 missions...green light! AND GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!!! Congrats!