4 answers
Emily
Student
Naperville, Illinois
5
Questions
Asked
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What advice would you give a highschooler interested in majoring in physics or a different stem field?
I'm a highschooler interested in stem but unsure what field to go in and what to do.
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4 answers
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
176
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Mathematics is the language of science and technology. Hence, if you are interested in a STEM discipline, you should first get yourself competent and proficient in mathematics.
Try to take AP math courses up to Calculus BC, AP Physics, and, possibly, AP Chemistry. You do not have to make up your mind until you enroll in college. By then, you will be in a better position to decide on a major.
Try to take AP math courses up to Calculus BC, AP Physics, and, possibly, AP Chemistry. You do not have to make up your mind until you enroll in college. By then, you will be in a better position to decide on a major.
Sheila Schultz
Engineering Leader
53
Answers
Brighton, Michigan
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Emily, Thanks for the great question!
As you explore STEM options, you may want to consider engineering. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route. You may want to search and see if there is a program offered like this around you. In addition, a great foundation for this career is taking math and science classes in high school.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also has many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.
As you explore STEM options, you may want to consider engineering. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route. You may want to search and see if there is a program offered like this around you. In addition, a great foundation for this career is taking math and science classes in high school.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also has many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.
Thirada Boonrawd
Science research student
16
Answers
Bangkok, Thailand
Updated
Thirada’s Answer
Hi! I agree with Jason's answer in the sense that taking science classes at school will be beneficial. Try taking biology, chemistry, physics, and math classes. Figure out which of these you like the most. It can be a combination of two or more of them. For example, if you like biology and chemistry, you can consider exploring biochemistry or cell biology. If you like chemistry and physics, you can look into chemical engineering.
Just a note to consider, but there are fields/disciplines that combine STEM with the social sciences and humanities. For example, biological psychology combines biology with psychology. Some universities also have combined majors that you can look into. For example, I went to Northeastern University, and I had classmates who had combined majors such as: neuroscience and design, biology and political science, and psychology and math. This is just something to keep in mind. STEM is much more broad than you might think.
Outside of taking classes, I recommend doing some "homework" by looking at online courses or informational videos/articles on the internet. For example, for computer science, there are free online courses where you can learn to code (I've used free code camp to learn HTML, and it was good).
Additionally, consider talking to people who have STEM-related jobs to see what their day to day work life is like. This will help you figure out if you are interested in the kind of job/career they are doing. For example, talk to doctors, engineers, researchers, etc. Ask them what kind of person would enjoy that job? What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing that job? What preparations do you need for those jobs (tests, degrees, certifications, internship experience, awards, etc)?
I want to make a note that there are people who have really interesting STEM-related jobs. For example, I met someone who owns a bee keeping company, where they build nests for bees in people's gardens, so the clients can harvest honey. I met someone who enjoyed traveling around the world doing science journalism. I met someone who, as a neuroscience PhD student, is also an author of several science fiction novels. There are lots of jobs you might not have even imagined! Talk to lots of people, attend career events or panels, and collect as much information as you can.
Hope that helps!
Just a note to consider, but there are fields/disciplines that combine STEM with the social sciences and humanities. For example, biological psychology combines biology with psychology. Some universities also have combined majors that you can look into. For example, I went to Northeastern University, and I had classmates who had combined majors such as: neuroscience and design, biology and political science, and psychology and math. This is just something to keep in mind. STEM is much more broad than you might think.
Outside of taking classes, I recommend doing some "homework" by looking at online courses or informational videos/articles on the internet. For example, for computer science, there are free online courses where you can learn to code (I've used free code camp to learn HTML, and it was good).
Additionally, consider talking to people who have STEM-related jobs to see what their day to day work life is like. This will help you figure out if you are interested in the kind of job/career they are doing. For example, talk to doctors, engineers, researchers, etc. Ask them what kind of person would enjoy that job? What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing that job? What preparations do you need for those jobs (tests, degrees, certifications, internship experience, awards, etc)?
I want to make a note that there are people who have really interesting STEM-related jobs. For example, I met someone who owns a bee keeping company, where they build nests for bees in people's gardens, so the clients can harvest honey. I met someone who enjoyed traveling around the world doing science journalism. I met someone who, as a neuroscience PhD student, is also an author of several science fiction novels. There are lots of jobs you might not have even imagined! Talk to lots of people, attend career events or panels, and collect as much information as you can.
Hope that helps!
Jason White
Lead Product Manager- Network Security
68
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hi Emily,
I'd suggest for any high schooler curious about STEM, it's a great idea to dive into the various components of this exciting field. You could start by sampling the diverse courses your school offers, like physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on. This way, you can discover which subjects spark your interest and which ones don't quite catch your fancy. Remember, different STEM subjects can lead to vastly different career paths and opportunities, so it's important to find your niche.
Feel free to immerse yourself in the subjects you enjoy more, and don't worry too much about the ones that aren't your cup of tea. Alongside this, I'd recommend doing some homework on the career options these subjects can offer, and try to learn as much as possible about them.
To get a real-world perspective, you might want to connect with professionals in the STEM industry. You can use platforms like LinkedIn or even Google Maps to find businesses in this field. Who knows, you might even get a chance to shadow someone on the job and gain some hands-on experience.
Finally, once you've identified your preferred STEM area, start exploring colleges and universities that offer majors in that field. Visit the campuses if you can, to get a feel for the environment and see where you can envision yourself learning and growing.
I'd suggest for any high schooler curious about STEM, it's a great idea to dive into the various components of this exciting field. You could start by sampling the diverse courses your school offers, like physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on. This way, you can discover which subjects spark your interest and which ones don't quite catch your fancy. Remember, different STEM subjects can lead to vastly different career paths and opportunities, so it's important to find your niche.
Feel free to immerse yourself in the subjects you enjoy more, and don't worry too much about the ones that aren't your cup of tea. Alongside this, I'd recommend doing some homework on the career options these subjects can offer, and try to learn as much as possible about them.
To get a real-world perspective, you might want to connect with professionals in the STEM industry. You can use platforms like LinkedIn or even Google Maps to find businesses in this field. Who knows, you might even get a chance to shadow someone on the job and gain some hands-on experience.
Finally, once you've identified your preferred STEM area, start exploring colleges and universities that offer majors in that field. Visit the campuses if you can, to get a feel for the environment and see where you can envision yourself learning and growing.