The Benefits of Pursuing STEM Careers

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The Benefits of Pursuing STEM Careers

• Jay W. Goff
• Vice Provost Dean of Enrollment Management
• Missouri University of Science Technology

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What is STEM?

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• The Liberal Arts Degree of the 21st Century
• A preferred preparation by many businesses and
  entrepreneurs
• Incredible Career and Salary Opportunities

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New Ranking by Starting Salary!

• Missouri ST
• 25 among all universities in the nation
• 1 among Midwestern universities
• SOURCE Payscale Inc, Wall Street Journal, July
  30, 2008.

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Missouri ST Starting Salaries

• Undergraduate Graduate
• 2003 47,305 52,744
• 2004 46,567 52,945
• 2005 49,181 53,042
• 2006 51,059 58,120
• 2007 53,669 62,751
• 2008 55,975 63,640

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Factors Most Noted in Choosing a College

• Majors Career Programs Offered
• Location/Campus Characteristics
• Cost/Affordability
• Campus Size/Safety
• Characteristics of Enrolled Students
• Selectivity

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Science

• Scientists are not just the guys in the white lab
  coats. Scientists are involved in indoor research
  and experimentation as well as outdoor
  observations of life.
• There are three science occupations included in
  the Bureau figures life scientists who study
  living systems like botanists, food scientists or
  foresters physical scientists who study the
  non-living part of nature like chemists,
  hydrologists, and astronomers and natural
  science technicians who assist with experiments
  and analyze results such as biological or
  chemical technicians.
• Highest paid astronomers (median salary of
  104K)

SOURCE Science, Tech and Math Careers in Hiring
Opportunities is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand..
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Technology

• This category includes any position that requires
  technical skills related to computer technology
  from software design to database analysis. While
  all STEM groups are expected to grow, computer
  specialists are expected to grow the most.
• Highest paid nuclear technicians (median salary
  of 61K)

SOURCE Science, Tech and Math Careers in Hiring
Opportunities is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand..
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Engineering

• Engineering uses science to solve problems and
  design and test new products. Positions in this
  group range from agricultural and civil
  engineering to electrical engineering and
  drafters. According to a 2006 survey by the
  National Association of Colleges and Employers,
  students graduating with an engineering degree,
  on average, had the highest starting salary
  offers.
• Highest paid petroleum engineer (median salary
  of 93K)

SOURCE Science, Tech and Math Careers in Hiring
Opportunities is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand..
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Mathematics

• The mathematical group consists of people that
  work with numbers, and conduct analysis and
  calculations. Mathematical careers frequently
  require masters or doctorate degrees. Careers
  range from mathematicians to actuaries to
  statistical analysts.
• Highest paid actuaries (median salary of 81K)
• Keep in mind that careers in these fields in
  general are more likely to see individuals with
  at least a bachelors degree however, they often
  require a masters or doctorate. And while STEM
  careers require a solid education (beginning in
  high school) in science, technology, engineering
  and math, soft skills also help to dictate a
  candidates success. Qualities such as creative
  thinking and problem solving as well as good
  communication and relationship-building skills
  are highly valued.
• SOURCE Science, Tech and Math Careers in Hiring
  Opportunities is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand..

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Opportunities Due to High Demand for STEM Majors

• MOHELAs Engineering Loan Forgiveness Program (up
  to 3500 just for trying an engineering or
  pre-engineering degree program must complete
  math sequence and maintain 2.5 GPA)
• Possible National Competitiveness Grants
• Many Corporate Incentive Scholarships

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A National Environmental Scan
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Shifting Student Populations

• The demographic shifts we are beginning to
  experience are largely the result of welcome
  advances in technology and public health that
  have extended life expectancy, improved living
  standards, and reduced population growth.
• SOURCE Jane Sneddon Little and Robert K. Triest.
  (2001) SEISMIC SHIFTS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
  DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE.

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25-35 of the U.S. Current High Tech Workforce
Planning to Retire in Next 10 Years
SOURCE College Board, 2007
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The Benefits of STEM Co-OpsEARN WHILE YOU LEARN

• Co-Ops After completion of the freshmen year,
  students take one or two semesters off classes to
  work as a paraprofessional in industry
• Missouri ST Co-Op Students earn an average of
  2,400.00 per month during the Co-op and 6 more
  in their starting salaries

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Over 4200 Colleges UniversitiesHeavy
Competition for StudentsNumber of Colleges and
Universities

• SOURCE U.S. Education Department
• http//chronicle.com Section The 2007-8
  Almanac, Volume 54, Issue 1, Page 8

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Some Trends that have not Changed The Golden
Circle for Recruitment 70 enroll within 140
miles of home 80 enroll in home state
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WICHE, 2008
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WICHE, 2008
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National vs. Regional Trends
WICHE, 2008
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WICHE, 2008
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SOURCE US Dept. of Education 2005
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Labor Demand vs. Student Interests

• Source U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
  Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/emp/home.htm

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Ongoing interest declines in key fields Changes
in Intended Major 1976-77 to 2006-07
DATA SOURCE CIRP
CHART SOURCE College Board, 2007
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Student Interest Trends in Engineering
(lt5)
SOURCE ACT, 2006
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Female Enrollments Exceed 57 of All College
Students
Although women dominate the biology and medical
fields, nationally women make-up less than 19 of
the Engineering Majors and 15 of the Computer
Sciences. Unique scholarship and camp programs
exist to encourage more women to pursue non-bio
STEM degrees!!!
SOURCE NCES, The Condition of Education 2006,
pg. 36
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Girls like Technology, and often outperform Boys
in STEM Majors

• 28 of online teens have created a blog, up from
  19 in 2004.
• Overall, girls dominate the teen blogosphere 35
  of all online teen girls blog, compared with 20
  of online teen boys.
• This gender gap for blogging has grown larger
  over time. Virtually all of the growth in teen
  blogging between 2004 and 2006 is due to the
  increased activity of girls.
• Older teen girls are still far more likely to
  blog when compared with older boys (38 vs. 18),
  but younger girl bloggers have grown at such a
  fast clip that they are now outpacing even the
  older boys (32 of girls ages 12-14 blog vs. 18
  of boys ages 15-17).
• SOURCE PEW 12/19/2007

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Employers of STEM Majors will often pay for
graduate and advanced degrees!
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remember to prepare yourself

• 2/3 of 8th Grade students in America plan to
  finish college
• Butonly 1/3 prepare themselves by taking college
  preparatory courses in high school
• Only 25 of todays workers have completed a
  four-year college degree in any field
• Without taking college preparatory courses
• YOU MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED TO STUDY AT THE SCHOOL
  OF YOUR CHOICE

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• THE CORE CURRICULUM
• 4 English
• Speech, debate, and journalism courses
• 4 Math
• Algebra I and higher
• 3 Science
• Many universities do not accept General
  Science
• One course must be a laboratory course
• 3 Social Studies
• 1 Fine Art
• 2 Foreign Language
• Same language

The GPA Game
Taking easy classes in high school to keep a high
GPA will hurt you in college. Most universities
look at a combination of your course selection
and your GPA as a factor in the admissions
process. Lighter classes in moderation are
fine, but do not be afraid to push yourself.
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• ADMISSION CRITERIA
• Typical Average ACT Composite Score
• Open 17-20
• Liberal 18-21
• Selective 22-27
• Highly Selective 27-31
• WHAT DO COLLEGES REVIEW?
• Your performance in high school
• Your performance on the ACT or SAT
• Subjective criteria (i.e. letters of
  recommendation, personal essay, extracurricular
  activities)

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• WHAT CAN I BE DOING IN HIGH SCHOOL?
• Keep a calendar or planner
• Take good notes
• College prep and AP classes
• Practice writing and proofreading
• Read
• Take a public speaking class
• Learn to be self sufficient
• Laundry, Alarm Clock, Transportation,
  Scheduling

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Investigate and compare

• SURF THE INTERNET
• Visit College Sites
• Take a virtual tour
• Apply for admission financial aid
• Access course catalogs
• Visit academic divisions
• View course equivalences
• Other Helpful Sites
• www.act.org
• www.collegeboard.org
• www.collegeispossible.org

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Find a School Where You Feel Comfortable and can
Succeed

• VISIT CAMPUS
• Come prepared with questions
• Check out the schools website before you visit
• Talk to students
• Try to visit more than once
• TIPS FOR PLANNING A GREAT VISIT
• If possible, visit a campus while classes are in
  session
• Allow enough time for road construction
• Check a campus map before arriving
• Many campuses offer both larger visit events and
  personal visits
• Walk-in visits are OK, but you wont get as good
  of an experience

VISIT CAMPUS! VISIT CAMPUS!
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• CAMPUS TOURS
• Talk to the tour guide and ask questions
• Notice the quality of facilities, labs, and
  lecture halls
• Take a residential life tour if one is offered
• Eat lunch in a campus dining facility

• QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Are classes taught by teaching assistants?
• What do students do on the weekends?
• Do most students have a car on campus?

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Compare Schools Based on Your Needs
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Applying for Admission

• APPLICATION TIMELINE
• ACT or SAT Test Spring of junior year
• Apply for Admission September November of
  senior year
• Online or paper
• Retest with the ACT or SAT Test October or
  senior year
• Apply for Scholarships November December of
  senior year
• Return the Housing Application ASAP
• Submit the FAFSA March 1 of senior year
• Submit Enrollment Fee May 1 of senior year
• Register for Orientation ASAP if offered

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Apply for Admission

• PUT ASIDE THE MYTHS
• Financial aid will pay for everything
• Colleges only want students that are
  over-involved or have perfect ACT scores
• Small / Large schools are better
• The more Im recruited
• the more a school wants me.
• the happier Ill be there.
• the better a school is.

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QUESTIONS?

• Jay W. Goff
• Vice Provost and Dean of Enrollment Management
• enrollment/mst.edu
• goffjw_at_mst.edu
• 573-341-4378
• www.mst.edu