The Benefits of Pursuing STEM Careers

Jay W. GoffVice Provost & Dean of Enrollment Management

Missouri University of Science & Technology

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

STEM at Missouri S&T: Fall 2007 Total Students by Major

4,663 75.61%

313 5.08%

206 3.34%

846 13.72%

139 2.25%

Engineering

Business and IST

Arts and Social Sciences

Science and Computing

Non-Degree/Undecided

New Ranking by Starting Salary!

Missouri S&T :

#25 among all universities in the nation

#1 among Midwestern universities

SOURCE: Payscale Inc, Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2008.

Missouri S&T Starting SalariesUndergraduate 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

Factors Most Noted in Choosing a College

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

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..

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..

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..

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 bachelor’s 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 candidate’s 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..

Opportunities Due to High Demand for STEM Majors

• MOHELA’s 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

A National Environmental Scan

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.

25%-35% of the U.S. Current High Tech Workforce Planning to Retire in Next 10 Years

SOURCE: College Board, 2007

The Benefits of STEM Co-Ops:EARN 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 S&T Co-Op Students earn an average of +$2,400.00 per month during the Co-op and 6% more in their starting salaries

Over 4200 Colleges & Universities:Heavy Competition for Students

Number 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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National vs. Regional Trends

WICHE, 2008

SOURCE: US Dept. of Education 2005

Labor Demand vs. Student Interests

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,

www.bls.gov/emp/home.htm

DATA SOURCE: CIRP

Ongoing interest declines in key fields Changes in Intended Major 1976-77 to 2006-07

0%

7%

14%

21%

28%

Business Engineering Education BiologicalSciences

ComputerScience

SocialSciences

Art, Music,Drama

HealthProfessions

76-77 86-87 96-97 06-07

CHART SOURCE: College Board, 2007

Student Interest Trends in Engineering

Potential United States Undergraduate Engineering MajorsAll College Bound, ACT Tested Students Interested in Any

Engineering Field

40000

45000

50000

55000

60000

65000

70000

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

(<5%)

SOURCE: ACT, 2006

Female Enrollments Exceed 57% of All College Students

SOURCE: NCES, The Condition of Education 2006, pg. 36

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!!!

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

HIGHEST ADVANCED DEGREE ATTAINED: Percentage of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients who had earned an advanced degree by

2003, by bachelor’s degree field of study and highest degree attained

                                                                                                                              

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993/03 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03), previously unpublished tabulation (September 2005).

Employers of STEM Majors will often pay for graduate and advanced degrees!

▪ 2/3 of 8th Grade students in America plan to finish college

▪ But…only 1/3 prepare themselves by taking college preparatory courses in high school

▪ Only 25% of today’s 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

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 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.

ADMISSION CRITERIATypical 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)

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

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

VISIT CAMPUS▪ Come prepared with questions▪ Check out the school’s 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 won’t get as good of an experience

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?

Missouri S&T # 2 # 3

Scholarship application deadline December 1

Location / SizeRolla, MO

4,900 undergrads

What majors am I interested in?

Engineering: Yes

Business: Yes

Psychology: Yes

Fine Arts: No

Separate scholarship application? Not for merit money

FAFSA priority deadline? March 1

Schedule a campus visit Estimated tuition & fees $15,000 in-state

Ave. students earning scholarships 74%

Activities

Solar Car: Yes

Marching Band: Yes

Co-Ops: YES!

Placement Rate & Ave Starting Salary 96%, +$56,000.00

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

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 I’m recruited… the more a school wants me.” the happier I’ll be there.” the better a school is.”

QUESTIONS?

Jay W. GoffVice Provost and Dean of Enrollment Management

enrollment/mst.edugoffjw@mst.edu573-341-4378www.mst.edu