500 word essay about stem strand

Essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand

Students are often asked to write an essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand

The choice for stem.

Choosing the STEM strand was a big decision. I picked it for many reasons. First, I love science and math. These subjects make me think and challenge me in a good way. I love solving problems and finding answers.

Future Opportunities

STEM offers many job opportunities. It’s a fast-growing field with a high demand for skilled workers. Jobs in this field pay well too. I want a secure future, and STEM can provide that.

Personal Growth

STEM also helps me grow as a person. It teaches me to think critically, solve problems, and work in teams. These are skills I can use in any job.

Helping Society

Finally, I chose STEM because it can help society. With STEM, I can create new technology, find cures for diseases, and solve environmental issues. I want to make a difference, and STEM gives me that chance.

250 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand

Interest in science and math.

Choosing the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand was driven by my deep interest in science and math. From an early age, I was always curious about how things work. I found joy in solving math problems and was fascinated by scientific experiments. This strand seemed like the perfect fit for my interests.

Skills Development

STEM offers a chance to develop critical skills. It encourages logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. These skills are not just important for future careers in the STEM field, but they are also useful in everyday life. I chose STEM to sharpen these skills and become a better thinker.

Future Career Opportunities

STEM careers are some of the fastest-growing in the world. From engineers to data scientists, there are many exciting job options. By choosing the STEM strand, I am opening doors to these opportunities. I want to be part of the future advancements in technology and science.

Contribution to Society

Finally, I chose STEM because I want to make a difference. The world faces many challenges, like climate change and health issues. With a STEM education, I can contribute to finding solutions to these problems. It feels great to know that my choice could potentially help society.

In summary, my choice of the STEM strand is driven by my interests, the desire to develop critical skills, future career opportunities, and the chance to contribute to society. I believe that this choice will help me grow as an individual and play a part in shaping the world’s future.

500 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand

Introduction.

The STEM strand, short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is a popular choice among students. It opens doors to a wide range of exciting career paths. This essay will discuss why I chose the STEM strand.

Passion for Science and Math

The first reason is simple: I have a love for science and math. These subjects have always fascinated me. They offer a way to understand the world around us. By studying science, we can learn about everything from tiny atoms to vast galaxies. Math, on the other hand, is like a universal language. It helps us solve problems and make sense of complex patterns. The STEM strand offers a chance to explore these subjects in depth.

Problem-solving Skills

The second reason I chose the STEM strand is to develop my problem-solving skills. In STEM, students often face challenges that require creative thinking. For instance, in an engineering project, you might need to design a bridge that can support a certain weight. Or in a math problem, you might need to find the most efficient way to distribute resources. These challenges help us become better problem solvers, a skill that is useful in many areas of life.

The third reason for choosing the STEM strand is the wide range of future career opportunities it presents. Many of the fastest-growing jobs are in STEM fields. These include jobs like software developer, data scientist, and environmental engineer. By studying STEM, students can prepare themselves for these high-demand careers. In addition, many STEM jobs offer high salaries and good working conditions.

Contributing to Society

The final reason I chose the STEM strand is the chance to make a positive impact on society. STEM professionals play a crucial role in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges. These include issues like climate change, disease outbreaks, and energy shortages. By studying STEM, I hope to gain the skills needed to contribute to these important efforts.

In conclusion, I chose the STEM strand for several reasons. I have a passion for science and math, and I want to develop my problem-solving skills. I am excited about the career opportunities in STEM fields, and I want to use my knowledge to help solve societal problems. I believe that the STEM strand is a great choice for any student who shares these interests and goals.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Essays on Stem Education

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Stem Education: Benefits, Challenges, Strategies, and Future

Stem (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) education approach, analysis of stem education concept and its main advantages and disadvantages, why i value my science education, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Overview of The Key Points of Stem Education in The USA

The representation of women in stem, advantages of humanities for education and the negative effects of their elimination, persuasive essay: humanities is just as meaningful as its stem counterparts, why i am interested in stem education.

STEM Education, at its core, simply means educating students in four specific disciplines, namely, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (collectively shortened as STEM).

STEM education centers on creating a student-centered learning environment in which students investigate and engineer solutions to problems, and construct evidence-based explanations of real-world phenomena with a focus on a student’s social, emotional, physical, and academic needs through shared contributions of schools, families, and community partners.

STEAM education is crucial to meet the needs of a changing world. It teaches students computational thinking and focuses on the real-world applications of problem-solving. Students get to apply the various domains of STEM in a context that helps them realize a connection between the classroom and the world around them.

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Why Is STEM Important? The Impact of STEM Education on Society

STEM education goes beyond school subjects. It gives a skill set that governs the way we think and behave. Merging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM education helps us to solve the challenges the world faces today. Let’s see what STEM means in the global context and how it influences the development of our society.

In case you missed it, we recently interviewed Juliana Pereira, an international student studying geotechnical engineering at Purdue University. Juliana has direct experience mentoring international students pursuing their STEM education. If you’re looking to improve your career prospects, Juliana’s tips can help lead you in the right direction. You can rewatch our informative Facebook Live session with TOEFL and Juliana Pereira to hear her story in its entirety. Use code JULIANA30 for US$30 off a new TOEFL iBT test registration. The discount offer is valid through October 21, 2022. For more information, including terms and conditions, visit https://bit.ly/3etrbUn

Preparation of STEM Experts Who Can Make a Difference

STEM education gives people skills that make them more employable and ready to meet the current labor demand. It encompasses the whole range of experiences and skills. Each STEM component brings a valuable contribution to a well-rounded education. Science gives learners an in-depth understanding of the world around us. It helps them to become better at research and critical thinking. Technology prepares young people to work in an environment full of high-tech innovations. Engineering allows students to enhance problem-solving skills and apply knowledge in new projects. Mathematics enables people to analyze information, eliminate errors, and make conscious decisions when designing solutions. STEM education links these disciplines into a cohesive system. Thus, it prepares professionals who can transform society with innovation and sustainable solutions.

The STEM approach to education fosters creativity and divergent thinking alongside fundamental disciplines. It motivates and inspires young people to generate new technologies and ideas. With a focus on practice and innovation, students get to learn from inquiry-based assignments . STEM education gives an understanding of concepts and encourages knowledge application. To keep it short, its aim can be formulated in two simple actions: explore and experience. Students are free to exercise what they learn and embrace mistakes in a risk-free environment. Project-based learning and problem-solving help learners to form a special mindset. Its core is in flexibility and curiosity, which equips learners to respond to real-world challenges.

STEM-Enhanced Teamwork and Communication

STEM education prepares the world for the future. It is based on teamwork and the collaboration of professionals from different disciplines. As a STEM student, you do not need to be an expert in each particular subject. You rather acquire a mindset that enables you to become a part of a highly qualified workforce, which functions in collaboration. Teamwork brings a significant increase in productivity, work satisfaction, and profitability.

Active engagement of experts from diverse fields will drive change in our society. STEM education exposes students to effective interdisciplinary communication. Scientists research and experiment, offering the team discoveries. Technology experts provide gadgets that can make the work of the team more effective. Engineers help to solve challenges by designing and running platforms that enable change. Mathematicians analyze information to eliminate mistakes and provide precise calculations. Our world is continuously changing. The only way we can be ready for its challenges is through communication and collaboration.

Collaborative experience also helps to broaden the impact of STEM education. Working with local experts and our international colleagues, we can promote our values and move towards a single purpose. This way, we improve communities, offering new educational and employment opportunities. Such open access to world-class experience is possible only when we combine our knowledge and capabilities.

Social Awareness

There is a high demand for STEM skills in society. STEM education enables people to make informed decisions within the discussed subject areas. Moreover, STEM awareness is necessary for any job as most industries are more or less connected to science and technology: from an essay writing service and college to a paper company. Thus, such education will allow children to grow into active citizens who can speak up in STEM discussions with sound knowledge of the subject.

STEM awareness promotes interest in a range of exciting careers. Currently, some STEM occupations are understaffed. For example, according to the projections, the U.S. will need 1 million more STEM experts in the near future. Besides, one of the goals of STEM initiatives is to encourage broader participation of women and minorities in the STEM workforce. This allows us to bridge ethnic and gender gaps. We need the engagement and participation of schools, policymakers, parents, students, and educators. This is the only way to continue technological and scientific progress.

Sustainable Solutions to Challenges

STEM subjects are focused on providing solutions to the concerns society has today. Human history had seen years of thoughtless exhaustion of natural resources. Such a lack of environmental education led to numerous challenges. These issues affect the health and well-being of all living organisms on our planet. Our environment needs protection. Thus, sustainability became one of the most urgent aspects studied by STEM disciplines.

The youth is more worried about climate change than the older generation. As statistics show, 70% of young people aged 18 to 34 worry about global warming. STEM education can answer their questions. It can teach them how to find the necessary solutions for sustainable development. Education is a powerful tool that ensures the rise of a STEM literate society. Well-educated community members can find ways to work in a competitive world. They will use sustainable practices that do not harm nature. In the bigger picture, economic and social progress is tightly connected to the environment. We need to work our way to a sustainable future. Yet, it is possible to accomplish only with STEM skills, experiences, and a multi-disciplinary approach.

The world we live in is changing, and we must keep pace with it. STEM education changes society by offering learners a new mindset and skills valued in any profession. They allow young people to be flexible, look for patterns, find connections, and evaluate information. Besides, STEM education raises social awareness. It communicates global issues to the general public. Therefore, STEM opportunities move us to a knowledge-based economy and enhanced sustainability literacy.

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How to Write the Caltech STEM Experience Essay

Caltech’s essay prompt emphasizes its commitment to tackling some of the most challenging questions in STEM. In essence, they want to gauge your genuine curiosity, passion, and drive in these fields.

Here’s how you can write a strong response. If you want more advice on Caltech’s essays, see our full Caltech essay breakdown .

Understanding the Prompt

Prompt: At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (200 words per experience)

Caltech is looking for specific instances where you were actively engaged in STEM. This can be within a class, a club, a project, a competition, or any other related experience.

As you reflect on which experiences to mention, make sure to those that truly piqued your interest and drove you to delve deeper. It’s one thing to be curious, but taking that next step to learn more showcases initiative, drive, and passion.

Crafting Your Essay

Here are the four steps you want to take as you’re writing.

1. Start with a brief introduction of the experience. Was it a physics class experiment? A coding challenge? A robotics competition?

2. Elaborate on what you did. Be specific. Instead of saying you “worked on a project,” explain that you “designed a water filtration system using charcoal and sand.”

3. Identify the moment or aspect that triggered your curiosity. Was it an unexpected result? A challenging problem? A real-world application?

4. Discuss the steps you took post-experience. Did you read more on the topic? Join a related club? Undertake a new project? Your actions should showcase your drive.

Now, let’s get into some examples!

Caltech STEM Experience Example Essays

In my junior year, our school’s Robotics Club decided to enter the annual Robotics Challenge. From videos of past competitions, it was clear that robots could achieve some pretty amazing things, and we were eager to try our hand. I got the task of programming our robot’s pathfinding, which I thought would be a cool challenge.

Initial tests, however, were not promising. Our robot, which we affectionately dubbed ‘Rover’, seemed to have a mind of its own, often getting lost or stuck in corners. This wasn’t what I expected, and instead of feeling defeated, I got really curious. Why was our algorithm struggling?

After some deep dives online and discussions with our club advisor, I stumbled upon the A* algorithm. It was touted as one of the best for pathfinding. Many late nights were spent poring over code, making adjustments, and running trial after trial.

The moment ‘Rover’ smoothly navigated our test maze was unforgettable. Beyond just the success, this experience opened my eyes to how vast and complex robotics can be. It also sparked a newfound interest in AI and how machines can learn and adapt.

Essay 1 Feedback

This essay feedback was provided by Ivy, CollegeVine’s AI . Try it for free with your own essay!

This experience effectively showcases your problem-solving skills and determination in the field of robotics. Your narrative demonstrates your curiosity and passion for learning about pathfinding algorithms. I would rate this experience a solid 8.5 out of 10. The strength of your description lies in the detailed example and your genuine interest in overcoming the challenge.

Your experience provides a clear narrative of your involvement in the Robotics Club and the challenge you faced.
You effectively convey your curiosity and determination to understand and improve the robot’s pathfinding algorithm.
The experience demonstrates your ability to research, learn, and apply new concepts in a practical situation.

Suggestions

Consider providing a brief explanation of the A* algorithm and how it improved ‘Rover’s’ pathfinding. This will help the reader understand your discovery better. (Small impact)
Share any lessons you learned from this experience and how they may have influenced your perspective on robotics or problem-solving. (Small impact)
Briefly mention how this experience has shaped your future aspirations or interests in the field of robotics, AI, or related areas. (Small impact)

What admissions would take away

Admissions officers would view you as a determined, curious, and resourceful student with a passion for robotics and problem-solving. Your experience demonstrates your ability to research, learn, and apply new concepts in practical situations.

In a chemistry lab during sophomore year, our assignment was to synthesize aspirin. The process, on paper, seemed pretty direct, but science in practice can sometimes be unpredictable. My first result wasn’t the expected pure white but had an off-white hue.

Rather than just accepting it, I was determined to understand why. Had I missed a step or mis-measured an ingredient? I turned to additional resources, beyond our classroom’s scope, and delved into the intricacies of the synthesis process. I found out that there are many variables at play, from temperature control to precise measurements.

Armed with new knowledge, I approached the lab again. With more attention to detail and a better understanding of the reactions, my second attempt was markedly improved.

This wasn’t just a lesson in making aspirin; it underscored how deep and layered even seemingly simple reactions can be. It made me appreciate the precision required in chemistry, especially when thinking about its implications in something as important as drug development.

Overall Feedback

This experience effectively highlights your curiosity and determination in the field of chemistry. It demonstrates your commitment to understanding the underlying processes and your ability to think critically about the subject matter. I would rate this experience an 8 out of 10. The strength of your description lies in the detailed example and your genuine interest in learning.

Your experience provides a clear narrative of your involvement in the chemistry lab and the challenge you faced.
You effectively convey your curiosity and determination to understand the intricacies of the synthesis process.
The experience demonstrates your willingness to go beyond the classroom to explore complex concepts and apply them in practical situations.
Explore how your newfound appreciation for precision in chemistry has shaped your perspective on the subject or influenced future projects. (Small impact)
Share any lessons you learned from this experience and how they may have influenced your approach to chemistry or problem-solving. (Small impact)
Briefly mention how this experience has shaped your future aspirations or interests in the field of chemistry or related areas. (Small impact)

Admissions officers would view you as a curious, determined, and resourceful student with a passion for learning and problem-solving in chemistry. Your experience demonstrates your ability to go beyond the classroom to explore complex concepts and apply them in practical situations.

Be Genuine: Authentic experiences where your curiosity was genuinely activated will always come across as more sincere and impactful.
Show Initiative: Caltech values students who don’t just stop at wondering, but take the initiative to seek answers.
Proofread: Ensure clarity, coherence, and error-free content. You can use Ivy, CollegeVine’s AI for free feedback.

Remember, this essay provides Caltech a glimpse into your analytical mind, your curiosity, and your proactive approach to learning.

STEM Students: How Does Your Essay Stand Out?

Julia de Raadt

Head of research and lead admissions expert, table of contents, stem students.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

STEM Students: How Does Your Essay Stand Out?

Once upon a time, in an era dominated by young people vying to be future lawyers and financiers, a STEM student was rare. The computer scientists and engineers of tomorrow were prized rarities among colleges and universities. Nowadays, however, it can feel like everyone is a STEM student, and moreover, it often seems that the level of competitiveness among STEM students is ever-increasing. If that’s you, you need to ask yourself: how does your essay stand out?

This perception, founded partially in fact and partially in misplaced anxiety, can lead many STEM students to feel that their college applications will get lost in the mix of other highly qualified applications with similar profiles. In an effort to assuage some of these anxieties, I’ve compiled a list of 3 ways a STEM student can make his or her college application stand out, focusing on the essay portion of the application.

First: if you’re going to write about STEM in your essays, do it differently.

More than ever, colleges are approaching student applications “holistically.” There is a sense, in modern college admissions, that the “student” is comprised of an amalgamation of tangible and intangible factors, and discerning within the mix of quantitative data, extracurriculars, and personal statements the indication of a person behind the application is critical to the application review process. Colleges, simply, don’t want to see a machine. They want to see your multifaceted entirety, your idiosyncratic “you”-ness.

Your essays, therefore, can be absolutely crucial when it comes to giving your application an edge. Rather than using the essays as an opportunity to reiterate that you do STEM activities, use them as an opportunity to talk about the person behind the activities. If you’re curious as to how does your essay stand out, think about whether it sounds like you!

One thing to make clear: that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk about STEM. If STEM is truly what drives you onward in the world, talk about it. That being said, talk about it from a new and interesting angle.

Here are some suggestions:

If you have done wet-lab research on something in biology, talk about how that changed your view of the world. How do very small life forms challenge your views on what we define as a life that is “meaningful”? Do the things you’ve learned from this research make the world seem simpler or more complex? Why do you think you crave the understanding that research can give? Why do you have a need to know? How might this research make you more conscious of your own status as an organism (either mortality and fragility, or resilience and strength), and how might this impact the way you live?
If you’re an engineer, talk about the act of creation. What aspect of creation drives you on? For you, is it all about serial creation, that is, finding a need and meeting it? Is it specifically about giving back to where you’re from? Do you simply like disrupting old ways of doing things? What is your earliest memory of creation? What might it mean to you to be an “ethical” engineer? How important to you is doing the “right thing” when you are involved in your craft? For whom do you create?
If you are a computer scientist, talk about how the work you do makes the world better. How does the software you design contribute to the “good life,” either for you or for the people who use it? What does it mean to you to code something that you’re proud of? What does the process of debugging look like for you? That is, how do you deal with a piece of code that won’t seem to work? In what ways might coding be considered its own form of art? In this sense, might you consider yourself a sort of artist?

All of these things will distinguish you.

Second: that being said, maybe don’t write about STEM.

The college you’re applying to already knows you do STEM. To some extent, they even know you’re passionate about it; if you are devoting hours a day and weeks of your summer to something, there’s a good shot you care. It might be redundant to drive that point home once again in your essays.

Furthermore, this is an opportunity to show another, more personal side of yourself. In your essays, you might choose to talk about something among the following:

What does your favorite food say about you?
What is the one question you love being asked and why?
Who or what do you worry about?
When did you become confident?
Who is your favorite YouTuber?
Are you addicted to social media?
When was the last time you cried? Laughed?
What does it mean to you to be human?

The point here is to be honest. Give the colleges a chance to see you, including your imperfections, because the reality is that you are enough as is. If you love the “Yodeling Walmart Boy” meme, talk about it! The minutiae of you is what makes you real. So use your essay as a space to show the funny and deeply human parts of yourself.

Thirdly: how you write matters almost as much as what you write.

One of the common stereotypes of STEM-focused students is that their emphasis on STEM exists in the extremes. Almost to the exclusion of developing other skills; particularly the skill of effective communication. If you’re asking yourself, “how does your essay stand out?” Writing can be the key. Learning to write smoothly is important, but even more important than that is learning to imbue your piece with a sense of voice (i.e., personhood).

Conveying personality in a challenge, but it is the critical difference between an engaging essay and one that falls flat. Contrary to what you may have been taught, a conversational tone that involves some elements of your genuine speech patterns should not be avoided, so long as adequate attention is paid to grammatical and syntactical conventions. That is, you can write how you speak, but make sure you understand the conventions of adapting speech to the page. If I had to pick the top 3 most important questions to ask yourself during the revision process, they would be the following:

How can I make this more specific?

Original: I learned so much from this experience.
Revised: After that morning in the Sonoma fields, I resolved to invest myself in the relationships around me.

How can I make this less clich éd?

Original: I learned to never judge a book by its cover.
Revised: It became clear to me that her most immediately apparent qualities didn’t capture the entirety of her whatsoever; she was infinitely more than I imagined.

How can I make this flow better?

This will mostly hinge on breaking up paragraphs into smaller chunks and making sure sentences flow naturally.

Now you can see, these tips will help you get started on your college essays. For you STEM students out there, continually challenge yourself to answer the question: how does your essay stand out from the crowd?

For more guidance on the application process and getting into your school of choice, meet with one of our enrollment team members to get matched to an expert counselor for free.

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December 2021

You’ve probably heard about STEM. The integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics has been a central focus both within and well outside of education.

In fact, it’s such a powerful concept that it has been hailed as critical to the future — for children, diversity, the workforce and the economy, among other areas. That’s why STEM education has received hundreds of millions of dollars in support from the U.S. government and remains one of the biggest priorities at all levels of the educational system. UTEP also offers a master's degree and a graduate certificate in STEM Education.

But what actually is STEM education, and why is it so important? Here’s what you need to know and how you can help.

MTeenagers asking for help from the teacher within mathematics class.

What Is STEM Education?

It would be inaccurate to assume that STEM education is merely instruction in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Rather, the idea is taken a step further.

STEM education refers to the integration of the four subjects into a cohesive, interdisciplinary and applied learning approach. This isn’t academic theory—STEM education includes the appropriate real-world application and teaching methods.

As a result, students in any subject can benefit from STEM education. That’s exactly why some educators and organizations refer to it as STEAM, which adds in arts or other creative subjects. They recognize just how powerful the philosophy behind STEM education can be for students.

Why Is STEM Education Important?

There are several layers to explore in discovering why STEM education is so important.

In 2018, the White House released the “Charting a Course for Success” report that illustrated how far the United States was behind other countries in STEM education.

It found that only 20% of high school grads were ready for the rigors of STEM majors. And how over the previous 15 years, the U.S. had produced only 10% of the world’s science and engineering grads.

Since the founding of the Nation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been a source of inspirational discoveries and transformative technological advances, helping the United States develop the world's most competitive economy and preserving peace through strength. The pace of innovation is accelerating globally, and with it the competition for scientific and technical talent. Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States — and its prosperity and securit — depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem. - Charting a Course for Success

That was one of the most news-worthy developments in recent years. It set the stage for many arguments behind STEM in the context of the global economy and supporting it through education.

Job Outlook and Salary

One of the most direct and powerful arguments for the importance of STEM education is how relevant STEM is in the workforce. In 2018, the Pew Research Center found that STEM employment had grown 79% since 1990 (computer jobs increased 338%).

What about now? All occupations are projected to increase 7.7% by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Non-STEM occupations will increase 7.5% while STEM occupations will increase 10.5% .

The findings are even more pronounced in terms of salary. The median annual wage for all occupations is $41, 950. Those in non-STEM occupations earn $40,020 and those in STEM occupations earn $89,780.

Even areas like entrepreneurship see the same types of results. A report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) found that tech-based startups pay more than double the national average wage and nearly three times the average overall startup wage. They only make up 3.8% of businesses but capture a much larger share of business research and development investment (70.1%), research and development jobs (58.7%) and wages (8.1%), among other areas.

Diversity and Skills

An important detail in the passage from “Charting a Course for Success” comes toward the end of the final sentence: “Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States—and its prosperity and security—depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem.”

Being inclusive is incredibly important once you understand how STEM occupations are such high-demand, high-paying positions. Unfortunately, however, diversity is a significant issue here.

The Pew Research Center noted how women account for the majority of healthcare practitioners and technicians but are underrepresented across many other STEM fields, especially in computer jobs and engineering. Black and Hispanic workers are also underrepresented in the STEM workforce.
In the International Journal of STEM Education, authors noted how women are significantly underrepresented in STEM occupations. They make up less than a quarter of those working in STEM occupations and for women of color, representation is much lower — Hispanic, Asian and Black women receive less than 5% of STEM bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. Authors also pointed out how people of color overall are underrepresented in U.S.-based STEM leadership positions across industry, academia and the federal workforce.

These issues are troubling when you consider how it undermines students’ opportunities to pursue high-demand, high-paying roles. Yet, it’s more than that. STEM education is about a teaching philosophy that naturally integrates critical thinking and language skills in a way that enriches any subject. Perhaps you’ve experienced or can imagine an education that integrates problem solving and engineering practices into any subject, where technology is seamlessly integrated throughout. Any subject—art, language, social studies, health—can benefit.

So when students don’t receive an effective STEM education, they’re not only receiving less instruction in STEM subjects. They miss out on the universal application that high-level skills in STEM subjects can bring.

How You Can Make a Difference

Take the opportunity to encourage young minds in STEM education. Whether that means volunteering a little bit of your time at a local school or finding age-appropriate STEM literature and activities for your children, you can have an impact.

You can also consider pursuing a career or enhancing your career as a teacher or leader in STEM education, which represents a major problem right now in education. Researchers in Economic Development Quarterly noted how the current shortage of teachers in the U.S. is “ especially acute ” among STEM educators.

In just five courses, you can earn an online graduate certificate in STEM education and learn how you can increase STEM literacy through formal and informal learning opportunities across a variety of settings. Or there’s the 100% online M.A. in Education with a Concentration in STEM Education , which helps you to be a leader in STEM education. You’ll be prepared for advancement in roles across public and private schools, community-based organizations, research, nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations.

UTEP’s programs are focused on preparing today and tomorrow’s educators for working with modern students in multicultural settings who need to find motivation and engagement in their learning. And again, this is especially important. A study in Education Journal found that while students of all races enter into STEM majors at equal rates, minority students leave their major at nearly twice the rate of white students.

UTEP is one of only 17 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the country to be designated as an R1 top tier research university. Interested in learning more about how you can engage and inspire students in STEM education? You can discuss that and more with a one-on-one consultation with an enrollment counselor.

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Six Inspiring Reasons You Should Pursue a STEM Major

NASA-Imagery / Pixabay.com

Note: This post was submitted to Student Caffé by Amanda Wilks. We would like to thank her for her submission and credit her as the author of this blog post. Amanda Wilks is a Boston University graduate and a School Choices contributing author. She has a great interest in everything related to education and social activism and she writes on these topics every chance she gets. If you’re interested in reading more of Amanda’s work, visit her Twitter profile .

Choosing a college major is no easy task. After all, it's a choice that's going to affect a lot more than just your class schedule for the next four years. If you're like most college students, you're hoping to find a major with interesting classes and real-world applications. You want a major that means you won't have trouble finding a job after graduation, and not just any job either. You want something with good financial prospects and a secure future.

While there are plenty of options out there, choosing a STEM major—that is, a career path in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics —can easily check off every item on your wish list, plus a few items you maybe haven't considered yet. Check out these six inspiring reasons why you should pursue a STEM degree.

1. You can make an impact.

From the synthetic fibers in our clothes to the designs of our houses to the computers in our pockets, it's obvious that without the contributions of scientists and engineers, we'd still be living in the Dark Ages! If your career goal is to make a lasting impact on the world, what better way to do it than through technology?

In fact, the power to make a difference in the lives of others is one of the major reasons why women are choosing STEM fields for their professions. Take, for example, the work of biochemist and professor Jennifer Doudna . She helped invent CRISPR, a system used to edit gene sequences, which has already had huge impacts on research and medicine, and could potentially lead to gene therapies for genetic diseases. Her undergraduate major? Chemistry.

2. You can explore the world—literally!

Have you ever heard that math is the universal language? It's true—not just of math, but of many fields of science. If your ambition is to travel the world as part of your career, a degree in a STEM field just might be your ticket. Imagine, for example, helping to design the next generation of airplanes and spacecraft!

From making consumer air travel faster, cheaper, and more comfortable to planning the first missions to Mars, you'll find graduates from some of America's best aerospace engineering colleges collaborating with material scientists, software designers, and other STEM professionals from all over the world. While professions in some fields don't translate well to others, the skills you'll learn by attaining a STEM degree are immediately applicable around the globe, even if you don't speak the local language!

3. You can break new ground.

Every year, new technologies create jobs that have never existed before. Who could have imagined in the 90s that "app developers" would one day write programs for tiny pocket-sized computers? Before the advent of Facebook and Twitter, no one foresaw the day that there would be a need for statisticians to turn their skills to analyzing the wealth of data generated on social media platforms.

The rate of change hasn't slowed in the slightest. Between 2009 and 2015, the number of new STEM jobs grew at a rate more than double that of non-STEM jobs. As much fun as it is to guess where technology might take us next, wouldn't it be better to be at the cutting edge of that new wave yourself? With a STEM degree, that's exactly where you could be—not only abreast of all the latest developments, but maybe even leading them!

4. You can feed your curiosity.

Were you one of those kids who couldn't stop asking, "Why?" With a degree in a STEM field, that kind of curiosity will be your biggest asset. Creative thinking and a drive to know more can lead to advancements in all kinds of fields.

Why does a treatment work for some patients but not others? How can a bridge be made more flexible and stronger at the same time? There's always more to learn and discover, and when you're the one asking the questions, you could also be the one to make those discoveries.

5. You can count on job security.

Scientists and engineers are, at their cores, problem solvers. Their job is to analyze a situation, come to a conclusion, and develop a solution. While automation is taking over menial jobs like data management and other once-reliable career paths, robots and software packages still can't top the human brain when it comes to critical thinking. These are skills that are hard to teach, but the interdisciplinary nature of STEM fields means that you'll have plenty of practice honing your critical-thinking abilities.

6. You can pursue your passion.

In the end, the major you choose is a reflection of your personal interests, goals, and passions, so why not choose a major that gives you the freedom to follow your dreams ? With so many different potential jobs to pursue, a STEM degree can give you the hard skills you need to get hired, plus the flexibility to adapt and pursue what matters to you most.

From becoming a surgeon for Doctors Without Borders to designing greener cars to coding sleek and functional new apps, the sky's the limit when it comes to applying the tools a degree in the sciences can give you. Where will your STEM major take you?

Our 4th Annual STEM Writing Contest

We invite students to choose an issue or question in science, technology, engineering, math or health, then write an engaging 500-word explanation. Contest Dates: Jan. 18 - Feb. 15, 2023.

By The Learning Network

Update, Jan. 9, 2024: We are not running our STEM Writing Contest for the 2023-24 school year, but students might be in participating in our new informational writing contest .

Update, April 11, 2023: Winners have been announced!

What makes sea dragons so strange? How did chewing shape human evolution? Why do thunderstorms occur much less frequently over the ocean than over land? What does the Webb telescope reveal about events in the early millenniums of the universe?

If you click on any of these articles, you’ll see that they are written for a general reader. Special technical or scientific knowledge is not required, and each is designed to get our attention and keep it — by giving us “news we can use” in our own lives, or by exploring something fascinating in a way that makes it easy to understand and shows us why it matters.

That’s what Times journalists do every day across our Science , Health and Technology sections, and it’s what Science News and Science News Explores do on their sites too, where journalists explain things like why sea sponges sneeze , how face mites clean our skin and why noises sound different on Mars than on Earth.

For this contest, The Learning Network invites you to bring that same spirit of inquiry and discovery to finding a STEM-related question, concept or issue you’re interested in, and, in 500 words or fewer, explaining it to a general audience in a way that not only helps us understand, but also engages us and makes us see why it’s important.

So what questions do you have about how the world works? What science, technology, engineering, math or health questions might be inspired by your own life or experiences? What innovations, processes or problems in any of these areas puzzle or intrigue you? What concepts in STEM — whether from biology, physics, psychology, computer science, algebra or calculus — have you learned about, in or out of school, that might be useful or fun to explain to others?

The best of this kind of writing includes three elements we’ll be asking you to include, too:

It begins with an engaging hook to get readers’ attention and make us care about the subject.

It quotes experts and/or includes research on the topic to give context and credibility .

It explains why the topic matters . Why do you care? Why should we care? Whom or what does it affect, why and how? How is it relevant to broader questions in the field, to the world today and to our own lives?

Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below. Please post any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

Contest guidelines, resources for teachers and students, frequently asked questions, how to submit.

1. Choose a STEM topic you care about.

Maybe it’s something personal — you just found out you’re nearsighted and you want to know what that means, or you want to learn about the brain and how to create more efficient study habits.

Or, maybe it’s something cool you observed in science lab that you’d like to explain, or a phenomenon you’ve noticed in your own neighborhood, school or backyard that you’d like to investigate. It could be a topic you already know a great deal about and want to explain to others, or something you’ve never thought about until now.

Please choose something you are genuinely curious about. We’ve been running student writing contests for over a decade, and one thing we know for sure is that the best writing is inspired by students’ real interests, not from a one-size-fits-all assignment given to an entire class.

2. Make sure your topic is narrow enough that you can cover it well in 500 words or fewer.

You probably can’t explain the entire circulatory system within our word limit, but you probably can explain why the heart keeps beating. You probably can’t get across all the thinking and research on the science of happiness , but you probably can choose one research-backed recommendation and explore it.

3. Do research, and cite your sources.

For this contest, we are collaborating with Science News. At least one of your sources must be from either The New York Times, Science News OR its sister site, Science News Explores. But of course you can use all three, and any other additional sources.

We provide you with a separate field to make a list of sources you used to write your article or essay. You can format your list however you want; we will not judge your entry based on formatting in this section. And, internal citations are not necessary.

We also encourage you to interview experts whose work is relevant to your chosen topic. But that doesn’t mean you have to call the head of the U.S. Forest Service if you want to write about butterfly habitats. You can talk to a local park ranger or gardener who has experience with and extensive knowledge about the topic.

And, of course, part of your research can be your own investigations. Let’s say you’re writing about teenagers’ use of e-books. You might survey your own class or grade about their habits and preferences, then use those findings in your piece.

4. But be very careful to put quotations around any direct quotes you use, and to cite the source of anything you paraphrase.

Make sure your work is your own. If we put a sentence from your submission into a search engine, we don’t want to find it anywhere else — unless you’re clearly quoting or citing that source.

5. Your submission must be 500 words or fewer, not including the title.

6. Here is the rubric that shows exactly what we’re looking for .

7. We have a new required field this year about your research and writing process.

While our judges will NOT use what you write in this section to select finalists, we’d love some insight into how you decided what to write about, as well as how you researched and composed.

8. Please submit only one entry per student.

Write your essay by yourself or with a group, but please submit only one essay per student. If you are working as a team, just remember to submit all of your names when you post your entry. And if you’re submitting as part of a team, you should not also submit as an individual.

9. You must be a student age 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate.

See below for more details.

10. The deadline for this contest is Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

We provide a small window of time after that deadline to allow for technical difficulties. However, at some point after the deadline, our contest submission form closes and you will not be allowed to submit an entry, so please be mindful of the deadline and submit early.

Our full Informational Writing Unit .

A webinar, available on YouTube , with Learning Network staff and expert educators on teaching informational writing with The New York Times.

Mentor texts that demonstrate three important elements of STEM writing: hooking the reader , quoting and paraphrasing experts and research and explaining why a topic matters .

Examples of STEM writers discussing the process behind their work: an annotated article by Nicholas St. Fleur , a science reporter at The Times; an annotated essay and video by a 2021 contest winner; an annotated article on Covid misinformation by a technology reporter; and a video conversation with two students who won the contest in 2020.

Short videos with advice from Times writers on hooking the reader ; explaining why a topic matters ; quoting and paraphrasing ; research ; and selecting the right topic .

The work of our 2022 , 2021 and 2020 winners.

A writing prompt: What Questions Do You Have About How the World Works?

A lesson plan: Teaching Science with the ‘Trilobites’ Column , and all of our Lessons of the Day that concern STEM-related topics .

A teacher background sheet on science journalism and a “Think Like a Science Journalist” activity guide for students, both created by Science News Learning .

Our contest rubric .

Answers to your questions about judging, the rules and teaching with this contest. Please read these thoroughly and, if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, post your query in the comments or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING

How will my essay be judged?

Your work will be read by journalists from The New York Times and Science News as well as by Learning Network staff members and STEM educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.

What is the “prize”?

Having your work published on The New York Times Learning Network.

When will the winners be announced?

About two months after the contest has closed.

My essay wasn’t selected as a winner. Can you tell me why?

We receive thousands of entries for this contest, so, unfortunately, our team does not have the capacity to provide individual feedback on each student’s essay.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.

The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.

My essay was published in my school newspaper. Can I submit it to this contest?

No. We ask that your essay be original for this contest. Please don’t submit anything you have already published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.

Do I need a Works Cited page?

Yes. We provide you with a separate field to list the sources you used to write your essay. You’re allowed to format your list however you want; we will not judge your entry based on formatting in this section. Internal citations are not necessary.

Can I have someone else check my work?

We understand that students will often revise their work based on feedback from teachers and peers. That is allowed for this contest. However, be sure that the final submission reflects the ideas, voice and writing ability of the student, not someone else.

Who can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?

Leave a comment on this post or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST

I’m a teacher. What resources do you have to help me teach with this contest?

Start with our unit plan for informational writing . It includes writing prompts, mentor texts and lesson plans that can support this contest.

You might also invite your students to read the winners of last year’s contest to get inspiration for their own work.

Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?

No. All of the resources on The Learning Network are free.

If your students don’t have a subscription to The New York Times, they can also get access to Times pieces through The Learning Network . All the activities for students on our site, including mentor texts and writing prompts, plus the Times articles they link to, are free. Students can search for articles using the search tool on our home page.

This contest is closed.

This contest is a collaboration with the Society for Science , publisher of Science News , a source of independent nonprofit journalism on the latest in science, medicine and technology since 1921, Science News Explores and the Science News Learning program .

Home / Essay Samples / Education / Stem Education / About STEM Strand: Whether is the Most Popular in Senior School

About STEM Strand: Whether is the Most Popular in Senior School

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