For students who don’t have a strong STEM role model in their life, the choice to select a major perceived as intimidating or extremely difficult could be too much to overcome. Self-doubts can arise for students who don’t have strong confidence in themselves and their abilities. Questions such as, “Am... more

For students who don’t have a strong STEM role model in their life, the choice to select a major perceived as intimidating or extremely difficult could be too much to overcome. Self-doubts can arise for students who don’t have strong confidence in themselves and their abilities. Questions such as, “Am I smart enough to do higher-level mathematics in college? Will I even get past the prerequisites to get into a major like physics or engineering? Can I be competitive with peers in this major?” may be looming in their minds. Such students’ paths can be influenced by the help of a good school counselor. Learn about different STEM majors and their career options, with a focus on engineering. Hear why certain majors are more career-stable than others and how to interpret some of the resources available about these careers. Discuss how you can encourage students to think about STEM options, address intimidation around mathematics and get ideas for setting students up for success in a STEM field they are excited about. Download accompanying handouts. less