Career Paths in Science, Engineering, and Technology
Choosing a Career - Aim High!
Examine your interests, abilities, hobbies, favorite courses, and extracurricular activities.
- If you like working with numbers or problem solving, mathematics is a possible career.
- If physics, chemistry, or biology interest you, a science career may be a good choice.
- If you like to solve problems, engineering may be the career for you.
- If you like to work with computers, consider computer sciences as a career.
- If you enjoy working with your hands, a career as a technician may interest you.
Career Research
Take a closer look at those fields in which you already have some interest. Here are some ways to find out more:
- Go to the library and read books and magazines in your area of interest. Publications such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, The New York Public Library Science Desk Reference, and other career guidance materials will be useful in your career search.
- Your parents and adult friends can be a great help as you develop career plans, especially if they work in fields related to those in which you are interested.
- Discuss your career goals with your teachers and guidance counselor. They can provide valuable advice and pertinent literature on the best way to achieve your goals.
- Talk to people working in the field in which you are interested or to people in a closely related field. They can give you first-hand information on what the work is really like; also, they can tell you about their college education experiences.
- Summer or part-time jobs in a field related to your intersts not only provide a source of income, but give you firsthand experience and allow you to observe professionals at work. Many government and industrial organizations offer summer programs for high school students.
High School
Academic requirements differ from college to college. As you plan your high school curriculum, it is important that you review specific entrance requirements for the 2- or 4- year colleges your are considering. Typical requirements are listed below.
- English - 4 years
- Types of classes: composition, American literature, English literature, and world literature
- Mathematics - 3 to 4 years
- Types of classes: algebra I, algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus
- History and Geography - 2 to 3 years
- Types of classes: geography, U.S. History, U.S. Government, world history, world cultures, and civics
- Laboratory Science - 2 to 3 years
- Types of classes: Earth and space science, life sciences, and physical sciences
- Foreign Language - 2 to 3 years
- Types of classes: French, German, Latin, Russian, and Japanese
- Visual and Performing Arts - 1 to 3 years
- Types of classes: art, dance, drama, and music
- Appropriate Electives - 1 to 3 years
- Types of classes: economics, psychology, statistics, computer science, and communications
Looking Ahead to College
Most colleges require your scores on standardized college entrance examinations, particularly the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT). Specific requirements can be found in college catalogs. Study guides for these exams are available in local bookstores and libraries, and exam dates are usually posted in your high school guidance department.
Some school systems offer students the option of taking Advanced Placement examinations. Certain colleges offer college credits to students with high scores on these tests. This way, you can earn collge credits while you are in high school, reducing the time and expense of earning a college degree.
Selecting a College
Choose your college or university carefully. Gather information about several colleges before you choose your favorite from college catalogs in your local or high school library.
Your should apply to several colleges in case your are not selected by, or offered enough financial assistance from, the first one on your list. It is a good idea to begin the application process during the summer months preceding your senior year in high school.
Perhaps the most important factor in selecting a college is how will the curriculum fits in with your career goals. However, other factors need to be considered - the school's accreditation, entrance requirements, financial assistance programs, available housing, location, and size; the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board; the life style of the students; the class size in basic courses; and student-faculty interaction. Check the college catalogs for information on curriculum.
Because the selection of a college is a major decision in your life, gather information from your family, your guidance counselor, the admissions officer at the college, college catalogs, and those who have attended the college. Also, schedule a tour of each college that your are interested in.
Paying College Costs
The cost of an education for scientific and engineering careers varies from school to school (and from student to student, depending on grades). Scholarships, loans, fellowships, and work-study programs are available to qualified students. Several books on scholarships are available in school libraries and guidance offices. Apply early. The effort may pay off in thousands of dollars for your education.
In addition, many colleges offer co-operative education programs, where students alternate periods of college study and work. These practical work experiences bring "life" to classroom theory, help finance your college education, and can open doors. Most colleges have school-to-work coordinators who can assist you.
Fulfilling a Dream: Preparation is the Key
To do well in your technology career, your must prepare yourself in the following areas:
- Mastery of skills.
- Technical careers require a solid foundation in math, science, technical, and engineering courses.
- Effective communication.
- Your must be able to write and communicate your thoughts and ideas clearly, and in a variety of settings.
- Computer literacy.
- Your should be able to work with spreadsheet, graphics, and word-processing software, as well as be familiar with the Internet and electronic mail.
Use your imagination, and never stop learning!
Last Modified: 2007-09-21 at 12:08:56 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation