1. How to Be Ready for a Successful STEM Career
Ahyoung Kim
Mathematics Department, Wilbur Wright College
Fernando Miranda-Mendoza
Mathematics Department, Harold Washington College
Raymond Tse
Physical Sciences Department, Harold Washington College

2. STEM Careers STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Some STEM disciplines: Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, and Mathematics.
The most important factor in having a successful career is finding a job that you enjoy.

3. Passion for Your Career
Desire to learn about a particular field.
Desire to develop and improve professionally and continuously.
Desire to contribute to society and the world.
Be paid to pursue what you love!

4. Have the Right Motivation
Some Motivational Factors:
Financial
Personal interests
Projected job markets
What is really important for you?

5. Set Your Goals Academic Goals Personal Goals Scholastic aptitude
Financial resources (when to achieve?)
Personal Goals
Time commitment
Put off immediate satisfaction

6. Academic Goals Prerequisites SMART Goals
Choose an area of interest (OK to take general course in the beginning to see what you really like):
Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, etc.
Take the “right” courses (or sequences)
Prerequisites
SMART Goals
S – Specific
M – Measureable
A – Attainable
R – Realistic
T – Timely

7. SMART Goals Smart Goals:
S – Specific: The goal that is well defined and clear.
M – Measureable: You can determine whether the goal was met or not.
A – Attainable: The goal can actually be achieved.
R – Realistic: The goal is reasonably within your reach.
T – Timely: The goal can be achieved within a reasonable amount of time.

8. Personal “Issues” to Consider
Family commitments:
Balancing the demands of any (in particular STEM) courses and raising a family.
Late start in the academic process:
May need to refresh basic skills (basic math, elementary science, reasoning, critical thinking, take notes, how to study, etc.)

9. Undergraduate vs Graduate Degrees
Many STEM fields require advanced degrees
Decision to get an advanced degree: finances, time, career path (academia vs corporate), aspirations.
The expensive part lies on an undergraduate degree.
An advanced degree is usually FULLY funded by teaching or research assistantships

10. Undergraduate Degree
At HWC, take all (more if possible) the required course sequences
Example: take the entire calculus/chemistry/physics sequence at one school.
Transfer to 4-year institutions
UIC
IIT – Presidential Scholarships
UIUC
DePaul
REU (research experience for undergraduates)
Paid research opportunities (federal government funded)
Internships in local corporations

11. What you need to Transfer to 4-Year Institutions
Top local schools: UIC, IIT, UIUC, DePaul.
Good grades, especially in STEM courses.
Recommendation letters from professors and others.
Internships and REU.
Financial support from the accepting school and from CCC.

12. Your decision on the School
Strength of the STEM program
Affects your ability of finding a job after graduation
Location of the school
Urban vs rural setting
Financial Support
In-state vs Out-of-state tuition
Length of the program

13. Graduate School More research oriented.
Many STEM jobs require an advanced degree.
Financial aid is usually not an issue since there are plenty of paid research or teaching assistantships in STEM fields.
Typical length of a program: 2 years for Masters degrees, 4 or more years for Ph.D. degrees

14. Importance of REU/Internship
Research Experiences for Undergraduates are funded by Federal and State agencies (such as National Science Foundation, National Institution of Health, Department of Energy, NASA, etc.).
Usually they take place during the summer.
Stipend (including living arrangements and transportation).
Internships from private companies have fewer restrictions.

15. Importance of Recommendation Letters
Universities also use recommendation letters to evaluate applicants besides grades and test scores.
Recommendation letters gives another perspective of your strengths, abilities, talents, and accomplishments. Be nice to your professors.
You should build good relationships with your professors. Professors who were impressed by you would be glad to write a letter.
Recommendation letters are very important for graduate school admission.

16. Importance of Working in a Team
Demonstrates some of your “soft skills.”
Important soft skills:
collaboration, communication, adaptability, ability to resolve conflicts, problem solving, critical thinking.
Modern STEM careers demand teamwork.
Your ability to interact with others is highly valued by employers.

17. Join HWC STEM club! A good place to increase your network of peers.
You get info on scholarships, REUs, conferences, and other research opportunities.
Facebook group:

18. Where to Find Information about REU
NSF REU Site for students:
Search for an REU Site:
The HACU National Internship Program:
Community College Internships:

19. Where to Find Information about scholarships
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation:
Barry Goldwater Scholarship:
IIT Presidential Scholarships: scholarships
IIT Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship: scholarship