We know our children have a natural curiosity for science. The next step is to encourage this curiosity into a rewarding college experience and career. I’ll show you a few ways to get started with your child in middle school.
Successful STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – students are likely to be avid readers, strong writers, willing to collaborate with others, and ask questions to better understand subjects.
Plan to use your Summers wisely by getting creative and make things with your hands, brush up on your math, and read science related books.
Clubs, Camps & Volunteering
Look into these opportunities for middle schoolers
Clubs |
Summer Camps |
Volunteering |
MESA Scholar Program with University of the Pacific http://mesa.ucop.edu/ |
Engineering and Robotics Lab (SJCOE) http://robotics.sjcoe.net/ |
Builder’s Club (Kiwanis) http://www.buildersclub.org/ |
Society of Hispanic Engineers SHPE.org |
Prep USA – Reach for the Stars Academy http://www.astrojh.com/ |
Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library http://www.ssjcpl.org/involved/volunteer.html |
MAES http://mymaes.org/ |
InnoWorks at UC Berkeley http://www.innoworks.org/ |
Reinvent South Stockton Youth Council https://www.facebook.com/reinventsouthstockton/ |
No STEM clubs at your school? Start one! |
Look into out-of-state camp opportunities such as Brown Leadership Institute |
Volunteer locally with a parent or school counselor |
A Look Ahead
Plan now for your college future! This is a brief list of top schools and scholarships.
Colleges & Universities
- California Institute of Technology
- Colorado School of Mines
- Missouri University of Science & Technology
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Continue your search online with keywords – “best”, “STEM Colleges”, “Engineering” or “Medical” college
Scholarships
- Thermo Scientific Pierce Scholarship Program
- Scholarship America’s Dream Award
- The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
- Start your search locally within Stockton, San Joaquin County, then California and Nationally
- Look ahead for science competitions where you can win cash such as the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology
Career & Salaries
Brief list of high level STEM careers and salaries. Search further careers online!
| STEM | Career | Salary Range |
Science |
Dentist, Physician, Biochemist |
$186,000 – $105,000 |
Technology |
Computer Systems Analyst, Information Security Analyst, Web Developer |
$113,000 – $81,000 |
Engineering |
Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Biomedical |
$97,000 – $87,000 |
Math |
Accountant, Cost Estimator, Statisticians |
$84,000 – $64,000 |