S C I E N C E , A GUIDE Tell Us Which G3 Guide TECHNOLOGY,STEM TO E N G I N E E R I N G & G3 GOALS You Want Available for the AFTER MATHEMATICS G3 Fall of 2010 edition GRADUATION We are asking for you to vote for the Cast your vote on our home page at www.G3Guides.com under the titles you want us to publish next. “Give Us Guidance” section. We will tally votes made by early summer Do you want a: and announce the new guide via our e-mail list. To sign up to receive G3 e-mails, go to the Contact Us page at www.g3guides.com/contact_us.html. Once the title is announced, preorder G3 Guide to G3 Guide to copies to assure yours will be in the Green Health Science first shipments in late summer. And remember that if you want to Careers? Careers? order more copies of this G3 STEM Guide, go to www.g3guides.com/ order_form.php, fax to 865-381- 0632, or e-mail an order to orders@ G3Guides.com. Get big discounts for G3 Guide to large orders. Sports and Fitness Careers? Also watch our site for a Counselor’s Guide to using the STEM book with students and parents and other special DESIGN THE FUTURE OF YOUR DREAMS features supporting the print edition you have ordered. LEARN HOW TO BREAK INTO THE HIGH -TECH, HIGH -WAGE WORLD OF SCIENCE , TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS Visit www.G3Guides.com for more information. INSIDE: EXPLORE 25 HOT STEM CAReeRS G3 DISCOVER WHY TECHIes GET THE BIG BUCKS LeARN HOW TO GET FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO A SUCCessFUL STEM CAReeR G3 GUIDES | $6.99 G3 WWW.G3GUIDES.COM HOmE cOmmunity car music When you STEM keeps the Starting, The technol- flip on the streetlights on, driving, ogy used to record and lights, check the stoplights ∞ steering, and The world of your Facebook page, working, and the public stopping a car are all mix music, purchase zap a frozen pizza in the water supply clean. STEM in motion. STEM and store audio files, microwave, or play your Environmental scien- professionals design, and listen to tunes on a favorite Xbox game, tists and technicians test, and produce every portable media player that’s STEM in action. test the soil, air, and part needed to create was developed by STEM Electricity, technology, water; engineers help cars, trucks, motorcy- professionals. social media, comput- design safe roads, cles, ATVs, and other ers, the Internet, and bridges, and buildings; vehicles. video games are all and meteorologists use built on platforms of science and technology sHOpping solid STEM knowledge. to forecast severe weather such as torna- spOrts Gift, debit, does, hurricanes, and and credit flash floods. Engineers cards use HOspital invent the computer technology lightest and and privacy safeguards. Every device strongest materials for Engineers design ener- used in health helmets, shin guards, gy-efficient heating, / care involves factOry shoulder pads, and cooling, lighting, and some science or math, Systems en- uniforms. Designers security systems for including robotic p gineers use use art, computers, and stores and malls. surgical systems and computer- STEM skills to build artificial body parts aided design (CAD) and high-tech footwear. such as hip joints and engineering analysis to Coaches use computers STEM heart valves. design state-of-the-art to analyze athletes’ and mOrE production facilities. performance and to help them reach their highest potential. look around farm your world for STeM in Farmers use rOads STEM skills Engineers survey scHOOl action. if and tools to the area where you want to determine plantable new roads are to Laptops, wire- build a future Science, Technology, areas, calculate the op- be built using less tablets, timal seed density per GPS systems and laser interactive full of new crop, engineer systems surveys. Scientists test whiteboards, LCD opportunities to increase crop yields the soil and terrain, and projectors, and tools for learning, engineering and improve productiv- identify potential used to create online ity, and calculate and drainage problems. tests and assessments for career, and compare the growth Engineers create the are a few of the STEM for life, start rates and break down designs used to build elements found in & MaTheMaTicS with STeM. of different crops. highways and bridges. today’s classrooms. are everywhere 2010 | SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS editiON WHAt’s INSIDE G3 14 34 42 A GUIDE 38 48 TO GOALS AFTER GRADUATION Page 4 | Do You Have What It Takes? S PECI A L S E C T I O N Page 32 | STEM After High School Page 42 | Reality Check Take this quick quiz to start figuring out if STEM is the right Almost every STEM profession requires a two- or four-year college An overview of the costs you will need to consider when planning Page 14 | field for you. Answer “yes” or “no” to the 10 questions…Career 25 STEM Careers degree or another kind of postsecondary education…STEM life on your own…As You Start Dreaming…What it Costs to Live Assessments and Research Resources Explore ideas for more than two dozen jobs that span the different Stepladder of Postsecondary Options…College Application on Your Own…What it Costs to Live Where You Want to Live… levels of education required to enter a STEM profession…Career Checklist…Top Engineering Colleges Repaying Student Loans MEET A STEM STUDENT Profiles: 25 Snapshots of STEM Professions, Including Education Required, Wages Paid, and Employment Outlook Page 34 | Paying for Your Education Page 44 | Bosses Speak Six STEM Student Profiles on pages 6, 13, 27, 31, 37, and 45 STEM EDUCATION…Learn how to move from high school to a The lowdown on financial aid and other ways to afford your Listen to what employers say about the need for STEM employees successful STEM career postsecondary STEM education…Cutting College Costs…STEM Page 7 | Scholarships…FAFSA: The Key to Financial Aid…Earning Page 46 | The House STEM Careers ALL ABOUT CAREER CLUSTERS… Education and Skills Through the Military If you think that STEM is only for math and science whizzes, Find out how the 16 federal career That STEM Built think again…Where the Jobs Are: Hot Sectors in STEM… STEM • STATE BY STATE Take a look inside this high-tech house to see clusters connect what you learn in the Page 36 | Choosing a STEM School 15 Hot STEM Careers classroom to the real world some of the current and future innovations When it comes to selecting a two- or four-year STEM program, it’s designed, built, and installed by STEM WHY TECHIES GET THE BIG BUCKS…A spotlight on SPECIAL STEM PROGRAMS…Take Spread throughout the smart to get your parents or guardian involved and take tours of professionals with a variety of STEM skills some of the most popular high-tech innovations and most Publication…51 examples advantage of any of these STEM-related schools…Talking to Your Parents…Touring Colleges successful STEM professionals of our time learning experiences that may be Page 48 | Explore More GO GREEN SPECIAL INFO available in your school or district Page 38 | STEM for Fun …How STEM professionals help make the Use these websites and other STEM career and education resources world greener and cleaner DOCUMENTING YOUR Check out these STEM learning experiences where you can explore of innovative postsecondary available from your school counselor or online to help you design the STEM IS FOR EVERYONE…The growing demand for STEM programs—one from EDUCATION…Learn how creating a careers, build skills, and discover if STEM is the right field for you future of your dreams STEM professionals means that now is the ideal time for each state and the District plan and a portfolio will help you get of Columbia women and minority members to build careers in STEM fields ready for college and a career © 2010 A3 Creative Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted or distributed, including PDF files, without the written permission of the copyright holders. G3 Guides are works of service journalism; the advice and opinions expressed in the guides are those of the sources and not necessarily those of G3 or the schools, districts, states, or other entities distributing the guides. Errors in content or presentation, such as typos or inaccuracies, do not constitute grounds for refunds or reprints; no warranty is implied or should be inferred. Readers should not use the guides as their sole source of information; they should consult with parents, guardians, counselors, and teachers before making education or career decisions. Product names, The G3 STEM Guide Team (www.G3Guides.com) Randall Duckett, Editor-in-Chief; Steven Friedlander, Executive Editor; Mary Workman, Design Director; Maryellen Duckett, Senior Editor/Writer; Lindsey Teague, Assistant Editor. Printed by Inové Graphics logos, brands, images, and other trademarks featured or referred to within the G3 Guides are the property of their respective trademark holders. These trademark holders or individuals quoted do not sponsor or endorse G3, or any G3 program or publication, (www.inovegraphics.com). Photographs and illustrations in the G3: A Guide to Goals after Graduation guide were provided by NASA, Shutterstock, and iStockphoto. except as provided for by the “G3 Underwriters” program. To purchase copies of G3: A Guide to Goals after Graduation publications, please visit www.G3Guides.com. Address questions to [email protected] or 865-385-6635 (voice mail). 2 A GUIDE TO GOALS AFTER GRADUATION STEM EDITION STEM EDITION A GUIDE TO GOALS AFTER GRADUATION 3 Take this quick quiz to start figuring out if STEM is the right field for you.