College Search for STEM Girl'24 (3.78uw/ 35 ACT/ no tuition stress) [international student at US boarding school]

[theheadphonesgirl]

@aquapt

What does your guidance counselor at your school say about appropriate schools to aim for? At private high schools like yours, the counselors tend to be very well-versed in how a student’s record translates to college placement. Conversely, it’s hard for commenters here to gauge where you stand, because we don’t know the rigor and reputation of your school the way your counselor does.

The school list above was all discussion results of me and my guidance counselor, so I am hoping it is accurate.

@aquapt

The way your post reads to me is that you’ve been operating under the assumption that you should be a “STEM Girl,” because of your whole family being engineers, and the presumed doors that an engineering degree would open in terms of career opportunities.

On the other hand, you say you had to work really hard to get B+'s in non-calculus-based physics, and you haven’t loved either physics or bio. To me, this doesn’t scream “would love engineering.” I don’t doubt that you could take on a few tough classes and prevail, if they were required on the way to a degree whose main content you really liked. But if the “tough and not what you love” aspect were central to the major, that sounds like a recipe for misery.

I would say this is a very accurate description of me and why I wasn’t straight up applying for engineering!! I chose these advanced physics courses because I wanted to challenge myself on a subject that I have been bad at since middle school (Worst I got was a 49/100 when the average was 60/100). I didn’t want to be an outlier of my family and wanted to help out in my family business related to industrial machinery production. My parents built the company up without the right technical skills and they really struggled hard because of it (like employees walking out on them, unable to handle the skilled yet arrogant technicians and more), so I thought it would be great if I was the one to help. (Sorry if this part is not very logical but I was crying while typing!! Can’t believe you read all my struggles in one single post!)

@aquapt

You mention being in the business club, and also wanting to work outside the US once you have your degree. What this brings to mind, for me, is international trade and the broad and very important field of “supply chain,” whose importance we all saw when there were disruptions during the pandemic. The more STEMmy way to approach this field is to major in Industrial Engineering (sometimes also called Systems Engineering), which gives you a strong engineering foundation combined with business principles. Supply Chain is just one specialty area that an Industrial/Systems Engineer could work in. The more business-y approach is to major in Supply Chain Management or Operations Research within a university’s business school. You could also get great career opportunities this way - there would still be plenty of math involved, but less physics, etc. than the engineering route.

I really like these options!! I took a look into industrial/ systems engineering and the course descriptions seemed very intriguing with the broad scope of tech that could help me understand the engineering side, and the wide range of applications it could be used in for future job careers! Would definitely add that into my research list!
For supply chain management and operations research, it seems more specific and focused on one single area instead of a big picture. I would wonder if there are other future job careers other than going to international companies like apple or google?

@aquapt

Another RIT major that combines STEM with business, and has fantastic employment prospects, is Packaging Science Packaging Science BS | RIT This is a STEM-OPT eligible major that tends to be very project-based and interesting, despite many people’s initial, “What, you want me to major it, like, boxes?” reaction. Employment rates and salaries are sky high. The curriculum requires chemistry, physics, higher math, and materials science, but not a super-intense amount of any one of those subjects. You’ll note that there are elective options that tie into the supply chain field, which makes sense since packaging is an element of that ecosystem. Packaging Science is a major that often isn’t on radar for high school students, and thus it can be a way into schools that you might not be able to get into for engineering, like Cal Poly SLO for example (comparable to the UC schools you are considering, in reputation, but less outrageously expensive for non-CA residents - gorgeous location too), and also San Jose State (just a few miles from Santa Clara U, in Silicon Valley).

This sounds like a great opportunity too! I will do more research on these majors and schools!

@aquapt

I cannot fathom saying, “Physics really isn’t my thing, but I might major in Nuclear Engineering because it’s “niche” and probably easier to get into.” I’m hard pressed to imagine an engineering field more physics-based than Nuclear. It also ties your geographical options to specific locations that might not be where you want to end up. I don’t see Nuclear as a good plan at all, based on what you’ve said.

Loll thanks for giving the heads up! I probably would have suffered a lot based on what you said!

@aquapt

Materials, otoh, is a good, versatile field… but still a lot of chem and physics.

I do know some friends in this field so I will do more research on it! I do see a lot of potential in this field too so that is why I was considering it!

@aquapt

Environmental Engineering tends to be a sub-field of Civil Engineering, which means studying a lot of structures/mechanics/physics type stuff - quite different from environmental science.

I do like to analyze environmental problems, yet for environmental science seems more focused on analyzing instead of solving. I was wondering if there is any major that does both analyzing and solving?

@aquapt

For something with great international applications, that’s very environmental-adjacent, you might want to consider something like this BS BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (BRAE) - BioResource & Agricultural Engineering Department - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo or this Agricultural Engineering Concentration | Agricultural & Biological Engineering | UIUC or this Agricultural Engineering - Agricultural & Biological Engineering - Purdue University

I don’t think I am interested in this field but thank you for mentioning it!

@aquapt

Then, as others have said, there are the more math-y options like Statistics and Data Analytics.

These two sounded like something I would be interested in, until I saw the computer programming part really didn’t enjoy my time in CSA loll.
However, I also found some joint programs of economics with statistics that are very intriguing, so I would look more into it.

@aquapt

An environmental-adjacent option in that vein would be the GIS-related majors. This is a very interesting example at USC: B.S. in Global Geodesign - USC Spatial Sciences Institute

This seems a bit far from what I imagine studying, so I would give it a pass too. Thank you for mentioning it though!

[theheadphonesgirl]

@thumper1

Re: Abet accreditation…this sets a minimum standard for programs in engineering and you would be wise to choose an ABET accredited program.

Thank you for your suggestions! I will give Santa Clara a second thought!

[theheadphonesgirl]

@MYOS1634

History, in the US, may serve as a pre-law major. Can be combined with another major.
Obviously your parents may not want you to have a law degree but the path could be Top university or LAC => Top14 Law School => return to country.

This does sound like a possibility too! I will talk to my parents about it!

@MYOS1634

Your fluency in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese may be helpful in IR, especially with a focus on Asia. How does one become a diplomat in your country -is that tied to specific cultural or political circles or can a prestigious degree help you “get into” that circle?

This was a path I was considering too, but because I’m from Taiwan, which is in a very awkward international situation, I am not very positive that being a diplomat is a feasible choice. I do know that specific political circles exist here too, so a prestigious degree could help, but not much.

@MYOS1634

Wondering if you might enjoy this major:

https://soda.la.psu.edu/

(An example, probably exists elsewhere under different titles. Use that as an example and, if it sounds interesting, ask your college counselor.)

I looked into it but seems like there is a lot of computer science involved. As mentioned above, I am not very good with cs

@MYOS1634

Bc your school’s curriculum is not recognized by the UC gpa calculator and they don’t use test scores, I think UCs would be a big mismatch for your profile.
Based on the GPA indications above, your real odds are UCSC and UCR, with UCD a reach.

Thank you for this information! I will keep my hopes down for the UCs!

[theheadphonesgirl]

@thumper1

I’m a bit confused. Have you taken up to at least level three of a foreign language in High School?

No, but I have learned Korean and Japanese since I was little. I did take the Japanese language proficiency test (N3) but not for Korean. Chinese is my primary language.

[theheadphonesgirl]

@MYOS1634

Op is fluent in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, so presumably one is a native language and 2 were learned - however that may have taken place before 9th grade and/or not appear on the transcript

Yes this is exactly the situation!

@MYOS1634

An AP score in the non native language would likely meet basic entrance requirements,

I didn’t take any language AP exam, so that is a bit of a problem

@MYOS1634

especially if OP has 2 years of French and ESL on their transcript for the most stringent universities.

I am not sure what does this mean, but there is “english support” and “writing support” on my transcript for freshman and sophmore year.

@MYOS1634

OP cited History as a subject they enjoy but their parents seem to object so I was pointing out how the major can be “used” toward professional studies or parlayed toward a job different from “historian”.

Thank you for the input!

[MYOS1634]

@theheadphonesgirl

I did take the Japanese language proficiency test (N3)

Contact the colleges on your list and explain that your native language is Chinese, you learned Japanese and even took the proficiency test for internationals (N3). You’re currently studying in the US and had 2 years of ESL support so have not taken further FL . Would the N3 result suffice to determine foreign language proficiency or should you take 2 years of another foreign language?

I’m guessing the N3 would be considered FL proficiency for college entrance purpose.

[thumper1]

@MYOS1634

I’m guessing the N3 would be considered FL proficiency for college entrance purpose.

But you absolutely need to ask!