Does the teenage job really matter? (for STEM)

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I'd like to pursue a STEM field (leaning towards EE as of now) and I'm trying to get out of my menial retail job which I have had for 4 years. I will also begin attending community college this summer with the intention of transferring after a year. </p>

<p>That said, does my job now have much of an effect on my admissions chances? I'm desperately trying to convey how passionate I am about math & science but I can't find a way to translate that passion in the workplace. </p>

<p>Suggestions?</p>

2

<p>weekly bump :/</p>

3

<p>The ability to hold a steady job, even if it’s not the most desirable type, is actually a good sign. It shows you can work at something even if it’s not your favorite thing in the world.</p>

<p>It might be worthwhile to try and pick up some sort of sci/tech thing to do as a hobby if you want to write about something.</p>

4

<p>Thanks Racin! That’s the answer I was looking for. I feel a bit more reassured, and I can always pursue STEM-related employment once I’m actually in college.</p>

5

<p>That being said, doing research (as an intern) in a lab at a nearby university would be considerably more impressive (since it is more high-level intellectually).</p>

<p>And if you want to maximize your transfer chances, this would be a good bet, since it shows your academic potential (not just your labor potential).</p>

6

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<p>The thing is, not every student has that sort of opportunity. Yes, if you’re attending an expensive prep school and come from a wealthy family this might be expected. However, if you’re in a town without a school nearby and/or need to hold down a job in order to be able to pay for things (or save up some spending cash for college) things will be viewed differently. It’s similar to how keeping a steady job for a few years in HS is like being on a sports team or active in a couple of EC clubs.</p>

7

<p>The thing is, I would argue that while admissions officers may recognize that the low-income student needs to work a job that pays money, they will still prefer the student who has extensive laboratory research experience, versus the person with extensive… retail experience.</p>

<p>Also consider that research has more upside (more potential), because if you are intelligent enough (not necessarily a given) you may end up as a co-author of a paper, which is going to make your application extremely impressive.</p>