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Recent Posts…
Demystifying the E in STEM
Our new guide to engineering majors helps you understand the similarities and differences between them and how to choose among different engineering majors and college ...Mathematics: pure vs. applied math
Can you be in STEM without math? Math is the foundation of all STEM education. There – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. But ...Technology and High Tech
Technology can refer to both the tools we use, and the skills and knowledge used to create them; because of that duality, it is possible ...Finding a STEM college
An easy icebreaker when talking about STEM college education is to ask “What are the best colleges for ____ majors?” The key to answering that ...Chemical Engineering – Isn’t That Just Chemistry?
So, you took freshman chemistry. Then organic chemistry. And AP chemistry. Along the way you discovered you really enjoy being in the lab, weighing and ...Critical Thinking Skills for STEM Majors (and Careers)
When I hear students discussing college admissions for liberal arts degrees, and what they would learn, I often hear the term ‘critical thinking skills’. Well, ...What is engineering?
When I hear a parent talk about their student going into engineering, my first question is ‘what branch of engineering interests them?’ which often results ...Need Help Organizing?
Need Help Organizing?Which Early Admission Program Is The Right One?
Colleges use all sorts of early admission schemes that will dictate when you submit your application and when you receive your decision. Consider these early ...7 Ways to Show Colleges the Love
When it comes to the college admissions process, it’s important to demonstrate your interest to specific colleges on your list. With so many kids applying ...
Outside Scholarships – what you need to know.
Frustrated trying to find outside scholarship money? What you need to know when searching for outside scholarships: Parents and students are often asking how and where to search for outside scholarships. Spring and Summer are the time that juniors should be searching...
Admission Strategy #3: 5 Things You Did Not Know to Ask During Your College Visit
Admissions Strategy #3: 5 Things You Did Not Know to Ask During Your College Visit You probably already know the basics of what to ask when you are visiting prospective colleges—majors offered, costs, how many students attend, etc. But there are a lot of questions you...
Pivoting to College Admissions: Follow Susan’s Journey
Pivot delivers action. A shift in perspective. Pivoting means, I embrace new ideas, take risk, and am willing to explore opportunities that I might have never considered before. This has been my mindset for as long as I remember. I use this strategy as I guide...
Hit The Road
Visiting a college campus becomes an essential way for you to evaluate if a college is the right fit for you. Campus visits can identify colleges that seem great on paper but may have the wrong campus vibe; alternatively, one that seems uninteresting on the website...
Turning STEM into STEAM
A Case for the Arts in STEM Education Art and Technology: A Necessary Combination. The education field is crowded with writers and educators asking for the inclusion of the arts in STEM education, with voices as diverse as Senator Kamala Harris and former Cisco...
STEM Education at US Service Academies – volume one: US Military Academy at West Point
The United States Military Academy -- West Point -- is a four-year college dedicated to training officers in the US Army. You can read more about STEM careers in the military - including the Army - in our post on the general subject. Today, we will take a deep dive...
How did the modern electric grid come to be?
Whenever The Stemwinder has some free time, the best use of that time is to read. When it is time for futuristic out of the box thinking, science fiction is the genre of choice. Whether old-school Isaac Asimov, or contemporaries like William Gibson and Neil...
Managing Expectations During The Final College Countdown
Let’s talk expectations. They may not be the first things that come to mind when you think college, but they have a lot to do with the stress and anxiety that surrounds this time of year for high school seniors. That may be because everywhere you go you’re getting...
College Admissions Timeline
We all know that the college admissions process is complicated and deadline driven. With enough moving parts to make your head spin, students and parents are often stressed and anxious about completing each step on time. When do I take the SAT’s? When do I apply for...
7 Girls Running Our World This #WomensDay
You probably woke up to a million posts about International Women’s Day on your Facebook and Instagram feeds this morning. Great, but you know what? Women should be celebrated everyday, not just today. Every hour of every day, women are doing amazing things. And now...