9 Tips for Pursuing a Science Degree

Hey Everyone, it has been a month or so since I wrote two blog post. I really need to be more active. Anyways today I want to give some tips on what to do if you want to pursue a STEM major in college. I am also pursuing a major in STEM so I learned some good tips during freshman year and this year. I’ll summarize the to do’s and the not do’s forgetting that STEM degree.

1. Do not pursue a science major or degree if you do not like it.

This should be the first question you ask yourself about anything you want to pursue because it will determine how hard and long you work to accomplish that goal. If you do not love something you will not do your best in it and you will not continue to pursue it. As everyone knows, STEM majors are time-consuming, hard, math, and science. Do I have to explain or go on? We all know during high school or middle school what was going on in our math and science classes. How we used to cry or get mad when we didn’t understand a new math concept and our parents would try to explain to us how to do it. When that would fail, it would lead to hours watching videos just to understand that one topic from class. Well be prepared if you are going to pursue a science major, You will be studying a lot to the point you will be dreaming about solving stoichiometry equations, derivatives, and identities and waking up the next morning and still failing the exam. So if you do not love the career path you are choosing I wouldn’t recommend pursuing a science major.

2. Don’t get the grade you want? Try Try Again.

Like I said earlier, most of the time in doing a Science major, you will be studying. I studied so much last Fall that I felt like I became antisocial, no friends, no time for joining social fraternities or organizations. So you get it you will be studying a lot five to ten hours couple days a week ( if you’re serious about that high GPA). So you will think ohhh me studying a lot I will get a 100% on the test. No for science majors, sometimes we put in the work and effort and we get a score that makes us seem like we did not just study as our lives depended on it. Try, Try, again, never give up. You fall once, get back up dust yourself and keep going.

3. Do not Overestimate Yourself

You’re probably changing your mind about choosing a science major after those last two points. I’m sorry it gets better I promise. This is a personal tip from me because I do it all the time. DO NOT OVERESTIMATE YOURSELF. What do I mean by this? Do not take six classes thinking you can handle it or do not take the hardest chemistry class and skip the easy chemistry classes because you think you can pass it. I’m not saying “think bad about yourself” I am saying be smart about your choices and look at the choices and all the factors of making that decision, and if those choices will lead to you getting that A.

4. Ignore Everyone: Finish Strong, not Fast. Usually, students try to graduate in four years or three years and that is great, but don’t try to finish in four years while doing badly in your classes. Sometimes we have to be turtles to win the race. Sometimes to graduate in four years, you have to go overboard with your classes and some people can go overboard with their classes and get high grades other people such as myself we fail. I usually do two hard classes and two easy classes or one hard class and three easy classes. Why? Because taking two hard classes are hard enough and it would be a nightmare if I had four science classes to study for.

5. Study partner become friends

There’s something about going to a review and being stressed out over a chemistry exam and several other people stressing out that makes people bond. Make sure you make friends when you are sitting in class. Ask people about their specific major, what are their goals and plans, even complaining about the class will make you socialize and start friends with people. These people will be your study partners and who doesn’t want to make new friends?

6. Always Check your mental health

I feel like us college students should always be aware of our mental health but STEM majors should be more aware of their mental health. All the studying, anxiety, and long hours of learning will have anyone in a rough state of mind. Especially if you been studying and aren’t getting the grades you want. Remember that you are enough and smart and nothing should discourage you from going after your dreams. Take time to focus on you, put the book down and go do something fun, never go overboard.

7. Ask for Advice and use college Resources

Always ask people who are older than you advise about a class and their opinion on the professor that taught the class. Was it easy? Was the professor nice? What did you do in the class to get a good grade? As a sophomore, I love sharing my past experiences to people who ask so don’t be shy to ask. Colleges also have free resources for hard classes whether it is free tutoring, workshops, advising and etc. Remember to look for them and use them especially if they are free.

8. No time for procrastination

I learn this the hard way. Choosing a science major means learning how to manage your time. Time management helps when you are working, interning, volunteering, joining clubs, studying, and going to class. Using your time wisely will be something you have to learn or you and your grades will suffer.

9. Hard Work Pays Off: That Check tho

If you love what science, math, helping people, and solving problems, this will be a bonus to you. Science degrees, STEM degrees, get paid a lot of money. Why? It’s a hard major to get and companies know it so the salaries are more, but like I said this should be a bonus to you. Pursuing a STEM major should be because you love it not because of the range of the salary.

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