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Name: Stephen Smith Age: 22 College / University: The University of Texas at Austin Major: Architectural Engineering Country origin: United States What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. High school for me was spent focusing on two things—math classes and marching band. I was fortunate enough to be placed in an accelerated math program, which led to me taking differential equations and linear algebra in my senior year. My teachers were exceptional and laid a strong foundation for how I understood the material moving forward. In the marching band, I eventually became a captain of the drumline. While not directly related to the STEM field I'm in, I believe having some form of creative outlet is crucial for maintaining strong problem-solving skills. Really, that's what engineering is at its heart—the study of problem-solving. Training yourself to think in other disciplines helps you gain perspective, which is critical later in life. Additionally, it taught me how to work in a team, another important skill for an engineer. In the construction industry, you will never work alone after leaving school. As a result, learning how to integrate into a team was very helpful. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. It varies quite a bit. On some days, I'm here until quite late, working on one of several design projects—either for class or competition—and on others, I'm done by 11 a.m. Generally, the workload is very manageable. It’s nice that most of the work I have now is project-based, which allows for more self-paced or group-paced deadlines. Compared to other majors, I would consider myself to have fewer labs. I usually have 3–4 lecture classes and 0–1 design studio(s) per semester. When I'm not in class, I'm usually found working either in our org ( Architectural Engineering Institute ) office or running around doing errands for the org. I'm very involved with my department by choice and have been fortunate enough to receive invites to guest lectures and banquets with industry professionals and academics. In the evening, I usually return home to cook dinner for myself and pursue other hobbies. Currently, I'm learning to play bass guitar and build foot pedals to augment the sound. The work-life balance in architectural engineering is quite good—something I'm grateful for. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Being a college student is about two things: learning as much as you can about the world and as much as you can about yourself. The first is pretty self-explanatory, but the second has a bit more nuance. I used to be very concerned about appearing dumb or screwing up in front of my peers. Learning about yourself requires taking risks and accepting rejection or failure as part of the process. Over time, I've come to realize that this is the lowest-stakes part of adulthood. I don't have a long-term commitment to any single place, person, or organization. If I make a mistake or screw up royally, there is no longstanding consequence (for the most part, at least). Coming to terms with this has led me to be much more laid-back in my approach to things and accept that what happens, happens. Of course, this shouldn't be conflated with apathy. I do care about the outcome of what I put effort into, and I still feel that my work is a reflection of my ability. However, if my best is not enough or misses the mark, I can take it as a learning opportunity instead of wallowing in failure. Taking things in stride and rolling with the punches is a great skill to develop in college and has greatly helped mitigate my stress. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? It's really a lot of fun. A big part of getting good at ArchE is developing your intuition—honing that gut feeling for where you should start investigating a project. The calculation component of our work isn't the most intense, but it does require a strong foundation in calculus. This is a truly practical form of engineering. It's not the most glorified, and it isn't the most prestigious, but at the end of the day, when you go home, you can point to specific instances where you made people's lives better. The feeling of gratification is worth it. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? I had a lot of people read my entrance essay. It told a story about how I was able to adapt to new situations while maintaining my identity. Don't overlook that component, especially as an out-of-state student. Additionally, I tested well on the ACT. Sit for it a few times, work on the practice exams, and take a deep breath. It's possible to get in with the effort you put in. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Structure Magazine  – Articles about new structures being built around the world. Modern Steel Construction  – The steel magazine from AISC, the American Institute of Steel Construction. These are the two I generally try to keep up with. Additionally, ArchDaily  is great for staying updated on interesting buildings in general, though it focuses more on architecture than the structural engineering I care about. Interested in learning more? Stephen Smith is happy to answer your questions at 📩 stephen.smith [at] utexas [dot] edu Thank you to Stephen Smith! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Pari Raghunarayan Age: 20 College / University: University of Texas at Austin Major: Physics Country origin: United States What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I worked with a dark matter research group at Columbia University to learn computational skills and create simulations for proving theoretical models. I interned with a defense company, working on optical systems for aerospace and aircraft use. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. I like balance! I spend my mornings working out and setting my intentions for the day. Late mornings to afternoons are dedicated to classes and research commitments, which can sometimes extend into the evenings, depending on homework assignments and lab experiments. I usually spend my evenings with friends and like to wrap up the day by playing sports or reviewing work (only if necessary). How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Time management and to-do lists are essential. Organization and avoiding procrastination are key-but it's easier said than done. I like to split my tasks and make lists. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Don't let physics intimidate you! The field has a reputation for being difficult, but if you make friends, learn to collaborate, and tackle issues head-on, it can be wonderful. Most people experience imposter syndrome in their careers, so don't let that discourage you. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Demonstrating that you have experience and passion beyond the academic curriculum. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Follow my org:  https://sites.utexas.edu/sps/   Thank you to Pari Raghunarayan! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Eric Age: 19 College / University: The University of New South Wales Major: Computer Science / Statistics Country origin: China What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I did English, Maths Extension 2 (highest level), Chemistry, and Physics. I was the DUX of my school (highest ATAR) and also got a piano AMusA diploma. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. I wake up, go to uni, do my classes, study in the free time, go to gym in the evening, and sometimes go out drinking with friends at night. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Hanging out with friends and hobbies like basketball and reading. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Make sure to have a passion for solving problems and having logical thinking. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Honestly, just studying for a high ATAR. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Neetcode.io Thank you to Eric! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Aaron Tian Age: 20 College / University: The University of New South Wales Major: Computer Science Country origin: Australia "UNSW Quadrangle" by Sidneiensis is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I did some Python coding and participated in robotics competitions. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. I wake up, go to uni or study at home, eat, play games, and then sleep. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? I manage stress by chilling with friends. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Practise a lot of coding beforehand. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Maths knowledge and having an interest in the field really helped. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Instagram: csesoc_unsw Thank you to Aaron Tian! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Lisa Lin Age: 19 College / University: The University of New South Wales Major: Computer Science / Economics Country origin: Australia What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. During my final two years of high school, preparing for the HSC, I chose to study economics. Honestly, at the time, I disliked it as it was content-heavy and very nuanced. But in retrospect, I enjoyed how the subject was a labour of love and the satisfaction I received from understanding the topic as well as the world around us on a more macro level. In terms of computer science, I did little to prepare and, during the summer before the course, looked up free computer courses online to complete to feel more prepared. However, I never ended up completing any of these online courses before the commencement of university. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. I don't believe my daily schedule is particularly different from any other university student. Typically, my schedule revolves around Wednesday with economics tutorials (where the lecture material is reviewed and weekly problems are solved in depth) in the mornings and computer science tutorials and labs (a session to complete weekly problems and mark them off) in the afternoon. The majority of my work is completed on weekends and centred around a lot of late nights due to unfortunate procrastination. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? I don't believe there is a particular secret to managing all the stress, honestly. I think the mentality is to take it one step at a time and acknowledge your small achievements. In a quickly growing space such as technology, it is easy to get overwhelmed and lost in comparing yourself to your peers and other high achievers. However, I've learnt the hard way that this more often stunts your growth and progress rather than fosters it. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Be consistent and diligent. I think the most important part of being a computer science student / major is the consistent willingness to learn and apply yourself. As with the continually evolving technological industry, you need to stay up to date and keep moving forward in terms of your skills and progress. :) What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Unfortunately, I did not have any extracurricular activities relevant to computer science in high school, nor were there any particular requirements needed from my university. Thank you to Lisa Lin! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Emma Age: 19 College / University: The University of New South Wales Major: Computer Science Country origin: Australia "Evening Glow" by Linh Rom is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I didn't really do anything in high school as there weren't many opportunities. USYD and UNSW often had programs for high school students, so I would attend those. I also did Software Design and Development in high school as a subject! Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. Hmm, it's really just work-study-sleep, repeat-I can't lie. It's not much different from high school, and I often find myself at university for long periods (like the whole day from 9 a.m. to like 7 p.m., though a lot of it is eating and 'studying' with friends). How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Good supporting friends! Everyone at university is really supportive, and finding your own group of people who do your degree, understand the same pain and stress, and work through it together is key to managing it all. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Enjoy high school! University is very different from high school, but you're young and should enjoy your high school life instead of dwelling too much on degrees and majors. Computer science is a hard degree and discipline, but you can do it! Slow and steady wins the race. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Making sure you actually enjoy the major or degree by trying some projects and learning some content prior to enrolling is important. Extracurricular activities were really helpful for me personally. Thank you to Emma! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: April Age: 20 College / University: The University of Texas at Austin Major: Astronomy Country origin: Argentina UT Austin. UT Austin Facebook Cover Photo.  18 August 2014, Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/utaustin/14767404468/ . What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I went to a private high school in Dubai, UAE-did not have many extracurriculars or activities available. I contacted astronomers and video-called them to discuss studies, career paths, etc. I also took AP Capstone research and wrote a paper. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. Class, club activities such as meetings and outreach / volunteering, and studying with friends. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? There is no secret :] I see a therapist weekly and try to make time for hobbies I enjoy, such as tennis, drawing, and reading fun books. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? If you choose it, be sure it’s a decision that lends itself to intrinsic motivation and not external pressure or expectations. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Taking college-level physics. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? @utexasastronomy on instagram Thank you to April! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Orion Vasquez Age: 18 College / University: The University of Texas at Austin Major: Astronomy / Astrophysics Country origin: Mexico What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I didn't realize I wanted to study astronomy until application deadlines were due. Originally, I was going to apply to become a business student and study supervisory business management, helping my family by taking over the business as I got older. My mother sat me down and told me, if I dedicated my life to my family, then what would I have left for myself? My high school life had already been dedicated to business; I joined FBLA and received an endorsement for Business Management and Accounting, but that was all for naught as I decided to pursue STEM to pave the way for other Latinas to choose STEM. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. My daily life (as a freshman) usually consists of going to classes, going to work, coming back to help with the org (the astronomy students association ), and doing homework/research for my classes. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? I manage stress by going for walks to somewhere quiet and pretty. In nature, I feel relaxed, and it helps me get into a state of mind where my duties are a million miles away—it's just me and nature, breathing. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Pursue whatever you aspire to do, no matter what anyone tells you—like that astronomy is 'useless' in the long run or anything else. You have a place in the field to mold it to your desires. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? If you can take upper-division STEM courses (like honors or AP), take them! If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? I love skyandtelescope.org ; I use it to stay updated on astro news and events. Thank you to Orion Vasquez! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: J Age: 19 College / University: The University of Sydney Major: Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Advanced Studies Country origin: Japan What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. None needed such extracurricular activities and any honors/awards when I was applying to my university. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? I'll give you two possible solutions that worked for me. When I was overwhelmed, I believed that it would be solved soon and be positive about this situation. And, if you are stressed by overthinking, write it down on paper because this will clear up what you have in your mind. But, if you think what you are struggling with is out of your hands, talk to someone who you can trust, knows you very well and can give you the right direction. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Research a lot before deciding which university/major you are going to, such as what program they offer or support that they are providing. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? Nothing but English skills. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? I can not say that this is completely related to my major but this will be helpful to know about the social issues. https://www.instagram.com/bbcnews?igsh=MXVkZ2JobGZxaHFmaQ== Thank you to J! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Shivam Age: 26 College / University: Kyushu University Major: Materials Science Country origin: India 新幹線, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. To prepare for the major, I studied physics, chemistry and mathematics in high school. For extracurricular activities I used to take part in quiz competitions (related to general knowledge, current affairs and economic). I have won some of the quiz competition and have also participated in NSE Financial Quest (prestigious national level quiz in India that was also broadcasted in television). Please tell us your daily life schedule as a students with this major in your university. For this major, I tried to finish my coursework in my initial semesters so that I can focus more on my research. Classes have schedule but research do not have any schedule it depends on your own interest. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? To manage stress, I talk a lot with my parents, brother and friends. I also take participate in dances to do something different from my major. If a person does their work consistently and sincerely then there is no stress. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Focus on your subject especially in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Study so much that the concepts are very clear at the high school level. As in university you may need to apply any of the concept. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? High school grades If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? For university level I follow (NPTEL https://nptel.ac.in/ ) And at high school level I used to follow (Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/ ) Thank you to Shivam! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Randima De Silva Age: 32 College / University: Kyushu University Major: Urban Systems Country origin: Sri Lanka What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I was good at creative things, and I did computer graphics. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a students with this major in your university. Go to university, work at the lab, talk to the sensei about my research . Sensei - Teacher in Japanese How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? I discuss stressful things with my teacher. He helps me figure them out. I also hang out with friends. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? I started as an architect, so you should follow and discover the works of great architects. There are so many amazing architects in Japan. You can read about them and go see their work. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? As a graduate student, the ability to think outside the box was the most important skill. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Designboom ( https://www.designboom.com/ ), Archdaily ( https://www.archdaily.com/ ), desigual Thank you to Randima De Silva! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Parth Age: 21 College / University: Carnegie Mellon University Major: Mechanical Engineering Country origin: USA What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I was part of many clubs and initiatives throughout high school, admittedly mostly no centred on mechanical engineering. I was into sports a lot and programs to help the local community, but probably the biggest thing I did towards engineering was a research internship with NASA in my sophomore year. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Different things work for different people, for me what I've found works best is journaling when I get overwhelmed. It definitely helps to write out your thoughts when a lot of things are happening and taking a step back to look at the bigger picture. Everything passes! What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? Get as much hands-on experience you can! Learning hands-on thing is integral to mechanical engineering - I'd also recommend talking to as many people as possible to figure out what specifically interests you about mechanical engineering. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? I think science olympiads/competitions definitely help your chances, but the most important thing is work experience - research, projects etc. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Check out 'Everyday Astronaut' on Youtube! Feel free to reach out to me @ parthb@andrew.cmu.edu for any questions! Thank you to Parth! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem