My 2022 daughter is interested in STEM/STEAM but doesn’t really know more beyond that. So far, she has been intrigued by U of Richmond and Harvey Mudd because they both have programs designed to help students obtain a broad introduction to science fields in the first year (Richmond’s SMART course and Harvey Mudd’s core). Are there other colleges/universities with programs for students like this?
We’ve been on a few college tours this summer, and there has been exactly one other student who has said that they were undecided on their major. I know that she could go to any college and start with a bio or chem class, but I think she’s looking for a place that has more of a plan for students like her.
She’s not interested in a small school (Harvey Mudd is an exception since it’s part of the Claremont Consortium). She’s also unenthusiastic about being in a huge introductory science lectures.
I’m hoping that some of you will have suggestions!
MIT and Caltech are obvious colleges with a large science core curriculum, but may not suit all students, and very difficult to get admitted to.
Note that introductory level science courses are often large relative to others at the same college, so finding a large college where these classes are small (especially if they are a required for all) may be hard.
UWisconsin has Biocore but I’m not sure that’s what she’s interested in.
St Olaf has the Science Conversation and “Chubbi”, the former an integrated examination of science through different academic perspectives, the latter integrated courses in chemistry and biology.
RPI has a STEM core curriculum in their School of Science, which sounds like something you might be looking for. They also have a core curriculum in their School of Engineering.
RPI has set a goal to balance its gender ratio by 2030, so your daughter will probably have advantages there both in admissions and for merit scholarships.
You might also look into the AEMES program at Smith College.
There’s something similar at Wesleyan, involving a regular STEM major and what they call a “linked major” that offers a broader core of survey courses under the rubric of the College of Integrative Sciences (CIS). It is suggested that a few of the prerequisites be pursued during first-year: Pathways to the Linked Major, College of Integrative Sciences - Wesleyan University
Wesleyan has also been very proactive in supporting women majoring in science. The Women in Science student group is very active and includes faculty members. It provides both peer and faculty assistance to students in planning and course selection decisions as well as in other areas
Not quite your question but maybe helpful? We recently learned that the American U physics, chemistry, and biology departments have at least a 50/50 ratio of female-male faculty (unusual in the sciences.) We talked at length to a bio professor from American and she talked about how welcoming her department was to students in general and female students in particular.