Are you in awe of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie’s work in radioactivity? Do you aspire to be like the incredible women that the Hidden Figures movie is based on, who made a huge contribution to science and mathematics? If so, a STEM career may be perfect for you.
The mere mention of finding a career in a science, technology, engineering, or math field can be overwhelming. A career in one of the STEM fields sounds great, but even if you have an idea of which field you want to enter into, it can be daunting to consider all of the career possibilities. That’s where a mentor could prove extremely helpful.
The Purpose of a Mentor
Imagine if you were able to talk to someone who has already gone through everything that you’re experiencing and has found a great career that they love. Actually, you don’t have to imagine it—you can do it! Through STEM mentoring programs you can get paired up with someone who has already walked the path that you are just starting on, and they can guide you through the difficult choices.
A STEM mentoring experience can be especially helpful for women. While women now collectively earn more bachelor’s degrees than men, the number of women graduating from some STEM programs (like computer science and engineering) is still lagging far behind. You may have questions about entering into a more male-dominated profession, which is something a mentor could definitely help you out with.
How it Works
The process of being paired with a mentor differs slightly from program to program, but the general idea is this: based on your background, interests, and educational level, you will be matched with a mentor who has a similar background and interests and you go from there. You may meet weekly, monthly, or as needed as you navigate through the ups and downs of your school year. There are also various options to meet with a mentor online or in person, based on your preference.
Find a Program
If finding a STEM mentor sounds perfect for you, check out these programs to get started:
- Million Women Mentors – This is probably the best place to start your mentor search. The MWM site reaches over 30 million women, and there are sure to be some great program options for you. Start your mentor search by entering your location in the Find a Mentoring Opportunity
- MentorNet – This is an online mentoring program where you sign up with a profile and are then presented with several mentors based on your background. Once you select a mentor, you meet weekly for four months through video chat, phone calls, instant messaging, or texting.
- FabFems – Through the FabFems project, you can search for women in STEM careers that live near you and set up a meeting with them. Ask them about their experiences in STEM, how they got to where they are, and share any questions or concerns you have about your career path.
Not sure if you see the right fit for you? Check out these lists of even more mentoring programs from the National Girls Collaborative Project and use the interactive state map at Million Women Mentors to see more options. There’s bound to be a great mentor out there that you can connect with who can get you excited about pursuing your STEM career!