{"id":17187,"date":"2017-01-31T11:20:47","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T17:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/?p=17187"},"modified":"2017-02-01T11:20:31","modified_gmt":"2017-02-01T17:20:31","slug":"stem-vs-arts-majors-questions-for-the-class-of-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/2017\/01\/31\/stem-vs-arts-majors-questions-for-the-class-of-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"STEM vs. Arts Majors: Questions for the Class of 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

IMSA is a STEM school for gifted students. After spending three years at an institution which fosters ability in math and science, it\u2019s safe to assume that students are more likely to pursue a STEM major than arts. Yet, seniors are still pursuing majors in humanities and fine arts, while others pursue STEM, and a few do both. <\/span><\/p>\n

Should I pursue history or biology? Is that a difficult question to ask? Keep in mind, STEM-related programs include engineering, computer science, and medical studies, while the arts encompass majors such as anthropology, visual and performing arts, and foreign languages. <\/span><\/p>\n

As college acceptance dates approach and post-IMSA destinies grow more conspicuous, I decided to work toward the source of the STEM and arts binary by asking students from the class of 2017 a few questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

What major are you interested in? <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cBiology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMusic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComputer science and anthropology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnthropology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPsychology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPsychology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComputer engineering.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJournalism, and leaning toward computer science.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What brought you to your major, or what sparked your interest in the field?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was maybe 7 or 8, my parents got me a microscope, not too fancy or too [trashy] — I was <\/span>extremely <\/span><\/i>obsessed; I learned how to make slides, I studied grass and leaves, and I took bio at community colleges before IMSA. Botany was my [jam], and still is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMusic has been part of my life since I was a child. I want kids to have a strong foundation not only in music, but also in learning. I want to give back; I’m interested in majoring in music education with a special in elementary education.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComputer science was the first \u2018science\u2019 that stuck with me. I\u2019ve been interested in biology and physics before, but I feel like I could actually do computer science even though I\u2019m not the best at it \u2026 The \u2018and anthropology\u2019 was something offered at UIUC which I applied to because I enjoy learning with some sort of ground in humanities. People are my [jam], I\u2019m into it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was originally unsure, and I was going to apply undeclared. But I realized somewhere down the line that I would rather do a BA than a BS. I don\u2019t want to do math and science classes all the time. So I decided on anthropology; I like writing essays and learning about people and places. It seemed right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What compelled you to pursue STEM rather than arts, or arts rather than STEM?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cSTEM is more solid, as far as I have heard. Still, anything goes when it comes to the battlefield that is the workplace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have known all my life that medicine is my ideal profession, and it happens to fall into the field of STEM, rather than a choice I made consciously.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not good at writing or music stuff. I kind of know piano and like playing it, but I know I like math and physics, and I can get a job there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve realized you need a basic understanding of both; artists need to know why STEM is important, and if you\u2019re in STEM you gotta know why art is important. They aren\u2019t totally separate; it\u2019s not black and white, it\u2019s grey \u2026 we\u2019re in a grey world. I see the beauty in STEM and how physics works \u2026 Well, I initially came to IMSA thinking I was smart at math and science, but I started leaning more towards humanities. To be able to write really compelling pieces that leave an impression \u2026 I want to do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you think high school has prepared you for your major of choice? (Why or why not?)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIMSA has shaped my perception of what it means to study biology. Through my SIRs at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I learned what it meant to be a researcher and those SIRs definitely influenced my choice of major. Also, IMSA has allowed me to take classes relating directly to my major which has further prepared me for college level courses in my major.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn some ways my school has prepared me, but music Ed. is very independent. I\u2019ve relied on myself more often than on instructors, but I\u2019m always open to learning and experiencing more in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I\u2019ve been taking classes that correspond, but I think I\u2019ve prepared myself more, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProbably not. But that\u2019s okay, I guess my \u2018passion\u2019 will carry me in college.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot really. But that hasn\u2019t stopped me from taking IMSA courses tangential to the major I like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I would say so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess. I didn’t really learn anything specific to computer engineering, but I was able to take classes in math, physics, and computer science. The classes I\u2019ve taken will probably help me when I am pursuing my major in college, though … I like computers and we have lots of computers here. You know, maybe probably.<\/span>\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI think so. IMSA has a surprisingly good humanities program and the whole experience gives you a lot to think about in terms of how you view the world \u2026 and at the same time, you need a good STEM education because the more you understand about how the world works, the more intelligent you become, and that’s helpful in any major really.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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