Strengthening the Value of Out-of-School STEM in College Admission
We are reinventing the relationship between STEM PUSH pre-college STEM programs and college admissions to improve college-going and persistence in STEM
STEM PUSH Pre-College STEM Programs Bring Quality
STEM PUSH Network programs are out-of-school time intensive programs that are equity focused and free for qualifying students. Pre-college STEM Programs (PCSPs) positively affect students’ analytical and critical thinking skills, STEM content knowledge and exposure, and self-efficacy through STEM-focused enrichment and research experiences (learn more).
Pre-college STEM Programs (PCSPs) have been shown to positively affect students’ analytical and critical thinking skills, STEM content knowledge and exposure, and self-efficacy through STEM-focused enrichment and research experiences.
Additional research suggests that PCSP experiences are key influencers in students’ pursuit of STEM majors and careers.
Given this, and the high enrollment of students from underrepresented groups in PCSPs, STEM PUSH is working to leverage PCSPs in admissions decisions to maximize college access and career outcomes.
Our goal is to have the value of STEM PUSH PCSPs elevated in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) admissions considerations and decisions.
Our Network has documented that there are highly qualified STEM students who are not recognized in the admissions process at all institutions. Many of our students don’t know that their STEM experience is valued and desired by various institutions when they begin to apply to college — please help us show them that you're interested and looking.
Systematically flagging STEM PUSH PCSP students for holistic review of their applications
Offering fee waivers
Offering scholarships
Building pathways to award credit for prior learning in STEM PUSH PCSPs
How Our Programs Are Impacting Students:
To do this, we are pursuing the following efforts:
Working with our Admissions Advisory Council and 40+ pre-college STEM programs, we are aligning STEM program strengths and IHE admissions priorities including engaging with quality STEM content and skills, tracking program outcomes over time, and communicating programs’ equity-focused instructional strategies.
STEM PUSH is fostering place-based connections between programs and nearby institutions of higher education
STEM PUSH is building partnerships with equity-focused admissions organizations to share resources and advocate for change
All STEM PUSH Network programs are aligning to our quality standards. These include a stated goal of expanding pathways in STEM, recruiting youth who can benefit from out-of-school programming, engaging in intensive and meaningful STEM experiences, proactively identifying and addressing youth’s barriers to success, demonstrating meaningful student growth, and supporting college-going pathways.
Built around these quality standards, STEM PUSH has partnered with Middle States Association to build a “next-generation accreditation system” that recognizes program quality and centers broadening access and participation in STEM.
Recognize pre-college STEM programs as educational experiences in students’ college applications.
Track STEM PUSH pre-college STEM program students through their application process to better understand their admissions and persistence experience within a particular higher-ed institution.
Reinvent and research the role for pre-college STEM program experiences to be leveraged in admissions strategies within the radically changing admissions landscape.
STEM PUSH is conducting the first-ever, large, cross-program, NSF-funded research study of the impact of pre-college STEM programs on student matriculation and persistence in STEM post-secondary education. Read more here.
Our goal is to study the effects of this work over time.
