title: Students who demonstrate strong talent and interest in STEM are initially attracted to STEM through extracurricular experiences.
abstract: What early experiences attract students to pursue an education and career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)? Does hands-on research influence them to persevere and complete a major course of academic study in STEM? We evaluated survey responses from 149 high school and undergraduate students who gained hands-on research experience in the 2007-2013 Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Programs (ASSIP) at George Mason University. Participants demonstrated their strong interest in STEM by volunteering to participate in ASSIP and completing 300 h of summer research. The survey queried extracurricular experiences, classroom factors, and hands-on projects that first cultivated students' interest in the STEM fields, and separately evaluated experiences that sustained their interest in pursuing a STEM degree. The majority of students (65.5%, p < 0.0001) reported extracurricular encounters, such as the influence of a relative or family member and childhood experiences, as the most significant factors that initially ignited their interest in STEM, while hands-on lab work was stated as sustaining their interest in STEM (92.6%). Based on these findings collected from a cohort of students who demonstrated a strong talent and interest in STEM, community-based programs that create awareness about STEM for both children and their family members may be key components for igniting long-term academic interest in STEM.
authors.affiliation: *Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110 avanmete@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: VanMeter-Adams
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
authors.forename: Cara L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Frankenfeld
authors.affiliation: *Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bases
authors.affiliation: *Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Espina
authors.affiliation: *Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110.
authors.forename: Lance A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Liotta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D004738:Engineering / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics / Q000193:education*; D017145:Models, Educational; D009042:Motivation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult