Row of chairs with five counselors, ask the experts & CX logos, question mark

How Do I Evaluate the Quality of a Science Program Before Applying?

Thinking about majoring in a STEM field? Here's some expert advice on researching your academic programs of interest before applying for admission.


Thinking about majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field? Consider the following when researching your schools of interest to see if you’ll be getting the most out of your academic experience if you chose one of their programs to make your new educational home. 

  • Reputation of program or department: Is this school well known for your intended program? How long have they offered it? Is the program or college accredited by the appropriate agency? 
  • Faculty: Are professors active in the scientific community (conducting research, presenting at conferences, publishing their work, etc.)? Do they have the highest degrees in their fields? Are any classes taught by just teaching assistants?
  • Classes, labs, and coursework: What is the average class size for science lectures, labs, and other courses? Will you be able to dive into labs and major-specific coursework your first year, or will you have to wait for upper-level classes? Are any courses conducted out in the field? Are laboratories and equipment up to date?
  • Research, internship, and other opportunities: Does the school fund student research, and will you be able to work on your own or with faculty? Are there opportunities to present your findings or get published in academic journals? What internships are available in your field of interest? How often do internships lead to full-time jobs? What STEM-related extracurricular activities are there?
  • Graduate success: What are the graduation and career placement rates for students in your intended program? How many students are accepted to graduate or medical school? What grad schools do they attend, and where have they found jobs? Are there any notable alumni?

If you're not even sure the exact field you'd like to pursue in college, read our article A Helpful Guide to Choosing Your STEM Field and Major for advice on making the choice. 

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About CollegeXpress

CollegeXpress

Welcome to CollegeXpress, your one-stop college shop! We’re a free college planning website used by millions of college-bound students, parents, and counselors—anyone who needs help navigating the college search and application process, financial aid opportunities, and more. 

You’ll find comprehensive College Search and Scholarship Search tools, tons of articles and expert advice, unique college Lists & Rankings, and lots of other resources to help make your life easier. Teen Vogue even named us one of the 7 Best College Search Websites!

Current college students and recent grads also love CollegeXpress for our Graduate Program Search tool and endless information on student life, internships, and beyond. We really have something for everyone, no matter where you are in your college journey.

Create a free CollegeXpress account to start connecting with colleges, winning scholarships, and simplifying your life as a student!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Pace University

New York, NY


Ruth Aguilar

Ruth Aguilar

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me by providing me with many scholarship opportunities and information about universities I want to attend. What I love about CollgeXpress is how it provides a variety of information, and as the first child attending a university next year, it has been very essential and helpful. I’m so grateful for this because the information provided by CollegeXpress has also helped me see that there are so many college opportunities, and it always informs me by email. In other words, CollegeXpress has been like a guide for me as a future college student.

Lu Diehl

Lu Diehl

High School Class of 2022

I never would have found the college I plan on attending without CollegeXpress! I've always been a person of ambition and have been dreaming of studying and working on my passion for law, legal studies, and political science. Washington College is where I plan on pursuing my career. My journey with my education has been difficult, and oftentimes, I was told I would never amount to much, but now I'm dual enrolled at Caroll Community College and have had experience in the fields I am dedicated to. Without the help of CollegeXpress (even in its early days), I would never have found Washington College and the information I need to apply and become a part of their community.

Keaun Brown

Keaun Brown

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2020

As I transition to furthering my education, I can say with certainty that it simply wouldn’t be possible without the help of generous organizations such as CollegeXpress. Those who initially founded CX had no idea their platform would give a plethora of information to a first-generation homeless kid native to the ghettos of over half a dozen states. Everyone at CX and Carnegie Dartlet gave me a chance at a future when the statistics said I had none. And for that, I thank them.

Makiyah Murray

Makiyah Murray

High School Class of 2021

The college application process has been a stressful one, but CollegeXpress has eased some of that stress with its readily available college resources. At the beginning of the process, I frequently used the college search feature, and now that I’m almost done applying, I’ve started using the scholarship search. Both of these resources have made it easier to find relevant information.

Damian Rangel

Damian Rangel

September 2021 Mini Scholarship Winner, High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me tackle college expenses, which will allow me to put more of my time and effort into my studies without the need of worrying as much about finances.