Preparation for Career Choices

All Levels

Narrative
Provides an opportunity for in-depth discussion about career choices and what it takes to get from life as a student to a professional position.

	Objectives Develop personal and educational empowerment skills for young women. Develop sensitivities for students of both genders to career options decision-making for girls and women Increase awareness of possible careers and career paths in the STEM professions. Develop STEM career understanding and options from the vantage points of several young women followed in the film. Materials Needed The Gender Chip (film) List of Women Scientists Paper, pencils, ruler or yardstick, for constructing timelines Internet access for list of colleges and university programs List of high school requirements List of entrance requirements for local and national colleges & universities

Guided Experience
After viewing the Gender Chip address these Questions:

1. What did _____ do to prepare for her career?
2. What were the important career decisions she had to make? What did she decide?
3. Given the same situation what decisions would you have made? Why?
4. How did she reflect her strength and independence through her choices?
5. What have you observed that suggests that she will be able to be successful in a career usually dominated by men?

Research the career choice of one of the students or of a similar field. Develop a list of 5 schools that offer this kind of education (prepare students to enter this field). Choose one of the schools and discuss what each of the schools requires as math courses the applicant must have completed to be accepted into the school. Have students list out the math courses and sequences for their own school. Make a chart of the courses that students need to complete in order to be admitted to one of the schools they researched. Make a graph of where students in this class are along the math sequence.