Preparing Yourself for a Science Degree
Few people would suggest that pursuing a science degree is easy. In fact, scientific fields are known to be challenging. Here are some things you can do to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible when you begin your science degree.
Understand your options
You will need to know your options to make an informed decision about where and what you want to study. Once you’ve decided on your chosen field, it’s important for you to know the requisites.
Many colleges and universities require you to complete a predetermined number of courses in designated subject areas. For example, you may need four years of high school science and at least three years of mathematics to be admitted.
Brush up on your algebra
Professor Andrew Hacker makes a case for why studying algebra is important -- especially for individuals wanting to pursue STEM careers. Algebra is usually thought of as simpler than calculus but many students struggle with problems that involve symbolic manipulation.
Algebra helps to develop your logical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s an essential skill for higher-level science classes, such as chemistry, physics, biology, as well as engineering and computer science.
Learn some statistics
You may feel that statistics do not relate to your chosen field of study. However, knowing something about probability and statistics is essential for understanding science today.
Why study statistics? One reason is that without the use of statistics it would be very difficult to make decisions based on the data collected from a research project. You may think that you don’t want to be involved in research but it’s difficult to avoid it.
Many classes on an undergraduate level require some research and you have to do research for a master’s degree or doctorate. Knowing basic statistics helps you to develop your critical and analytical thinking.
Get involved in research
In high school classes, you’re only asked to deal with problems that can be resolved in a specific amount of time using techniques you’ve been taught. In research, a question does not have a known answer, and you may even find it’s impossible to answer.
You may find you battle with research, even if you’ve excelled at it in high school. Getting involved in research early on can help you to find out whether it’s something you want to do or not.
Don’t forget soft skills
If you want to have a successful science career, soft skills are important. Science has become increasingly collaborative. The ability to write papers that others can read and understand, work as part of a group and remain open to other people’s ideas cannot be underestimated.
Even if you’re at a specialized technical university, you will have to take some classes where you have to read books and write papers. Not all people with technical skills are comfortable writing essays. If you feel at a loss, you can request “write my essay online” so that you can focus on what’s important to you and still get quality writings to present.
If you want to work in the corporate world, you must be able to write good reports and give presentations if you want to impress bosses and clients with a course of action you’re proposing.
Expect to be challenged from the start
The more you’re prepared for the workload and find ways to manage it, the better you’ll cope in the long run. Colleges and universities understand the challenges you will face and have many resources to prevent you from falling behind. Take advantage of resources such as study groups and help sessions.
Taking these points into account can help you to start preparing long before you begin your science degree. If you start your preparation early, you will be able to hit the ground running.
