What Every Science Student Should Know

by Justin L. Bauer, Yoo Jung Kim, Andrew H. Zureick

“I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students. . . . We must understand and circumvent this dangerous discouragement. No one can predict where the future leaders of science will come from.”—Carl Sagan

In 2012, the White House put out a call to increase the number of STEM graduates by one million. Since then, hundreds of thousands of science students have started down the path toward a STEM career. Yet, of these budding scientists, more than half of all college students planning to study science or medicine leave the field during their academic careers.

What Every Science Student Should Know is the perfect personal mentor for any aspiring scientist. Like an experienced lab partner or frank advisor, the book points out the pitfalls while providing encouragement. Chapters cover the entire college experience, including choosing a major, mastering study skills, doing scientific research, finding a job, and, most important, how to foster and keep a love of science.

This guide is a distillation of the authors’ own experiences as recent science graduates, bolstered by years of research and interviews with successful scientists and other science students. The authorial team includes former editors-in-chief of the prestigious Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science . All have weathered the ups and downs of undergrad life—and all are still pursuing STEM careers. Forthright and empowering, What Every Science Student Should Know is brimming with insider advice on how to excel as both a student and a scientist.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2016

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of slacked off reading for a week or so between the day I started and the day I ended. I’m noticing that is a bit of a trend with me and reading, oops. I liked it and I thought it was informative. However, because I am the age I am perhaps, I found it a bit intimidating and overwhelming. Still, it was well written and I know I will be referring back to it when college nears.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really helpful study and time management tips, as well as good ways to approach professors, and what to do when you're getting towards the end of undergrad. However, it is also a very anxiety-provoking book. It talks a lot about students who have been able to publish early in their undergraduate careers, create start-ups, and get huge scholarships all while maintaining a 4.0. Ultimately, reasonably helpful if you ignore all the people they are trying to compare you to.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

High acheiving STEM alumni share their views on what it takes to be successful from college to postdoc in this 250+ page work. Two points really stood out to me. First, everyone is "bad" at STEM, with rare exceptions; everyone is "good" at the humanities. That is, if you consider grades. Research indicates that higher grades are given in humanities classes. With this knowledge, one can more readily accept the deeper criticism in their STEM classes and press on. (60% of STEM majors opt out in America) Second, there is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done. Passion will naturally become depression if one isn't aware in advance -- feeling overhwhelmed and helpless is quite common on college campuses today. The faster one knows all that is involved, the better. Furthermore, the authors offer concrete suggestions on how to deal with every major component of this track, empowering the reader to face these challenges head on.

The appendix on underprivileged students is also a great help in understanding their situation more.

[Paris Salmon MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freaking helpful, ready to freaking rock the science world you already know. Two days on campus and I pulled up to that pre-medical health advisory office and took this bad boy on my way out!! I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE READY. Must need for the Stem and Leaf plotters of the modern college ecosystem(Shout out to my Pre-Frontal Cortex Octopus Kevin and His Semantic Locker soul sister MWAH!)

[Escortgamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible advice. Much of the book is common sense and so I felt like I already knew it, but it's great to hear not only new information but old one regurgitated in a new voice and emphasized in great ways.

[Perel Schwartz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think it was an especially helpful book as a science student. I found How To Become A Straight-A Student by Cal Newport much more useful than the chapters on how to manage college life and how to excel in STEM courses in this book. However, I found the choosing a STEM major chapter very interesting, as it described many majors in the STEM field and included common challenges to the fields and what types of careers it can lead to. I already know what I want to major in and work as, but for an undecided major, it can be very informative. The chapter on conducting scientific research gave mostly general information on what research looks like and how to find research opportunity. The chapter on beyond your Bachelor's degree, again, was information I can find anywhere on how to network, write a CV, and other stuff like that. There was also a chapter on the graduate schools for Master's and Doctorate degrees.

There were some tidbits of information that I probably wouldn't have found without extensive research, but overall, I think the book just gave a lot of general information that I already knew. I received the book for free as part of a Goodread's giveaway.

[Kathy Ross]

Hmm.. I already wrote the review after I read it. But, I'll do it again. I thought it was an excellent book for undergrad science students and parents who may not have a science background. I thought the definitions of the disciplines and choosing a science major was very helpful information. And, the info on study skills and research was very useful. I will definitely give this book to my grandson, an aspiring scientist.
Thank you to Good Reads and Justin Bauer for giving me the opportunity to read this terrific book.