Influence of high school students’ perceptions on their preparation for engineering

By the time students enter college, lack of rigorous high school coursework can eliminate engineering as a potential career path. Many university outreach programs exist to promote engineering and to inform students about the requirements of the engineering field. These programs usually focus on the students under the assumption that, if we can get the students interested in engineering, their high schools and support structures will allow them to lay a foundation in high school that will enable them to succeed in a university engineering curriculum. This paper examines that premise using a survey of high school students involved in a university outreach program. The analysis shows the relationships between race, gender and three major categories: confidence, support and perception. Data shows that affecting support networks and confidence may be as important as simply generating interest in STEM fields.