Navigating STEM 'Bubbles' and Comparison Culture

Welcome back to the College Essay Guy Podcast. Today's episode is hosted by Tom Campbell, Community Manager & Senior Essay Specialist at College Essay Guy and a former admission officer at Pomona College and Holy Cross.

We've polled the thousands of students who participate in our live webinars and courses and ask what they're favorite subject is, and consistently, STEM reigns supreme. By a lot. In this episode, Tom sits down with Jay Zhang, college counselor at College Essay Guy, to dig into the biggest questions students and families have about preparing for and applying to STEM programs. Together, they explore:

• What students should know about STEM coursework, rigor, and testing—and where there's more flexibility than most people realize
• How to think about majors, specialization, and which colleges to consider beyond the usual short list
• Common STEM student archetypes, including late starters, students unsure which direction to take, those in high-pressure STEM "bubbles," and students worried that elite summer programs are the only path forward
• And more.

Jay Zhang holds a B.S. in Microbiology from UCLA and an M.A. in School Counseling from NYU, and he's spent over a decade helping STEM students navigate selective admissions—especially within the UC system. He's also a former UCLA scholarship reader and interviewer, so he's seen exactly what works. Jay brings a strength-based, big-picture approach to STEM planning—and when he's not counseling students, you'll probably find him hiking at Crystal Cove or driving all the way from Orange County to LA for his haircut (hey, clearly, this is a man who knows his priorities).

We hope you enjoy the episode.

Play-by-Play:

• 2:14 – What are some early memories of Jay and Tom learning STEM in school?
• 5:44 – Jay shares his background and where he grew up
• 7:55 – What are some high school courses that students interested in STEM could plan to take?
• 11:33 – What should STEM students know about standardized testing?
• 14:33 – How can students better understand different STEM pathways and majors?
• 17:55 – What are some lesser-known colleges or programs that students could explore?
• 24:03 – What are some strategies for broadening a student's college list?
• 30:01 – How can students balance prestige with selectivity and other factors that are important to them in finding the right fit?
• 32:46 – How can students explore diverse interests in STEM?
• 38:52 – What can high school juniors and seniors do to show interest in STEM if they're just getting started?
• 46:11 – What helps students in competitive STEM "bubbles" move beyond comparison culture?
• 50:26 – How can students build on personal experiences that spark their interest in STEM?
• 53:30 – How important are prestigious summer programs for students interested in STEM?
• 59:25 – Closing thoughts

Resources:

• Firestarter Exercise
• What is STEM?
• STEM Majors
• College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources
• College Essay Guy's College Application Hub