What Motivates STEM Students? Depends on Their Gender
President Obama has made a point of pushing science, technology, engineering, and math education—and for good reason: The demand for STEM professionals outpaces the current supply, and because too few college students are choosing STEM majors, the gap isn't narrowing. But according to a new survey (PDF) from Microsoft and Harris Interactive, the United States' global competitiveness isn't a factor for most students who pursue science of math. What does motivate them, it turns out, depends on their gender.
The survey found that 68 percent of STEM majors say one of their major motivating factors is financial. That