Students planning STEM careers visit VCU, University of Virginia

The Women’s Center helps address these concerns, facilitating the transfer process for students enrolled in STEM transfer-degree programs with a trip to Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia.

“I got to see the campuses, which I wouldn’t have gotten to do otherwise,” said Tamara Green, who will graduate in December with an associate of science. Green, who lists the University of Virginia as her first choice, plans to study kinesiology.

“I met a lot of great people and even connected with someone at U.Va. in kinesiology,” she said.

The trip to Richmond and then Charlottesville is at no cost to the students and includes transportation, lodging and meal expenses.

Kristine Adriano, who plans to study mechanical or biomedical engineering after her graduation from TCC in December, enjoyed all of it, particularly learning about the history of the University of Virginia. “I had no idea about all the tradition,” she said. “Just knowing how to navigate the campus was helpful.”

Sarah Bowdoin was grateful for the opportunity to ask questions face to face, as she is unsure which academic program to pursue given her interest in diverse sciences.

“I found out the best thing for me was a bachelor of science in environmental science,” she says.

Bowdoin, a mother of two, said she was also grateful to learn about family living housing, as her needs vary from those of a single student.  She will graduate from TCC in May 2013.

“The Women’s Center is committed to supporting female students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Laura Soulsby, the educational programming and. communications coordinator for the Women’s Center. “This is an exciting opportunity for TCC students who are committed to transferring to a four-year institution to major in a STEM field.”