The UPA handbook states, “Students take a breadth of courses that help to prepare them for the future, such as Project Lead the Way (our math, engineering, bio-med, and science pathway)” UPA handbook. UPA is an academic focused school, striving to help students succeed and attend all kinds of universities with different majors. However it seems there are more opportunities at UPA for STEM majors.
UPA’s STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—based curriculum holds countless opportunities for science classes. UPA has a set path for individuals aspiring to take the STEM path. Seniors Kavya Patel and Nahom Zemene, shared their experiences at UPA so far as students who wish to pursue Law and Business.
“Our school is very STEM focused, focusing on its science and engineering classes,” Patel said. “Because of this, a lot of my friends and myself have been forced into the STEM community.”
With a passion for business and Political Science, Patel wants to take classes that will expand and enhance her knowledge related to her passions through expanded English and economic/finance courses and law based electives. However, Patel is limited to taking primarily science and math courses, which have little information that will benefit her knowledge and college applications in pursuing Political Science and business. The lack of a set course path for Business and political science, affects Patel as there is no guidance on courses that will aid her knowledge and advantage in pursuing these majors. Patel shares the classes she would add to the UPA curriculum to accommodate the interests of business.
“I would like to add Introduction to Business Administration, Intro to Marketing, and finance/entrepreneurship courses as an elective path, similar to our current PBS, MI, and HBS path” Patel said.
Although those invested in STEM have a set path, Patel sympathizes with them as she recognises that it is a very competitive path because everyone tends to take the same classes and path.
Patel shares that she has been expected to follow the path of STEM because it is one of the few course routes to take at UPA. Although Patel’s dream is to pursue Politics and business, she is unable to take any law-focused courses at UPA as they are not offered. Patel must seek outclasses outside of UPA. “A lot of the time I resort to taking business and law classes outside of UPA, my experiences come through internships outside of school which can become time consuming as I am trying to also balance my regular school work,” Patel said.
During the summer, Patel sought out an opportunity to fuel her passion for political science and business; she attended an undergraduate political science program outside of UPA in hopes to feed into her interests rather than changing her goals to fit the curriculum at UPA.
In a different point of view, Zemene shares his appreciation towards the STEM based curriculum at UPA. Zemene believes that by meeting UPA’s graduation requirements, which includes at least 2 AP classes, and courses that fall under the science and math spectrum, he will be able to focus more on his preferred major of Law in college.
“Yes, most of the AP’s here are very math and science focused,” Zemene said. “But, if you take all the AP STEM courses now in high school, you can get it over with and you don’t have to do it in college, leaving room for the courses you actually wish to do, This way you can focus on the major you choose.” Zemene said.
Zemene believes the STEM focused curriculum is more helpful than harmful. By taking many STEM AP classes now in highschool, he can focus his college career on pursuing law.
Sophomores Andres Martinez Gonzalez and Jacey Tran convey their desire for more diverse course paths at UPA. Gonzalez hopes to pursue his passion of boxing, putting most of his free time into boxing. With his busy boxing schedule, there is limited time for him to take courses outside of UPA which he claims is necessary due to the lack of diverse courses. Gonzalez believes that the lack of diverse course paths prevents UPA students from appearing academically diverse when applying for college, as a result of a majority of UPA students taking the set STEM course path. Similarly, Tran hopes to go into the art and design field in her future. She explains that although there are a few art classes, she wishes there were more and that UPA took the major of art and design just as seriously as STEM.
Martinez Gonzalez, shares his experience at UPA with a dream of becoming a professional boxer. He hopes to pursue business after his boxing career. Gonzalez demonstrates his desire for more diverse courses at UPA,
“We have an economics class, however it is only for Seniors. I wish there were classes and or a set path I could take earlier on in my high school career to prepare me for business.” Gonzalez said.
As a result of the lack of a set path for business, Gonalez shares — in order to achieve his desire of a set path of courses for business —he will resort to taking classes outside of UPA.
“I shouldn’t have to take these courses outside of UPA, it conflicts with my free time that I use for extra curriculars.” Gonzalez.
While boxing outside of UPA in addition to the obligations of UPA, taking these outside courses would conflict with his schedule. Gonzalez shares he would add investment and money management courses for all highschool students to see whether they plan on pursuing business or not.
From a more neutral perspective, Tran, an aspiring artist has taken Art 7/8, Multimedia, and Art 1, and is currently taking Drawing & Painting I/II. Tran appreciates that she has a few classes to support her in pursuing art and design, however she thinks there is a limitation on classes.
“I understand that STEM is basically core subjects and the most important curriculum, but I think they should also understand how art is also really important in lots of ways” Tran said.
She believes classes based on sculptures or photography would benefit those admiring the major of art. Tran expresses how unfair having a set path for STEM but one for art. Tran believes that because only one year of art is required there are not many art courses, while classes like math have 3 years of credits.
“I’m not affected negatively, but also not affected positively either” Tran said. “Though if I had to choose, it would be negative because the art curriculum does not have as much focus as the other main core classes.” Tran said.
“I definitely think that there are not enough APs for my major compared to stem because our school mainly offers core science APs, and for elective APS, they are also STEM based” Patel said.
