this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2024
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I have a few daughters looking for science and engineering programs in the next few years. They're all scared to attend schools in states hostile towards women. I get that. I'm looking for recommendations for schools in states positive towards women that have good STEM programs.

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[โ€“] Ecunis 94 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I assume you are refering to the US without explicite writing it. But most European countries should be fine - especially Nordic countries.

[โ€“] SwordInStone 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] cosmicrookie 15 points 4 months ago

Default for bad stuff.. Europe/scandinavia is default for the good stuff

[โ€“] tamal3 2 points 4 months ago

Definitely look into European universities if you can afford the plane tickets. I wish I had as a young adult -- I've heard great things about education quality as well as affordability.

[โ€“] qooqie 39 points 4 months ago (1 children)

University of Michigan. Ann Arbor is a hardcore dem city and in a state with abortion rights protected af

[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I second Michigan! I live here, and the middle-state cities here are typically full of left-leaning young folks.

The farther north you go, though, the political leanings get worse. Definitely recommend mid & lower Michigan, though.

[โ€“] dingus 20 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I apologize if this isn't the kind of comment that you're looking for...but what's wrong with the colleges local to you? Do you live in an unsafe area? It makes a hell of a lot more sense to go to a school with in state tuition rather than going across the country to a school with needlessly exorbitantly expensive out of state tuition.

Maybe I was just lucky in the state I grew up in.

[โ€“] aspitzer 19 points 4 months ago

Buy the "Fiske Guide to Colleges". It lists hundreds of colleges in the US. You can look up by major, location, price, etc.

It also discusses things like social life, acceptance rate, and amenities.

I have 3 kids that are in or went to college. This was indispensable.

[โ€“] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Is this American ? You don't say where. I'm not aware of any difference in the states here in Australia. But if so, maybe RMIT?

[โ€“] saltesc 13 points 4 months ago

I'm sorry you live in a country like that.

Have you considered sending them abroad? I work at a university in Australia and it is actively encouraging female participants in STEM, to break any stereotypes traditional family may have taught them. I think all universities are.like that here.

We are partnered with a university in England and my understanding is they are the same.

You are also able to look at university rankings which cover diversity topics. We have just submitted our data for 2023, so expect new rankings to appear in a few months. Since the data is public, many websites use it for higher education rankings.

[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (4 children)

What do you mean by "states hostile towards women"? What's going on there?

[โ€“] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Texas, Florida, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma....

[โ€“] RBWells 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

We are in Florida and the universities are fine, except for the loss of the New College (may RDS rot in hell for what he did to that school). But if they are interested in engineering they wouldn't have needed the free school.

If it's cool here, it's probably fine everywhere. Colleges are filled with kids from different places.

[โ€“] Stovetop 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

As long as it's not a state university. The Florida government is doing all in its power to put their state universities to work as conservative ideology factories.

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[โ€“] captainlezbian 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Ohio has constitutionally protected right to choose

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

And will vote for Trump in 2024 anyways.

[โ€“] tamal3 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Many states in the US are on an anti-abortion warpath. I live in North Carolina, which recently outlawed abortion after 12 weeks. I want to move elsewhere -- I feel unsafe and uncared for.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

I have never been so grateful to live in the PNW. We're a bit of a hike from NC, but you'd be plenty safe here!

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[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

Any of the dozens of unis in California should be fine

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

Make sure to set out the financial implications of different states. E.g., the California unis might be good - but you're also dealing with out of state tuition.

And also look at the pipeline - I was interested in biology, but all of the people in the program were hyper competitive pre-medical students. And who wants to deal with that?

[โ€“] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago

Universities with higher female student ratio are probably a safe bet, although fair warning your daughters will statistically have worse matches for a partner.

Source; went to a school of higher women pop, scored a gem.

Jokes aside though, simply aiming for the best school is a safe bet too.

[โ€“] victorz 8 points 4 months ago

Not sure if it's implied by I'm assuming you are looking for American schools?

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

New Jersey has Rutgers, NJIT, and Stevens Institute of Technology. New Jersey in general is positive to women and all schools have programs in place to be inclusive to women in engineering.

[โ€“] just_ducky_in_NH 5 points 4 months ago

My daughter went to RIT and got a great education with zero harassment issues.

[โ€“] foggy 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

If their STEM inrerest is computer science, I have a rare and excellent recommendation of Champlain College.

Pros: In Vermont, very liberal, frats are frowned upon (only exist at UVM), Small city not very dangerous. Kids tend to smoke more weed than they do drink or experiment with drugs. The drug experimentation of choice tends to be psychedelics. Excellent CS program with a truly excellent track record for students working in their field straight from graduation. Excellent food, beautiful state.

Cons: Vermont is seductive. Hard to leave; no good jobs. Also, expensive. Way more than you'd expect for being in the mountains.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Check out Melbourne University if you live in Victoria.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

BU is a good bet, sticker price is expensive but the financial aid is pretty decent if you can take advantage. I'd definitely recommend them picking a school somewhere they'd probably want to live after college, as getting employment in the same area you're going to school is much easier.

[โ€“] PunnyName 2 points 4 months ago
[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

How about Finland?

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

What makes a good STEM program is usually dependent on both the student and the exact discipline they want. My university had a great engineering department and great wildlife management program, but good luck to you if you want biochemistry.

Other than that? Just avoid the Neoconfederacy. They've even done us all the favor of trying to outlaw abortion, and there are plenty of infographics that can show you the no-go states.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

73% upvotes.

The downvotes that are part of the 27%, what's your problem?

[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Downvoted it because OP didn't specify where in the world they were, therefore nobody can properly give a good answer. Recommending an overseas university is very different to recommending one from their country.

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