First, gauge whether your child has the intelligence potential & desire to be successful in STEM.
There is a current fallacy that anyone can be an engineer or scientist if they just had access to [fill in the blank]. In my undergrad days, I saw many students go into engineering because “that’s where the money was”. They did not make it because they either flunked out, or realized engineering was not them. While engineering was male dominated, there were some women engineers and math majors - they all shared an above average mathematical aptitude and interest.
Today for STEM, I would recommend going to community college for 2 years and get all/most the non-STEM electives out of the way. Since students commute to school, sitting around with too much time one’s hands to learn to do drugs and be a leftist is minimized or non-existent. Even today, engineering departments may have some leftist profs (mine had a couple 30 years ago) most if not all of them are interested in how things work, making and breaking stuff and putting it all back together etc. We frustrated one lefty prof who loved to talk politics, but he never held it against us in grading because the subject is quite objective - you can apply Fourier Transform or you cannot. Last advice - get an advanced STEM degree. Many times because one is American, they beg for you to come in. You can get financial support (no debt) for the entire advanced degree.
One more thing. Do not make any contributions as an alumnus. It matters not how great the parties were, or the football team was, or all the women/men you dated, etc. Put that emotion aside. Put your money where your mind is - and it isn’t there.
Those who succeeded all shared an exceptionally high IQ and highly focused self discipline.
Very good points. I’ve felt for a long time if your son or daughter isn’t prepared to take calculus on day 1 of their freshman year, they shouldn’t go to 4-year college right away. Community College or a Trade School first. Who knows? They might find something they would prefer doing and not have to go in the first place. I agree also about cutting off the money after graduation. In no way should a conservative support a college or university in any fashion. Unless your kid’s on the team, ignore them, don’t watch them. If all conservatives took this approach, their money will start to dry up, especially in the humanities. We conservatives won’t be there to take their useless gen-ed courses.
To succeed in STEM one needs aptitude, persistence, and resilience. It helps to learn to work in a study group with like-minded individuals. One needs to develop study skills and the ability to calm oneself during exams. It helps if you can find summer employment in your desired field. This tends to open other opportunities.