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Microsoft recently announced the results of a pair of surveys of U.S. college students currently pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and of parents of K-12 students. The aim of both surveys was to gain insight on how to better prepare and inspire students to pursue post-secondary education in STEM subjects.

According to the survey results, only one in five STEM college students feel that their K-12 education prepared them extremely well for their college courses in STEM.

"In today's globally competitive and technologically driven economy, the jobs available to our country's young people increasingly depend on the quality of the education and the skills they acquire," Microsoft general counsel and senior vice president Brad Smith said in a statement. "If our students are to compete successfully for the jobs of the future, we must better prepare them to be lifelong learners and give them a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math."

Key findings of the surveys include the following:

• Although 93 percent of parents of K-12 students believe STEM education should be a priority in the U.S., only 49 percent agree that it actually is a top priority for the country.
• Parents who feel STEM should be a priority say they feel this way because they want to ensure that the U.S. stays competitive in the global marketplace (53 percent), and to produce the next generation of innovators (51 percent).
• While 50 percent of parents would like to see their children pursue a STEM career, only 24 percent are extremely willing to spend extra money helping their children be successful in their math and science classes.

Key findings among college students pursuing a STEM degree include the following:

• Seventy-eight percent of STEM college students say they decided to study STEM in high school or earlier. Twenty-one percent decided to do so in middle school or earlier.
• Among college students who chose to pursue STEM studies, 68 percent said they did so because they want a good salary, 66 percent did so for the job potential, and 68 percent said they find the subjects intellectually stimulating and challenging.

The surveys were conducted online in May 2011 by Harris Interactive on behalf of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide and Microsoft among 1,074 parents of children ages 17 years or younger, and 500 U.S. undergraduate college students ages 18-24 who are currently pursuing a STEM degree.

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