<p>alright every one i know im not a parent but i couldnt really find a better section to post this…
anyway i need help planning out my future…& i really want to be prepared to go to college and become some one great in life…so i explain what i do know about college…
and really could use recommendations because my plan is not complete…so here goes.</p>
<p>alright so im 15 and about to be a junior in highschool…I live in Dallas, Texas… my family is not rich but we are not dirt poor we are like in the lowend of the middle class… My dad is unemployed…my mom has one job…i have to 3 siblings and im the oldest… I want to be a aerospace enginner and im positve thats what i want to do for the rest of my life…I understand physics as well… but anyway i need a plan on how to become a aerospace engineer…</p>
<p>there is only three universitys that offer aerospace engineering in texas that i know of which are UT AUSTIN, UT AT ARLINGTON, TEXAS A&M… SO THE PLAN IS TO END UP AT ONE OF THOSE…I REALLY PREFER TO UT AUSTIN BECAUSE I MY DAD IS REALLY ABUSIVE AT HOME NOT PHYSICALY BUT HE MAKES THREATS TOO SO I REALLY WANT TO MOVE OUT…BUT IM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO IF I GO TO UT AT ARLINGTON…
AND I PREFER UT AUSTIN BECAUSE IM NOT REALLY CONSERVATIVE BUT YOU KNOW IF I HAVE TO I WILL GO TO A&M OR UTA…BUT I REALLY PREFER UT AUSTIN</p>
<p>all right so as of right now i know that ut has a cap program but idk if i get rejected from ut austin does that mean they will automatically offer me the cap program? if i have to do the cap program does that mean i should do that instead of applying/going to A&M?</p>
<p>BUT ive heard that the first two years of college are just the basics…is that true? and i also heard that i should go to community college first ? how does that work ? should i do that?</p>
<p>also how in world can i pay going to ut austin if it costs around 24 grand a year???
how does the whole finacial aid work?</p>
<p>and thats pretty much all i got so if anyone wants to help or fix my plan i would really appreciate it…i really do want to make in life…and make it big too</p>
<p>What is your anticipated class rank? Have you taken any standardized tests?
Depending on your family income, it can sometimes be cheaper to attend a private school with great financial aid than to attend your state school. However, the schools with great financial aid tend to be the most difficult to get into ( ivies and peer schools) n</p>
<p>PSATs this fall are important. If you are a national merit scholar you can qualify for merit aid at some schools, including possible free rides. </p>
<p>Start reading the financial aid forum for info on how financial aid works.</p>
<p>Also it’s not necessary to hold a aerospace engineering degree to be an aerospace engineer. Electrical, computer and mechanical engineering degrees will also allow you entry to the aerospace industry. (Have a friend whois a design engineer NASA. He’s a MechE. My dad was a EE yet worked as a aerospace engineer for his entire career. DH is a physicist, yet he did consulting and design work for NASA on the Mars Rover.)</p>
<p>If you include other engineering fields on your list as potential majors, you can broaden your list of potential colleges. UTD has very strong science and engineering program, for example.</p>
<p>1) Start practicing for your PSAT - get the College Board’s books of practice SAT tests. These are old tests and the best possible prep. Practice under the same conditions you’d have when taking the actual PSAT - timed and without interruption. Study the kind of errors you make, categorize them and practice those particular skills.</p>
<p>2) Do you have a job? Working part-time during the school year, instead of doing ECs, is perfectly acceptable to schools and it sounds like you will need money. Put it aside for your expenses in college. It will also make your parents feel like you are trying to pull your weight.</p>
<p>3) It’s already been suggested that you check the financial aid forums. You can post specific questions there.</p>
<p>From your spelling and grammar I am guessing you are not a native of the U.S. Try to practice up on your English. We are often judged by how well we speak and how well we write(fairly or not) so try to make the best first impression.
Save money too. You may have a job now, or soon will have if reality matches your dream. It is extremely unusual for a 15 yr old to know what he will do all his life, though it is not unusual for a 15 yr old to think he knows what he will do all his life. Save whatever money you can so that when the time comes for school, you can add in money. That will further open your opportunities no matter what field you may choose.</p>
<p>“how to become a aerospace engineer…”
-What kind of plan are you talking about. Normally people apply to colleges, see where they accepted and choose the best fit for them. There is no difference if you want to be an engineer, a teacher or MD. After HS, you just go to college. After college you see if you want to coninue with post bacc or you want to work or you want to do bot as many companies are paying, or you want to be flexible and see what opportunity is presented to you. If you want to minimize cost of your education, get very high HS GPA, high test scores and apply to schools that are known for Merit awards. The difference in what UGs are offerring to the same applicant is very very significant. Research will be very helpful. Saving for college is practically irrelevant, working to pay for college is also practically irrelevant in comparison to what top kids are getting in Merit awards. Most are working while in UG, they work for “pocket money” and for experience and for obtaining additional skills.</p>
<p>Saving for college now is a solid plan, and balancing a job/school will help you learn to manage your time. Go talk to your guidance counselor to make sue you have a competitive schedule.</p>
<p>since we don’t have your stats, it is hard to give you specific advice, and it is a little early since we don’t have your SAT/ACT scores or GPA for the harder classes. There are plenty of kids that go to school in a junior college for the first two years, but it may be more cost effective to go to a school that offers you the best aid for all four years.</p>
<p>Other parents chime in if this is not sound advice, but I think it would be a good first step for nike0518 to make an appointment with his high school guidance counselor. They might have more time available to spend with nike before the school year starts up and it is always a good idea to make your counselor aware of your goals.</p>
<p>how do i meet meet with my guidance counselor if school is out ? and im not a sophmore anymore IS is it possible to still take the psat…as of right now im already studying for the sat</p>
<p>Lots of schools administer the PSAT to all of their juniors, so you may not need to sign up individually. Check with your guidance counselor. Alternatively, just ask any student at your school who is now a senior.</p>
<p>okay i want to build rockets and everything that includes it…but what would be the difference between a aerospace engineer and a mechanical engineer…and i really dont want to be only a electrical engineer…</p>
<p>Usually, juniors sign up at school for the PSAT, early in the school year. But, you can begin preparing for it now, during the summer, and prepare for the SAT at the same time.</p>
<p>What classes will you take next year? Concentrate on doing well in your junior year classes. If you want to go into engineering, physics and math are especially important.
Consider what activities you do outside of school, whether a part-time job or extra-curricular activities. </p>
<p>Starting at community college might be an option for you, although it is difficult to graduate in 4 years in engineering, if you start at a CC. Once you know your SAT scores, if you post your scores and your GPA/rank, we could offer more specific advice.</p>
<p>You might want to consider a college that has a co-op program. After your freshman year, you will alternate school & work semesters, doing actual projects with engineers in your chosen field. It takes 5 years instead of 4, but you come out with valuable work experience, and make money towards tuition.</p>
<p>I second those who said you need to be STRONG in math/science. Take everything your school offers in the way of math & physics. Prepare well for the PSAT test in October, but even if you don’t qualify for National Merit Finalist status, good SAT or ACT scores are essential for other merit aid.</p>
<p>You might major in aerospace engineering, or you may be another kind of engineer (electrical, computer) who could also work in the space travel field. You have time to decide.</p>
<p>if you can get good stats, Drexel in PA gives lots of merit (and likely needs) and my sister’s ex-b/f graduated from there and is an aerospace engineer for the DOD. They also have a co-op program.</p>
<p>yeah im studying right now but as of right now i basically cant afford to leave the state texas because i just dont have that kind of money…i dont even have the money for instate. so yeah i only know of 3 universities in texas that offer aerospace enginnering. that is ut arlington, ut austin, texas a&m. so i guess i have to stay instate…but anyway what is a co op program? does the universties that i listed have that?</p>
<p>No, nike the ins-state options you have do not offer co-ops. You have a good state system and don’t need to look OOS for decent engineering. If I were you, I would explore all the options for engineering, including mechanical, over the next couple of years. Once you post your jr GPA and SAT/ACT scores we will be able to give you better options. If you become a National Merit Finalist, there are some options in other states that may be better for you financially than your current state options. For now, read up on the school sites, check out what you need to do for your state in the links I provided. You may also want to check out the threads for the Texas schools and the engineering majors threads.</p>