<p>Hi all !</p>
<pre><code> This is the first time m posting here and m expecting that I will get a satisfied answer.
</code></pre>
<p>M studying Civil Engineering at a local university here in my country. I have a deep passion for aerospace engineering but due to financial constraints I was never able to pursue major in aerospace. Now the thing is m considering applying to universities like MIT , Princeton for my graduate degree in aerospace. But the problem is M totally unclear on how would I show them my interest in aerospace. Considering Civil as an entirely different major , transition to aerospace looks quite awkward. I have one year left for graduation and I have to seriously prepare to pursue my dream. My profile is :</p>
<p>Selected to represent my country in USA for a semester as a Cultural Ambassador.
Worked on NASA Space Elevator Project.
Have strong LOC’s ( one is from a Col in USAF)
Volunteered for a number of activities including working at a Natural Habitat.
Distinction all over Pakistan in my high school exams.
Writing a Book on my experiences in USA.
Article writer for a local paper.</p>
<p>What else do I need to do to gain admission in MIT ? Also I have a cgpa of 3.0 which I suppose is quite low. But I can certainly get high GRE score. Should I hope for the admission or just give up ?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot in advance for your sincere suggestions.Civ</p>
<p>Hi there, I think your transition sounds fine. Your experience on the NASA project certainly supports your interest, and in general, I think you have the engineering foundation. I did my undergrad in civil as well, and a MS in civil too actually (Berkeley and Stanford). I decided to switch to electrical and was accepted to Columbia. My “story” was relevant work experience in the energy industry. I think you can make the transition, and maybe it might even be easier for you.</p>
<p>Now as for MIT, well, that’s a great place and is competitive. Definitely work applying. Your gpa is 3.0 out of 4.0? That is pretty low, but there could be other impressive things in your application that could do it, as you listed. Here’s a good website that has decent statistics on admission rates for your program. 19% for Aerospace.</p>
<p>[Department</a> of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA - Graduate Program Information at Petersons.com](<a href=“http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-school-of-engineering-department-of-aeronautics-and-astronautics-000_10042856.aspx]Department”>http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-school-of-engineering-department-of-aeronautics-and-astronautics-000_10042856.aspx)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the response. Just a question . How did you show your interest while applying for Columbia and why did you make the transition ?</p>
<p>don’t forget JPL/NASA at Caltech. </p>
<p>just another option.</p>
<p>I’ll be frank with you OP. There’s a lot of negatives on your application. Applying to MIT right away would most likely not end well.
The top of the top schools are not as lenient on GPAs.
You should definitely explain your transition to AE. ME to AE is quite common. CE to AE is not very common. All engineering majors are usually similar until you get to your 4th semester ish. ME is usually similar to AE even beyond that (i.e. fluid mechanics is applied to pipes instead of airfoils). However, after that civil branches quite a ways off. </p>
<p>Also, idk what year you are in, but you sound very naive. You can’t just say you’re interested in AE. What in AE interests you? You like airplanes? No, that’s not good enough.
AE is broad and its research areas span over a lot of topics. TO name a few:
controls, propulsion, fluids, materials, the list goes on
These areas I just listed are also broad as well. i.e propulsion can be: rocket propulsion, electric propulsion, etc…
Fluids can be: computations/experimental. Computations and experimental fluids are broad as well.</p>
<p>For those kind of schools, if all you say is that you’re interested in AE, you will get declined immediately. It shows that you don’t know anything about AE. </p>
<p>The only thing from your list of profile activities that can make a difference are:
Worked on NASA Space Elevator Project.
Have strong LOC’s ( one is from a Col in USAF)</p>
<p>I guess you are pretty right. M in last semester of sophomore year . M thinking of applying for graduate schools in my final year. I was interested in Aerospace since my childhood. To be more precise , I always wanted to be a fighter pilot but I was failed the selection tests. SO i decided to puruse aerospace but it was expensive for me. I had to follow civil engineering coz I had no other option. Now since MIT inducts students for graduate from almost every discipline I thought that could help me puruse my dreams.</p>
<p>UAv’s design and Ornithopters really fascinate me and I wanna do research in them. </p>
<p>What would you suggest me to do ? Should I drop down the option of MIT or do bachelors in aerospace all over again ?</p>
<p>If you want to fly, why don’t you apply to some school for Aeronautical Science, earn your pilot’s licenses, and fly? Embry-Riddle or some other school would be an excellent choice if you’re getting a free ride courtesy of Pakistan, which is what I’m guessing you have if you’re considering MIT.</p>