I am currently a mechanical engineering major who will graduate in three years. I have a full-tuition scholarship, plus ten grand, that covers four years. I am planning on going for my Ph.D. after I graduate in either mechanical or aerospace engineering. I could get an aerospace degree in just one extra year and was wondering if it was worth the investment of my time. Should I double major or give up the additional year of my scholarship.
No, it would not be worth it. If you really want to take that extra year, lighten your course load and spend the extra time doing undergraduate research.
Double majors are generally not worth it. However, if it makes you just a year of a difference and you enjoy the subject, then why not? A year is so little.
A year is a really big deal if they do end up deciding to get a PhD, though. Better to spend time and effort on something more productive than an essentially useless extra degree.
I’m no expert but here’s my two cents. (I have a son heading off next year for a PhD in aerospace engineering.) You need to decide what it is you want to focus on in graduate school. If you will have the research and the classes that you need to get admitted to be able to study in that field, then you shouldn’t need another year. If on the other hand you decide you want to go into an Aerospace speciality (for example, propulsion, aerodynamics, orbital mechanics, or control systems) and you won’t have what you need, then take the necessary classes, especially if you have someone to pay for them. For turbine or rocket propulsion you could end up with a strong enough thermodynamics background with an ME degree that you wouldn’t need to take any Aerospace classes.
@Raguel - I’d be happy to share what we’ve learned about AE PhD programs and the application process. We learned a lot from @boneh3ad.
Good fortune to you.
Double majors are not worth it if it will cost you an extra year in college. If it can be done in the normal four years, that’s another story. However, you would probably benefit more from doing research during your time in college, starting as soon as possible. In particular, doing research with a professor in a different field than yours (i.e. aerospace) will make you stand out from other mechanical engineers who have only done research with MechE professors.
Oh, there is no probably about it. When I am looking to hire a research assistant in aerospace/mechanical engineering, if I have two resumes in front of me that are otherwise equal except for one has two majors and no or minimal research experience and the other has one major (either is fine) and extensive research experience, I will pick the latter every single time.
I agree that you need to have a significant research experience, however that is not necessarily exclusive to taking additional courses. In fact you probably need to take a minimum number of courses to maintain your full time status and your scholarship. If the additional degree comes at no cost to your ability to do significant research, then there is no harm (speaking as someone who did this, many years ago).
You don’t say what year you are now but if you are in your final year and have not gotten involved in research yet, then staying the extra year might be needed anyway.
I’m a first-year sophomore.
Go find a research lab to volunteer in and then apply for an REU program in February.