Which option is best? (Aerospace engineering)

College Search & Lists
1

So i want to become an Aerospace engineer. I also want to get a masters in AERO. I have been researching many colleges and have come up with a few different options. Could you please tell me if each one is good and which one might be the best. The options are as follows:

  1. Go to an undergrad school and study mechanical engineering with aerospace option ,like JHU or Wisconsin, and go to a big, recruited school for graduate school like UMich or UCLA
  2. Get a 5 year BS/MS school like UMich, Gergia Tech, or USC
  3. Get an undergrad degree from a big public school like UT Austin or UCLA and go to grad school at another big public school.

Thanks

2

All of these are viable options to get you where you want to go professionally. There are too many unknowns here, primarily regarding your finances and stats. If you have strong stats and research experiences coming out of undergrad then you’ll get recruited, there’s nothing saying you can’t do well at a small, yet engineering-focused school, and not be employed (since you kept emphasizing large, recruited schools). More important are your grades and undergrad research experiences to develop and demonstrate marketable skills to get into grad programs and distinguish yourself from other job applicants - that’s really what matters here, not the school size or the program specifics (BS vs BS/MS, etc.).

3

@NixonDenier Thanks. I’ve come to like Johns Hopkins a lot. They would fit into option 1. I really like the idea of a Mechanical engineering undergrad because it will provide a backup incase the aerospace industry goes down. However, I am concerned that Mechanical engineering with Aerospace concentration will not give me enough Aerospace background for grad school and employment. Is this concern correct or am I wrong (I would love to be wrong)

4

Does anyone have an answer for my previous question?

5

Well I’m not an expert but my husband worked in defense for many years at two of the biggest defense and aerospace firms. All of his colleagues were either mechanical engineers or industrial engineers.

Also…aerospace is a very volatile field. Job availability often depends on the political party in office at the time. Engineering is great when things are going really well. But always live within your means and be aware that layoffs are a very real possibility!

Good luck!

6

Honestly, grad school is where you’ll learn the detailed aerospace stuff, so any exposure at all to aerospace in undergrad will already put you ahead of many of your peers when starting a grad program. As carachel2 noted, the volatility of the aerospace profession makes having the versatile MechE education more valuable in my mind.

7

@NixonDenier ^^^^ yes!

Almost all of these MechE’s are grateful for career preparation that has helped them land in a variety of fields on their feet after defense layoffs. One is now working at a big motorcycle manufacturing plan!

8

Hi,
Would you please share your where you ended up going? I wonder if you can tell me your stats so I can chance myself. Thanks