Aerospace Engineering Career: Matt's Journey

  • Thread starter librab103
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In summary, Matt is a 26-year-old college student from South Florida who has been in college for 7 years and has changed degrees multiple times. He is now interested in pursuing a career in the aerospace industry with a focus on GNC and spacecraft automation. He is considering a double major in Computer engineering and Aerospace engineering for his BS, with concentrations in robotics, automation, and controls and dynamics. He plans on completing his MS in Aerospace engineering with a focus on controls and dynamics, finishing all of his degrees by the fall of 2017 at the age of 35. However, after receiving advice from others, he is now considering getting a BS in Mechanical engineering and a minor in Intelligent Robotic Systems, which would take him approximately
  • #1
librab103
11
0
Hello to all,

First of let me introduce myself to the PF community. My name is Matt and I am from South Florida but at the moment reside in VA. I am 26yo and been in college for a little more then 7 years. I have bounced around from degree to degree trying to figure out what I want to do and I think I've found it. I would like to do something in the aerospace industry either dealing with GNC and or automation of spacecraft s. For my BS I was thinking about double majoring in Computer engineering (CE) and Aerospace engineering (AE) with concentrations in robotics and automation for my CE and controls and dynamics for my AE. For my masters was plan on doing Aerospace Engineering with more in depth concentration in controls and dynamics. If I go this route I would be done by the fall of 2017, making me 35 when I am done.

After reading some of your posts it seems that I would be better of in doing a BS in Mechanical engineering (ME) followed by a masters in AE. Plus I could cut some years off if I do a minor/certificate in EE or CE. The school I am hopefully transferring to has no minors in engineering but has a minor in Intelligent Robotic Systems (IRS) which I think would be give me a good foundation to build off of. I would like to hear from you guys (and girls) about this idea. Thanks again for your responses.

-Matt
 
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  • #2
I'm not following your math, I'm afraid. You have 7 years' worth of credits (even supposing you've taken one course a semester), and you think a BS and an MS are going to take you 9 more years?

Are you taking a light course load because you need to work, or are you well off and just screwing around in school?
 
  • #3
Well, let me explain that in detail. Majority of the credits I have are in either graphic design classes or a mixture of lower level GRE or prerequisite classes for the degree I was working on at that time. Plus the 9 years includes getting two BS and one MS.
 
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  • #4
Get a job.

Or have I just been trolled?
 
  • #5
pdunc said:
Get a job.

Or have I just been trolled?

Whoa dude no need for that kinda stuff here. New to this board and you come out swinging? You don't know his business, maybe he had problems when he started off College, had to work full time to feed the family or whatever, we all have bumps and runs, but the point is he's making effort for the better and the long term.
 
  • #6
librab103 said:
Well, let me explain that in detail. Majority of the credits I have are in either graphic design classes or a mixture of lower level GRE or prerequisite classes for the degree I was working on at that time. Plus the 9 years includes getting two BS and one MS.

There is probably no need to get 2 BS's. I would just major in ME and either get a minor/minors in EE/CE/AE (Or just take classes you enjoy or think would be useful to your future job). And then go straight to the Masters. Since I'm guessing you already have all the general credits completed, a BS should probably only take 2-3 years, followed by (I"m guessing) a 2 year Masters.
 
  • #7
EnSvensk said:
There is probably no need to get 2 BS's. I would just major in ME and either get a minor/minors in EE/CE/AE (Or just take classes you enjoy or think would be useful to your future job). And then go straight to the Masters.

I thought about it last night and have decided to do a ME with a minor. As a lot of people have pointed doing a BS in ME will open a lot of doors for me down the road.

EnSvensk said:
Since I'm guessing you already have all the general credits completed, a BS should probably only take 2-3 years, followed by (I"m guessing) a 2 year Masters.

Unfortunately, some of the GREs for one degree are consider electives for another. I still have to take some general GREs like Foreign Langauge and some histories. Things of that nature. So that is about an extra year or so of just those classes so I am looking at 3-4 years for the BS and about 2 years for the MS and that is with taking 12+ credits each semester.
 
  • #8
Hippo said:
Whoa dude no need for that kinda stuff here. New to this board and you come out swinging? You don't know his business, maybe he had problems when he started off College, had to work full time to feed the family or whatever, we all have bumps and runs, but the point is he's making effort for the better and the long term.

Getting a job isn't bad advice.
Think of the debt someone has to get into when studying for 15-odd years at university, especially in the US. No career, save hedgefund manager, is going to be able to pay that off.

Check out this story:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/23/pf/college/student_loan_fugitives/index.htm?postversion=2008102407
People literally fleeing the country because they can't make loan repayments.

Could be that he's independently wealthy and can pay cash up-front for his courses. If so he can study until retirement and not worry about getting a pay-cheque.
 
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  • #9
pdunc said:
Getting a job isn't bad advice.
Think of the debt someone has to get into when studying for 15-odd years at university, especially in the US. No career, save hedgefund manager, is going to be able to pay that off.

Check out this story:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/23/pf/college/student_loan_fugitives/index.htm?postversion=2008102407
People literally fleeing the country because they can't make loan repayments.

Could be that he's independently wealthy and can pay cash up-front for his courses. If so he can study until retirement and not worry about getting a pay-cheque.

I do work. When I was an instate student living in Florida most if not all of my classes were paid either by Finical Aid or grants. Moving to Virginia has caused me to be an out-of-state student who now has to take out loans to pay for classes because Finical Aid isn't covering it. One reason why some semesters I only take 6-7 credits sometimes 9.

I have heard about some people leaving the country because of not being able to pay for their loan debt. My loans are not to bad right now. Would like to keep it like that. One reason why I am going back to Florida and applying to become instate again.

-Matt
 
  • #10
Matt:

I tend to agree with EnSvensk that getting a DUAL major isn't needed (especially a dual in two types of engineering); pick the field that is the BEST fit for your interests, and then take upper level electives from other branches if you want to fill out your degree some... and maybe try to do some work in a faculty member's lab (the experience will be good for employment prospects and graduate admissions prospects).

The time-line of ~5 years therefore sounds sufficient, especially since you have general education credits out of the way. I worked part time for the Air Force while I worked on on a master's degree (electro-optics / optical engineering), and that degree was still completed (with thesis) in ~2 years. Note: Aerospace engineering graduate programs tend not to pay as well as other types, especially for terminal masters degrees (which often are unfunded)... but you should, of course, try to balance economics and doing what you want.
 

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering?

I have always been fascinated by space and the possibility of exploring beyond Earth. As I grew up, I became more interested in the technology and engineering behind space exploration and decided to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

2. What are the main responsibilities of an Aerospace Engineer?

Aerospace Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and testing aircraft and spacecraft. This includes developing and testing propulsion systems, designing and analyzing aircraft structures, and ensuring the safety and reliability of aerospace systems.

3. What skills and qualifications are necessary for a career in Aerospace Engineering?

A successful Aerospace Engineer needs a strong foundation in math and physics, as well as excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. A degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field is typically required, and experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software and programming languages is also beneficial.

4. What are some challenges that you face as an Aerospace Engineer?

One of the biggest challenges in Aerospace Engineering is keeping up with rapidly advancing technology and constantly evolving regulations. Additionally, working on complex and high-risk projects can be demanding and require a high level of attention to detail and precision.

5. What advice do you have for someone interested in pursuing a career in Aerospace Engineering?

My advice would be to never stop learning and stay curious. Take advantage of internships and other opportunities to gain hands-on experience and network with professionals in the field. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions and seek guidance from experienced engineers.

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