Is Aerospace Engineering a good major to pursue?

[Goopy17]

I know the field is kind of slow right now, but do you think it will pick up? It interests me a lot and I would love to work for Boeing after college. Do you think it will be in demand in 5-6 years?
Thanks!

Also, a kid I know wants to be one and he said all the baby boomers will retire in about that time.

 

[Astro_Dude]

Also, a kid I know wants to be one and he said all the baby boomers will retire in about that time.

They've been saying that for 10 years.

 

[HyperSniper]

They've been saying that for 10 years.

Yeah, the problem was that the economy slowed down and all the baby boomers realized that the retirement they thought was going to be there wasn't. So they're sticking around for a while longer...

 

[Angry Citizen]

I say go for it. Even if you don't get into Boeing, there are plenty of jobs that an aerospace engineer can do. Also, think internationally.

 

[jhae2.718]

If you go the aero route, try and get an internship with Boeing. That'll go a long way towards getting a job, and, IIRC, will get you a higher starting salary.

 

[AVReidy]

I wanted to become an aeronautical engineer for a long time, but now I feel that engineering fields like that are risky and not well defined. I realized that software engineering and web development is really rewarding, and there are plenty of programming jobs out there. Plus, if you have a brilliant idea for a website or an application, you can develop it yourself, unlike if you think of a cool airplane design.

I think it would be cool to engineer jet engines though... I guess there isn't one specific job title for designing those. Aeronautical engineers for the fans and turbines, and mechanical engineers for the shafts and fuel systems and whatnot maybe?

 

[jhae2.718]

I'd also like to point out that aerospace engineers do *not* just do aerodynamics. There are a wide variety of specializations, from aerodynamics, which most people think of when they hear "aerospace engineer", to dynamics and controls, materials, structures, human factors, etc.

Aerospace engineers can do mechanical engineering work (the reverse is also true), so it's not as if you're going jobless if you don't get hired to do wind tunnel testing for Boeing.