Physics BS then Aerospace MS or Engineering Physics MS?

[lightningmil]

I am currently pursuing a BS in Physics and a BS in Astronomy (a lot of the classes are the same). The thing is, I have been in love with NASA my whole life and thought I should go for an AE degree but multiple people who know aerospace engineers at NASA said not to go into such a "specific degree" (?) and instead to do ME or physics. Well I got out of AE in my college application which took me out of the engineering school and I chose to do physics. I thought I loved astrophysics but I just don't see myself as a researcher but more of an engineer. There is a "Space Science" option of physics at my school which also takes AE courses along with Physics courses up to Quantum II (so no Quantum III nor a Senior Thesis) I can't make myself let go of the astronomy BS so if I do the space science option, I will probably need one more semester after the four years. If I do the regular option, I will have loads of space in my schedule for senior year but the AE and ME classes are restricted to those majors. I was thinking that if I do the space science option, then the MS in AE won't be bad and if I do the regular physics option, I could do an MS in engineering physics (because it also sounds cool) but I will have to go into Quantum III which seems really hard and do a senior thesis which sounds scary. I was thinking of working more on satellites and space telescopes amungst other things an AE or EP would do. Can anyone help? BTW I am going to start my sophomore year in college.

 

[Visceral]

Aerospace engineers said not to get an aerospace engineering degree? That sure sounds odd, especially when astrophysics is so different than aerospace engineering. How about speak to aerospace engineers yourself? Just email lots of people in the field and ask what you should do. I would imagine having experience in physics is good, but the mechanical engineering/aerospace engineering coursework seems much more relevant to what you want to do.

 

[lightningmil]

I think the reason they said not to major in such a "specific degree" is because they think I wouldn't get jobs for AE majors right out of the bat. You know? Maybe? Maybe they thought you should start out as a MechE and work your way up or something and then get an AE master's...