Questions about aerospace engineering career

[ColinM]

I am considering a career in either astronautics or aerospace engineering. I have always been interested in space travel. It's one of the few things that I actually spend time researching (along with the physics involved with it).
I am hoping to work with NASA or a company such as Virgin Galactic to help develop and engineer spacecraft or sub-orbital craft.

The thing is, I am a bit clueless as to what options are as far as colleges and majors in this area. I am pretty sure that I would be interested in getting a Ph.D in the field as well.

I am currently a sophomore in high school, and I want to have a plan for when I start picking out colleges the next couple of years. I am making good grades in all of my classes (I have an A average), and I am good with most math (except geometry-too many theorems and proofs. I prefer equations). Any information I could get regarding this would be great.
Thanks.

 

[jhae2.718]

I'll let someone else chime in on colleges, but here are a few thoughts.

I’d recommend you take as much math and physics as possible as you can in high school. Try to do AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC. These will give you a good background for your first year courses.

Depending on the program, you'll do both aircraft and spacecraft , and will specialize through your electives. You'll also either specialize in aerofluids and propulsion, dynamics and control (this is what I am specializing in), or materials and structures.

For NASA, the best way to get a job is through their internship and coop program. Most of the engineers NASA hires did a coop/internship with them.