IMHO, look for a program that has a lot of hands-on/practical application, a program where the professors try to tie in the classroom instruction into real-world problems because they expect their students to go out into industry after graduation. A few examples:- I know of one AE structures professor at Kansas who has his students design a simple wing, analyze its strength, and then build it and test it.- Friends from ERAU designed, built, flew, and tested large R/C models- Delft (in Europe) apparently designs and builds full-scale aircraft every few yearsI say this because the AE program I went through was not like this. It was heavily academic-oriented and basically set up with the assumption and expectation that you were going to go to grad school and be a researcher. I was poorly prepared and deficient in some areas (vibrations/controls and structural analysis) and what education I did get in those areas was not along the “standard” lines of what you’d expect from an aero engineer. Instead it tended to follow the professor’s own pet projects and favorite topics. Any concern expressed about this was dismissed as “that’s what co-ops are for” (see below). Another thing to look for is a good co-op program; you want a school that is supportive of co-ops. Co-ops are like internships, but instead of just working somewhere for one summer, you keep going back to the same place every other semester/quarter. Usually you become eligible after about 3-4 semesters and will do 3-5 work rotations (note: there’s no “summer off” during this—you will work or go to school during summer semesters and it will take you longer to graduate, but IT’S WORTH IT). I strongly recommend a co-op if at all possible. Not only does it provide some income, but it’s real-world work experience and it will be extremely valuable come graduation when you start looking for jobs. My co-op experience translated into a full-time offer, and I’m still here.Also, finding a “good school” is important, but if you have a halfway decent school with an ME or AE program in state (or somewhere you can qualify for in state tuition OR a really good scholarship) I’d strongly consider it. Which school you went to, and even your grades, won’t matter much a few years after you graduate, but student loans (if you use them) will probably stay with you a long, long time. IMHO it’s better to go to the decent in-state school and come out with relatively little debt, than to go to the “best” school and come out with a small mortgage’s worth of debt. In fact, I’d even consider knocking out your first year or two of basic classes at a local state college, and then transferring to the “big” school. You may miss some of the “campus experience” that way, but it can save you a lot of money and be a better transition for a lot of people. And don’t feel embarrassed if you take a year or two to work and save up before going to college. Honestly I think it would solve a lot of problems if everyone had to do that, but I digress... Last, what’s driving you to want to work in aerospace? There’s a reason I’m asking...
