<p>kw:</p>
<p>Go ERAU?</p>
<p>Lots of AE jobs ask for either an AE or ME degree. At my school, as an ME you can take technical electives in AE.</p>
<p>Even though the market probably is going downhill for a while, there are so many old engineers retiring, those of us entering college should at least be able to replace the existing/decreasing workforce.</p>
<p>Weirdly enough, I've had managers I've interviewed with at large, reputable space companies tell me the future looks grim for their department, but the company is shifting to refocus to take the least hit during the transition and engineers have a strong outlook. </p>
<p>It's all dependent on who you talk to and how frank they are willing to be.</p>
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On the other hand, getting an MBA after your engineering degree will put you into the management track. You can get too specialized with earning a Master's and PhD, making it more difficult to get hired.
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<p>I don't think that an MBA is better than a PhD in management. I doubt that the Jet Propulsion Lab in CA has more MBAs than advanced degrees in management. I have been working for more than 20 years and none of my managers has an MBA (although I am not in AE).</p>
<p>To the guy who mentioned military aerospace, both the Air Force & Navy are swamped with pilot applications and it's much harder to get into the program; that is, if you can even get through OCS & flight school. While yes, they are building lots of new planes, they're also retiring alot of them, and retraining aviators on the new platforms. Hell, they just retired the famed 'stealth', the F-117 Nighthawk, last Tuesday.</p>
<p>Is aerospace engineering one of the most rewarding engineering majors though?</p>
<p>That totally depends on who you ask. Everybody will give you a different answer.</p>
<p>It is totally dependant on you. Each person is different. I used to do volunteer security at my church. To me, that was rewarding, but to some of my friends, it would have been the most boring job on earth.</p>
<p>I was looking at a ME major and an AE minor but I guess I should change my plans. Does anybody know if a person gets paid more by a government job for AE? Like NASA? or for a private job? Are international students eliglible for government jobs?</p>
<p>about government jobs, i think most of positions will require you to have US citizenship for security clearance reasons.</p>
<p>USAJOBS</a> -</p>
<p>here's the job search results for NASA's ME, AE positions and pretty much all of them requires US Citizenship.</p>
<p>Aerospace is not just spacecraft, it involves the study of both aircraft and spacecraft, while aeronautical deals only with aircraft. Going for aeronautical limits you to just aircrafts while aerospace lets you go into either aircraft/spacecraft. I am an international undergrad majoring in AE. I chose it out of passion. Based on my experience so far I have not made a mistake. Moreover aerodynamic principles, structures are also used in automobiles, turbines, and other machines. </p>
<p>Also I think its better to get a masters over job experience, as there are a lot of principles involved that one needs to master to be a successful ae engineer. To gain this knowledge just through work experience will take significantly longer time.</p>
<p>Also if you are into aerospace for money, I would strongly suggest to change your major.</p>
<p>hey missil3, if I do mechE, will I limit myself in the AE aspect. Just don't want to limit myself to AE, but isn't mechE a lot like AE? and can't you go to AE like jobs with mechE...</p>
<p>With MechE you will have a lot more options, but it depends on what you want to do . With mech even if you have job in an aerospace company you would be doing CAD/ other mech related jobs. But if you want to work on say structures/composites/aerodynamics you need a AE degree. A lot of them say AE and ME are almost the same , but there are only same until the end of your first semester as a sophomore. After that you will have mostly AE related courses.</p>
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But if you want to work on say structures/composites/aerodynamics you need a AE degree
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<p>Or a masters in structural engineering for the structures, or a masters in mech or structures plus finite element experience for the aerodynamics.</p>
<p>Many routes, many degree paths, many end results.</p>
<p>false. aeronautical is aircraft. astronautical is spacecraft. aerospace is the study of both. aerospace is what most have.</p>
<p>how are aerospace jobs in private firms for internationals?</p>
<p>Aerospace jobs for internationals requires security clearance, so companies are a little reluctant to hire internationals. But if you can show them that you have the potential, you can get a job.</p>
<p>is there any internships available for international students during their first years
in aerospace companies</p>
<p>more grim news for AE, Lockheed's presidential helicopter program is in jeopardy. if it's cancelled, that probably means lots of seasoned engineers will be looking for new jobs or at least that the companies involved in the contract won't be hiring many new grads.</p>