I’m currently a junior in high school looking to get my Bachelors in Aerospace engineering. I know it is a very hard degree to obtain, and there is lots of physics and calculus involved. I have taken AP Calculus BC and had little problem with it, and am taking AP Physics next year. I’m not amazing at physics, so I’m wondering how hard it would really be to obtain the degree. I don’t slack too often and I’m not that big a procrastinator, but will I still be up to my neck in work? And will it be possible to gain an understanding of all of the curriculum through studying if I do not understand it at first? Or do you need a very adept capability to understand physics concepts? And the same question about minoring in Biochemical Engineering, chemistry has always come somewhat easy to me and I love working out equations and learning how chemical processes work on the molecular level.
About 125,000 engineering degrees (BS) get awarded each year in the US (about 4,000 in Aerospace). It’s a rigorous curriculum, but very doable.
It usually takes two traits, work ethic and an affinity (not mastery) of math/sciences. If you do well in AP Calculus and Physics, that’s usually a good sign.
Good Luck!
First take the AP physics and see how you do. In college most engineering disciplines need at least two physics classes but most need three. You will need at least three Calculus classes as well. In the first year the second calculus and first physics and sometimes the second can be the weeder type classes. If by the end of the first semester /year you are still there but many of your classmates are not… You are doing well… Lol…
If you think you might not do well in high school or college from day one seek help from the teacher /professor. Colleges have a ton of help for these beginning classes as well. Peer to peer tutors. Special sessions for help in each class. T/A review sessions and yes professor hours. If you are weak then do your homework in one of those review sessions for let’s say physics 1. Since the student tutors are right there you can get help like on the spot. Also for these classes there are study groups. Do those. Many claim that is how they got through.
Aerospace and any biology/chemistry engineering (BME, Chem E, etc.) do not have a natural affinity for each other. You would have a shallow AE degree with a bunch of unapplicable other coursework. Spend your time on deepening your tech background in a single area, or choose to do something more alligned, ME with AE tech electives for example.
Why do you think you want aerospace? Do you want to be an astronaut who does research in space or do you want to be the engineer who develops space exploration process and may go on flights to study a related process?
Aerospace Engineering programs embraces the science and technologies that create, develop, and improve aircraft and spacecraft.
Many astronauts today do research in space in Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials etc. Many NASA administrators were never studied aeronautical engineering.
I know an astronaut whose background was all Chemical Engineering. They needed to run some very high tech experiments requiring his background (I think they were his experiments) while in space. Other space explorers never leave ground and design robots to walk on mars, etc.
Or do you want to live on Mars?
You don’t usually see a minor in Biochemical Engineering paired up with Aerospace (Mechanical, yes, AE not usually), but it’s not that uncommon to pair a minor with AE. Different schools will offer different minors. Look at your targeted schools to see what’s available.
For example, at Georgia Tech, there are special tracks for AE majors who want to minor in Energy Systems or in Scientific And Engineering Computing.
@“aero.engin”
You must see the latest edition of National Geographic! Are you sure you don’t want to study astrophysics?