<p>Hi,
I was hoping somebody could give me some tips for what I am trying to do, or has possibly followed a similar path to what I am attempting.</p>
<p>I receieved a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara in Studio Arts. I had about a 3.5 GPA and got nothing lower than a B in any of my classes. I simply had no diection and did not apply my self to work towards something harder. </p>
<p>I got my M.A. in Education and held a GPA of 3.9. I took the first two levels of Calculus classes about 2 years ago to help qualify me to teach math, which is what I do now. I recieved B's in both of those classes. It has taught how much I love math and how it applies to the real world, and have been fascinated with the space industry and spacecraft.</p>
<p>Now, I want to go back to school for Engineering, specifically in Aerospace. I'd prefer not to go back for an additional Bachelor's. I have spoken to multiple Universities about applying to their grad programs without having a B.S. in aerospace, and they say that it is not a requirement to have one. They say I should go to a community college and take lots of math and physics classes, and that it is possible for me to get in.</p>
<p>I am looking at schools like UCI, as well a smany other UC schools, Stanford.</p>
<p>My questions are the following: 1) Has anybody done something similar to this? Part of me believes them when they say that it is possible, but part of me feels that they have to say that and that I really have no chance. 2) Can anybody give me any suggestions or ideas for strengthening my application? For example internship ideas, letter of intent tips, or anything else. 3) Does anybody have some ideas of other schools that accept students who do not have a B.S. in Engineering?</p>
<p>Anything you could give me would be appreciated.</p>
<p>You will definitely need to take calculus 3, differential equations and linear algebra to catch up in math. You probably should take basic computer programming class as well, since your background doesn’t sound like you have likely done that. You will also definitely need the standard physics series (mechanics, electricity & magnetism, quantum, thermal, etc). After that, you will be… sort of passable I suppose. You still will never have taken a statics or solid mechanics course, a fluids course or thermodynamics, dynamics or controls. You may find a few programs that will want you to know the basics of those subjects first as well, or you may find some who will let you in if you then just take those classes once you arrive on campus. Either way, between now and getting your MS will probably be a good 8 to 10 semesters at least.</p>
<p>At the very least, you would need to take all of the lower division math, physics, and engineering (materials, statics, electronics, computing, etc.) courses at your local community colleges (in California, see [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) ). Then you would still likely have to take the core upper division courses before going on to graduate level courses and research.</p>
<p>I don’t think things are QUITE as dire as many people here seem to think. The reality is that is all depends on your specific ambitions and what specialty you want to pursue. Going back for an aerospace BS is really the only way to get the broad education that would allow you to explore and choose a specialty of your choice, but if you already know your desired specialty then you can take a quicker route. Any grad program is really only going to build off of a relative handful of senior-level courses, and as long as you have taken those courses (and their prereqs, and THEIR prereqs, ad infinitum) you are positioned to apply to the program. Now, given your particular background you are still probably a good 2-3 semesters of full-time study away from applying, but it is a shorter path at least.</p>
<p>As to your specific questions:</p>
<p>
My wife went from education BS to archaeology MS, and I had a friend from high school who went from business BS to engineering BS years later.</p>
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This early in your preparation, all I will suggest is to get some serious coursework under your belt.</p>
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Most programs will at least consider you (or at least they say they will), but remember that grad admissions is so unique in the first place that it becomes hard to really tell how much they are doing so. I would suggest applying to a more broad range of schools than you normally might, and do no shy away from the better schools - some “top” programs will spurn applicants with any apparent weaknesses, others will embrace less typical candidates.</p>
<p>One of the best ways to prove your worth to graduate schools is to take a graduate level class as an undergrad. This is true even for MIT/Stanford/Caltech/Berkeley/Princeton. Don’t do it if it doesn’t work out conveniently, but it’s something to improve your application.</p>