Hi, I got accepted into Cal Poly Pomona’s engineering department as a mechanical engineering major and will be attending next year as a freshman. I want to go to a top school for grad school, and my dream would be to attend Caltech and enroll in their Grad Program for Aerospace engineering. I know that Caltech is probably the most selective out of all graduate aerospace programs in the country, so I need to stand out as best I can.
My question is besides having a great GPA, getting good internships, and excelling at engineering clubs in the school, what mechanical/aerospace engineering research could I partake in at CPP, and if CPP does not have any good projects to take part in is there anyway that I can conduct mechanical/aerospace research outside of my school (at a different institution)? I want to get good research experience under my belt with a portfolio and a thesis that I can put on my application.
Get involved in the Kellogg Honor College. Professors usually recircuit research students there, and that helps to make your portfolio looks better as an honor student. They also provide support (either financial or counseling) to honor students.
Get good grades in your freshmen year. Good grades can help you be recircuited to do research in your sophomore year. (Students usually do it in their junior year)
To go to a top tier grad school, you have to build a good relationship with your professor so that they can write you a good letter of recommendation. Noted that many engineering professors in CPP graduate from top tier school (such as MIT, CalTech, USC, UCLA, Princeton .. ). That helps to some certain extend.
The rumors that students in CPP don't do any research is a scam. We do research but the spaces are just limited.
You can do research outside of CPP, such as the Undergraduate Project Research program in NASA. You will know more about that once you get in.
GOOD LUCK! GO BRONCO!
P.S. BS of ChemE from CPP, MS of MatSciE from USC.