Car design, what major?

<p>I know that I want to work with cars. I've loved cars since I was 2 years old, and still do, and so I'm certain I'll be happy in a career in automotive design. Unfortunately, I can't seem to figure out what major to take and what college to go to in order to design cars.</p>

<p>I want to work with either:
a- Designing engines, engine management, the underpinnings of cars.
b- Aerodynamics/ aerodynamic design.</p>

<p>I also am looking for a top-notch school to go to. Not quite at the MIT level because my grades aren't high enough, but anything below I believe I can shoot for. And if I go to this school, what would my major be? Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical engineering...?</p>

<p>thanks for any help</p>

<p>Mechanical engineering is what you want to take. I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve loved cars since I was little. I love working on cars and I love just being around cars lol. Currently I race stock cars (dirt track). My dad raced from 2000-03, and I’ve been racing since 2006.</p>

<p>We have built motors for our racing team and I just love seeing how they work, and knowing what it takes to get more performance out of them (i.e. porting/polishing the heads and intake, spiral grooving the exhaust manifold, selecting the right cam, working on the carb to get the right fuel/air mixture, etc).</p>

<p>My dream job: Working for Roush (or other similar performance company) designing performance engines. </p>

<p>I’ll be going to Kansas State in 2012 and will continue to race until I’m unable to climb in and out of a racecar.</p>

<p>I’m going to say Mechanical, with Aerospace a not-so-distance 2nd place. One of those two for sure, and of the two, almost surely Mechanical.</p>

<p>Aerospace would let you do a lot of aerodynamics work but you would be limited on engine stuff, so I would stick to mechanical unless you are 100% sure you want to do aerodynamics. With mechanical you could technically do either, but there will be more of a learning curve when you do aerodynamics.</p>

<p>What about industrial design with a transportation track at somewhere like U of Cincinnati? - if you’re looking more at design, that is. US News has Virginia Tech, U of Illinois, Chicago, and RIT as top industrial design schools.</p>

<p>Industrial design won’t get him into the real technical side of things though.</p>

<p>Cool, its nice to see people with the same ideas as me. I wonder if you can minor in aerospace…</p>

<p>So, if I was going to Mechanical, would there be any variation in the courses? So would the material be geared more towards one career or another depending on the school?</p>

<p>The material is similar at all ABET accredited schools. You gear it towards your desired profession using your electives.</p>

When you say Aerodynamics that includes the design of the car right? Meaning the look. Or after production you would run the aerospace testing? Im looking for a major that will get me to designing the look.

There are many parts to a car, truck and moving vehicles in general. Agree with ME major. I could make a case for Materials engineering as well. The University of Alabama has Co op opportunites with leading companies that can offer you experience towards your goal.

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