Chance me for AE programs!

Graduate School
1

I am a current sophomore graduating in 2023 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering (focus in Astronautical Engineering) and minor in Computer Science (focus on Data Structures and AI). Please chance me for my intended schools and/or give me suggestions for other programs I may like!

Demographics: Asian Female, middle class, struggled with mental disorders (and imposter syndrome :/) during the semester of fall 2020 but on an upward trend!

GPA (current): 3.53/4.00 (B.Eng honors. I will not list my school because I would like to stay as anon as possible but it is a top 10 Aerospace Engineering (and top 10 Engineering school) Undergraduate school)

GRE: Not taken it yet but my practice score range is 166-170 Q + 155-158 V. I am pretty good with writing so I am estimating a 3.5-4.5 on the AW.

Student Orgs: AIAA, (sorority name that I will not list here)

Research:

  • Conducting own research under an undergraduate research program and with my partner in Aerospace Materials (combines mechse and spacecraft structural design)

  • Lab research (undergraduate research position) under mechse professor and ae professor

Internships:

  • I haven’t made a complete decision for what internship I want to do this summer but it is between Lockheed Martin and Collins Aerospace. (Hopefully JPL/NASA when they or if they get back to me :frowning: )

Programs I am looking at:

  • CALTECH (galcit; space engineering)
  • MIT (AeroAstro; space systems/Space Propulsion/controls)
  • Cornell (Aerospace Engineering; Aerodynamics/ Aerospace Systems /Dynamics and Control /Material and Structures)
  • USC (Astronautical Engineering; they have no specific specializations listed lol)
  • Princeton (MAE; Propulsion and Energy Science/ Applied Physics/ Control Robotics and Dynamics)
  • Stanford (Aeronautics and Astronautics; not exactly sure what three courses of the four areas I want to take yet)
  • UCLA (Aerospace Engineering; systems and control)

Aside from chancing me, please suggest any other programs I may like! I love being in control of my own research and projects, and I like rigorous courses that make me think like an engineer and scientist. This ties into my future aspirations of either becoming an astronaut, or holding a professional research position, or being an engineering project manager at NASA/SpaceX or similar Astronautics companies

2

OP here, I forgot to mention that I am also a CA for a Diff Eq class. I don’t know if that will change anything but just an update.

3

Have you thought about Purdue? Purdue University’s graduate aerospace engineering department is often mentioned in the same breath as the others you have listed, if you are willing to consider a school not on the coasts. They have extensive research facilities, and their AE department has breadth comparable to the range you have listed.

From their website:
"Research areas include:

  • Aerodynamics
  • Aerospace Systems
  • Astrodynamics and Space Applications
  • Autonomy and Control
  • Propulsion
  • Structures and Materials"

More info at : Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Purdue University

4

Thanks for the response? What did you mean by “in the same breath”?

5

I meant that if several of your other schools are listed, Purdue is often included at the same time, at least in forums I see.

But maybe I can be less subjective if I say that Purdue is consistently near the top of Aero Engineering rankings, grouped among the ones you mention, and has earned the nickname “Cradle of Astronauts” for good reason. 25 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, are alumni.

6

@Vk270801 Georgia Tech, Michigan, Purdue, Illinois, Texas, and Texas A&M are all top-10 rated AE graduate programs. My son graduated from A&M and is completing his third year in Michigan’s AE PhD program. He is studying computer modeling of electric propulsion. With your CS background, you might consider adding a PhD in Scientific Computing to your AE PhD. Quite a few graduate schools offer this now, including Michigan. My son intends to qualify for this.

Overall, you want to match your interests with the school’s particular specialties.