ME/Aero Engineering Graduate School Questions

Graduate School
1

<p>I’m currently a junior and just beginning the graduate school process. I’m also not entirely sure that is what I want to do. In my post I will break down my experiences thus far, my qualifications, and my interests, and hopefully I can get some advice.</p>

<p>Duke University
Graduating May 2011 (Current Junior)
Bachelors of Science Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Spanish
Certificate: Aerospace Engineering (Involves taking a few core courses in addition to selecting my ME electives to concentrate in the field)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.33
Engineering GPA: 3.3
Spanish GPA: 3.78
GRE: Have not yet taken
SAT: 2150 (760M, 670V, 720W)</p>

<p>I would like to pursue a Masters or PHD Program in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering because I am interested in the field and I want to learn more in depth. I do not consider myself to be a future innovator or researcher in the field, as my experiences as Duke have taught me that I am far less naturally intelligent than I thought, but I still am very interested in engineering and feel my skills could best be utilized in a managerial role within the industry. This is not to say I am not qualified in my ability to be an engineer, but rather that I am being realistic with how to apply my talents.</p>

<p>My long term goal is to work for a company like Lockheed or Boeing, or even NASA.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Duke International Relations Association
In this club I have been involved with organizing and hosting Model United Nations conferences. I have chaired Duke’s first two college MUN conferences, and have held Dais positions for our long running High School MUN Conference.</p>

<p>Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
Within my Fraternity I have held the positions of New Member Educator and Assistant Recruitment Chair, two positions I consider to display organizational, charismatic, and leadership qualities.</p>

<p>Intramural Soccer
I have played intramural (fall and indoor) soccer for three years, serving as captain in 2007. Our team won the Sportsmanship Award in 2009.</p>

<p>Research</p>

<p>Since my freshman year I have been involved with a Professor who has been working on project called Micropower, which essentially involves designing a miniature steam engine that can power a battery. Its utility would be a vastly improved battery life.
However, my contributions to this project have been little, mainly due to my limited knowledge of the requisite mechanical engineering concepts during my freshman and sophomore years. I spent the majority of this time learning these things outside of the class room with individual meetings with graduate students also working on the project.<br>
This past fall I began working on a mathematical method of modeling rotor blade geometry based on input blade turn angles.</p>

<p>This spring I have started working with another student and grad student under the same professor for a project that involves using DNA and liposomes to store genetic memory. I still am in the very early stages of involvement with this project.</p>

<p>Summers/Internships</p>

<p>I have no internship experience primarily due to the fact that I have been taking Spanish classes during the summer. This past summer I took Spanish classes at Duke and then worked as a lifeguard for the remainder of the summer. This upcoming summer I am traveling to Madrid for six weeks to complete my minor. I have worked as a lifeguard for part of all of the summer for the past four summers.</p>

<p>One thing I may try to do is set up a summer internship or additional research at Duke or the surrounding area after Madrid as I will have summer housing available.</p>

<p>**Schools/Programs of Interest</p>

<p>Note: I have no conception of which programs for which I am competitive. These lists are solely on which schools I would like to attend that offer the programs in which I am interested. Any suggestions of where I would be competitive or match schools would be greatly appreciated.**</p>

<p>Aerospace Engineering</p>

<p>Stanford
Cornell
Michigan
Maryland
Princeton
Colorado – Boulder
RPI
USC
Virginia Tech</p>

<p>Mechanical Engineering</p>

<p>Northwestern
Duke (4+1 Masters Program)
Virginia
Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>What I am Looking for:</p>

<p>For me, what schools are matches, reaches, safeties?</p>

<p>With my credentials is it worth attending the graduate schools I could get into?</p>

<p>Should I apply to PHD programs even though I see myself eventually doing management over research? This is due to my personal qualities and not my interests, and I have a lot of interest in the fields.</p>

2

<p>I will tell you that you definitely don’t ant to apply for a PHD if you hate research . You’ll be spending 5 years in heel.
You probably won’t event need a thesis -based masters. There are many coursework based masters you should probably look at.
Many engineers choose to go work a few years and then go back for a degree in engineering management/mba if they want to go into a managerial position</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your response.</p>

<p>It’s not so much that I hate research as it is that I have realized that I am simply not as bright as some other students in college, which for me was not the case in high school. I say this with hesitation as again, I am still very confident in my abilities. If the research topic is exciting, I would definitely embrace the experience. I just see myself fitting best in a managerial role eventually.</p>

<p>Going to work for a few years and then doing an MBA is something I have considered as well.</p>

4

<p>I agree with Toussaint’s advice. Unless your heart is truly in it, a PhD is not where you want to be. If you really do want to become a manager, granted this can take on a plethora of meanings, you might want to work for a few years and go back for a more pertinent degree.</p>

<p>As far as the schools you listed, they tend to be a bit of a stretch. I wouldn’t say there is zero chance at most of them, but I wouldn’t say any of them are really a safety school either. You’ll definitely have a shot at some of them but you picked some of the best of the best really. You still have time to pull up your GPA a bit, nail the GREs, and I really recommend trying to find a relevant research experience/internship this summer to potentially get more experience and more importantly a stellar rec from a prof. </p>

<p>If Duke will let you sick around for a masters that might be the quickest and safest bet.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the input.</p>

<p>Any other advice?</p>

6

<p>I agree with everyone else. Doesn’t sound like the PhD is best for you.</p>

7

<p>One Year Bump…</p>

<p>So I went through my senior year and the application process. </p>

<p>GRE: 770/590/6.0</p>

<p>Major: ME w/ Aero Cert
Minor: Spanish
GPA: 3.44
Major GPA: 3.54</p>

<p>New EC
AIAA Co-Design Leader for the Design/Build/Fly RC Competition</p>

<p>Research Experience
Senior Capstone, UAV Wing Design for Military Applications (Fall 2010 – Spring 2011)

  1. Investigating aerodynamic efficiency improvements using non-planar designs</p>

<p>Research Assistant, DARPA OEF/OIF Economic Consulting Analysis (Summer 2010)

  1. Summarized Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports on fuel management and contracting
  2. Created inventory of specific aircraft used by the four major military branches from 2002-2009</p>

<p>Lab Assistant, Bio-Nano Device Development (Spring 2010)

  1. Performed NanoDrop experiment and data analysis to measure DNA concentration and absorbance
  2. Organized presentation on DNA sequencing
  3. Developed MATLAB script to model sequenced DNA data with Fourier transforms</p>

<p>Research Assistant, Turbine Blade Geometry Definition (Fall 2009)

  1. Authored Report on B</p>
8

<p>I’m defiently inspired by this…so keep updating on the remaining schools</p>

<p>I’m trying to do the same thing and I have similar stats but I go to a small university and have 2 semesters left.</p>

<p>What kind of research in aerospace did you apply towards for graduate school?</p>

9

<p>I am interested in a few things at the graduate level, including aerodynamics, acoustics, UAV design, and jet/rocket propulson.</p>

<p>Today I was unfortunately rejected from Cornell, but as I said I’m not really feeling a PhD right now.</p>

<p>I would to hear more opinions about Michigan/Maryland/Illinois especially if funding opportunities are different. Thanks!</p>

10

<p>Go to the one with funding. It’s not worth taking on a lot of debt.</p>

11

<p>bump. Anyone else have any advice?</p>

<p>I emailed 5 professors from Michigan and 2 replied back and said they have no funding. The other three haven’t replied in about 5 days. Anyone think it is worth going to Michigan to visit even if I have no idea if funding is possible?</p>

<p>I do think visiting Maryland in person presented me with this opportunity, but I was in the area already and there was no added cost. A trip to michigan will be expensive.</p>

12

<p>You mentioned Lockheed and NASA, and both are based in the DC area. Maryland might be a good choice. If you’re going to stop with the master’s, you might want to get it in the area you want to work in, so you can do some networking while working on your degree. </p>

<p>Have you looked at UWashington, for Boeing? Beautiful area. The Boeing plant is AMAZING! </p>

<p>Sounds like you’re doing some awesome stuff. Wishing you lots of luck!</p>

13

<p>Bump to Update</p>

<p>Accepted
Duke M.Eng. Mechanical - Grad Course credit reduces tuition to ~$24,000 for 1 year degree
Maryland M.S.E. Aerospace - Possible RA position and stipend
Michigan M.S.E. Aerospace - Going to Visit Monday
Illinois M.S.E. Aerospace w/ No Thesis - 50K in Loans Offered</p>

<p>Rejected
Princeton M.S.E. Aerospace
Stanford M.S.E. Management Science
Cornell Ph.D. Aerospace
Duke Ph.D. Mechanical</p>

14

<p>^^^Thanks for keeping us updated. Good going! Glad to hear Maryland is being generous. Are you doing a thesis at Maryland?</p>