Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Ok, so my ultimate goal is to work for NASA as an aerospace engineer or astronaut.... would it be better to first get a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and then a master's in aerospace, or is it just as good to get a bachelor's in aerospace and a master's in aerospace/something else similar?? I'm also entertaining the idea of doing a double major with physics. Currently I'm planning to go to Purdue next year with $10,000 a year scholarship... but I'm also on the high priority waitlist at U of Michigan Ann Arbor and I'm wondering, if I do happen to get off the waitlist, what would be a better choice? Purdue will be about $20,000 a year cheaper for me.... is there a real difference in their programs? Also, I really want to go to grad school at MIT.... does the undergrad university I come from have much importance??</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>Both are just as good, but you may find your MS courses easier after a BS in AAE.</p></li>
<li><p>Michigan is ranked 3rd and Purdue is 6th in AAE, so from an academic perspective I don't think Michigan is worth $80,000 a year more than Purdue. But it depends on your financial situation and preferences.</p></li>
<li><p>You'll have to be one of the top few students in your major at either Michigan or Purdue to get into MIT, so it makes little difference.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I'm a grad student in engineering at Stanford, so I can answer more questions about grad school if you have any.</p>

3

<p>I suggest you major in ME as an undergrad and take aero classes as electives. You will end up with a more general (and employable) undergraduate degree should you choose not to go to grad school. If you do go on, a BSME will not be a problem for an advanced degree in aero.</p>

4

<p>Princeton University puts both Mechanical E and Aerospace E in the same department, and its one of the top programs in the country for both grad and undergrad, so I would do aerospace first, and then try for MIT or Princeton as a grad student, especially if you will have training in Physics as your 2nd major. In my view, it would just as well give you the well-roundedness as a B.S.E in Mech E would. I'm not an engineer, but I am in the sciences, and sometimes having a degree of specialization, with evidence of performance and talent, is a very good thing.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the advice so far =)</p>