Hi guys,
I’m in my third year of a Mech Eng degree Down Under. As part of getting accredited by Engineers Australia as chartered, practicing Engineers, there is a requirement to complete what’s known as IAP - which is 60 days/12 weeks continuous industry placement/research, mentored by a professor, and the basis of which then forms a thesis. Its a 40CP course, and takes up the bulk of one semester. People tend to do it in first semester 4th year, yet due to me being ahead on units, I have the option of taking it in T3 this year, so from October - January.
One of the options I am seriously looking at is doing my 12 weeks at a US Engineering school. Many people choose this option of doing IAP abroad (in fact our university often pushes people to do so), and we usually get backed by the university and government with a lot of financial support, with the added bonus of the uni doing all the liaising etc to get us on board onto a research project that will fit in with our branch of study happening at an international university.
Most Australian universities now no longer offer Aerospace, and although I am a Mechanical major, Aerospace is something I find fascinating and ultimately would love to carve my profession in; particularly anything that may involve propulsion systems, air-frame structures and so on.
My university (Griffith) has close ties with Purdue, Florida State, Illinois, Illinois State, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Miami, Pepperdine, Montana, Maine, Hawaii and a couple smaller ones. From the research I have done so far, really only Purdue, Illinois and Florida State would enter into any serious elite discussion for Aero from those above, correct?
My IAP can and will be supported by my uni if I choose a college outside of those, its just probably easier and the path of least resistance to just choose from those I listed above as there is already plenty of students being sent there via strong pre-existing relationships.
In terms of other schools, I understand Cal Tech, Ga Tech, Stanford all have impressive Aero programs too, and there’s nothing stopping me having the faculty at my uni contact them and see what may eventuate. Its a roll of the dice to see if those faculties will respond or not, simply as there isn’t a history of Griffith IAP Engineering students going there, so its up to my uni to do their best to get some sort of correspondence going with the faculty there and see if something can be arranged. There’s certainly no harm in trying!
In regards to grades, I have a feeling this doesn’t come into it that much for IAP requirements (as its simply a cutoff hurdle of being credit level or higher GPA - naturally totally different if pursuing a Ma/Phd understandably), but regardless I am sitting just under distinction level over my degree so far, so no problems there. FYI, with all the Honours courses (plus additional weighting for those) I have completed, it may end up a little bit more.
First and foremost, what I want to achieve in doing IAP in the US; is at an elite school with instant reputation recognition to build a very strong CV, a faculty/university with strong industry ties/relationships, and some nifty ongoing facilities/research that can hopefully all combine and correlate together leaving me significantly better off at the end of it in terms of potentially securing employment in the Aerospace (or related) field, whether that be in the US or anywhere for that matter. Ultimately, I will graduate and be looking for a job end of next year once all my 4th year studies are completed. If I can make that a far easier process due to the knowledge learned, experience gained and relationships forged at whichever US Eng school I choose to go to, then that is the ultimate goal.
Also, I’d obviously prefer a school/campus/location which can be welcoming of someone in my position, coming over from halfway around the world for 12 weeks to assist as an undergrad on a research project, not really knowing a soul in the US. It’d be nice to be at a school where the overall environment, faculty, peers, campus is a good one. 
FYI, I also happen to be 37 years of age, with plenty of life experience and another degree (and career) behind my belt in the past. As as a result, it would be nice to be part of an engineering school environment where being older with life experience doesn’t make me an anomaly, or put me at a disadvantage in being able to communicate/work with my peers and staff faculty.
Apologies for the long-winded first post! I appreciate any helpful advice you all may have