<p>I will be entering my sophomore year of high school in the fall. I know that this sounds way too early to even be thinking about life after high school, but I recently began taking glider pilot lessons, and ever since I began, I have been fascinated by flight and want to understand the technology enabling air and space flight. Possibly next summer, I will earn my Private Pilot Certificate and begin taking powered flight airplane lessons. My current goal is to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, major in Aerospace Engineering, and serve as a Naval Aviator. After my service obligation is complete, I would want to go to graduate school (not sure where I would want to go) and get a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. With that said, what careers would be possible for someone with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering?</p>
<p>It is not too early to think about life after high school, but it is WAY too early to think too much about a Ph.D. in anything given you haven’t even started that course of study yet. A Ph.D. is for people who are truly passionate about the technical aspects of their field and basically sets you up for a career in research. It tends to close a lot of other doors though so you have to think long and hard about whether that is what you want.</p>