College Prep

[FIDOSOL]

I'm looking for advice on how to proceed. What should I be doing in preparation for college? I'll be pursuing a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering. Of the 65 colleges with accredited Aerospace Engineering programs I've eliminated 36 of them. The remaining 29 are viable options.

How many colleges should I be prepared to apply to?

I won't be attending until 2014, but ever since I made up my mind to go back to school it's all I can think about.

 

[Bolty]

First start by finding the one with the highest female to male ratio.

 

[Cecilsan]

If 29 are viable, apply to 29

Think of it as a job, the more you apply to the greater the chance of getting "hired" Of course that means more work as well

 

[2004xb12s]

Look at the ones that assist with internships and on the job training. Also look for the schools that have the highest placement percentage of jobs in your field of study after graduation

 

[J20tD]

Coming from a current college student, look into the placement rating of jobs that you are looking to go into. Also go visit a few of them and see what they are like. I crossed off a bunch of colleges on my list after i went to go visit them. Good luck by the way.

 

[snrusnak]

Good luck, I finished an engineering degree last december and man was it tough. It is worth it though. I'd personally apply to any school you want to go to. And if you're not certain you'll get in to them, apply to some ones you know you'll get into, just to be safe. I hear aerospace is real tough, I did civil, one of the easier of the engineering programs...

 

[08levin]

If you know which companies you want to work for, check which one's they focus their recruiting at. Big companies are focusing on big name schools that they can send one recruiter to and get hundreds of candidates.

If you want a list of what schools are targeted by the company I'm at, send me a pm. I wouldn't be suprised if most of the major Aerospace Companies use the same or similar list.

 

[CrazyTexan]

I'd go to a community college for 2 years and save some $. Have smaller classes easier comminicating with teachers, better parking lots... and then transfer into a big university. Student loans suck to deal with. Getting them, and paying them back.

 

[skinner]

iowa has a 4 to 1 woman to male ratio and is ranked number 12 party school in the country.ive been to iowa city to party.good goodtimes.my cousin goes there and the education is top notch.if it is one of your 29 it would be my choice.go hawkeyes

 

[snrusnak]

I'd go to a community college for 2 years and save some $. Have smaller classes easier comminicating with teachers, better parking lots... and then transfer into a big university. Student loans suck to deal with. Getting them, and paying them back.

I'll second that and third that. If I would have went to CC for the first two years I would have saved about $30,000.00 of student loans. Now I'll be paying that off for the next 10-30 years...

 

[redbolt04]

I'd go to a community college for 2 years and save some $. Have smaller classes easier comminicating with teachers, better parking lots... and then transfer into a big university. Student loans suck to deal with. Getting them, and paying them back.

I'll second that and third that.  If I would have went to CC for the first two years I would have saved about $30,000.00 of student loans.  Now I'll be paying that off for the next 10-30 years...

This times 10! I went right to a 4yr, cost me a good chunk. Have a few friends who are graduating with me with the same degree, in the same amount of time with half the debt. they went the tech school for 2yrs route. In hind sight, that would have been great. But from the other side of the fence, I had a well established friends base, and many people in my major that I knew quite well. So when your in the hardest of the classes at the end I have many people to work with and such, where my friends whom went the tech route rely on me.

 

[GOduc]

get your financial aid squared away with the government, based on your income see how much they will give you (per year), and then base your decision off cost of attendance

 

[FIDOSOL]

First off, thank you everyone, I honestly didn't expect to get this many responses.

Bolty - I don't think that's a good idea for me, I have a magnet somewhere in my body for crazy.

Cecilsan - That's what I was thinking would be the appropriate way to go about it. This is my future after all, may as well stack the odds in my favor.

2004xb12s, J20tD - I honestly hadn't thought of that, logically I should have. Thanks for putting it out there for me.

snrusnak - The 29 colleges are a combination of schools that I really want to go to, and a few that I'm fairly certain I'll get accepted at, but still have good programs.

08Levin - I don't really have any companies in mind, I just want to get into the field. I have no issues going where ever the jobs are when I get done with college. I will look at this though, and see which companies recruit from the colleges that I have on my list. Also, what part of the aerospace industry are you employed in?

skinner - Unfortunately Iowa didn't make the cut. Aside from that, I'll have 8 years of partying in the US Army, on 3 different continents, by the time I go to college.

CrazyTexan, snrusnak, redbolt04 - I forgot to mention, the 29 colleges that are on my list I won't actually have to pay anything for. Combination of the yellow ribbon program and my GI Bill, not including any other forms of financial aid. So in 2013, when I fill out my FAFSA, I'll go back through those other 36 schools. I know for a fact that at least 5 of them missed the mark by $5,000 or less.

Again, thanks everyone, keep the advice coming.

 

[FIDOSOL]

GOduc - I forgot to mention, the 29 colleges that are on my list I won't actually have to pay anything for. Combination of the yellow ribbon program and my GI Bill, not including any other forms of financial aid. So in 2013, when I fill out my FAFSA, I'll go back through those other 36 schools. I know for a fact that at least 5 of them missed the mark by $5,000 or less.

 

[FIDOSOL]

Anyone have opinions on private colleges vs public colleges?

 

[buzzhead8189]

I'm currently a senior in Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University. I LOVE it here. CYCLONE POWER!

I do NOT recommend doing your first two years at a community college. Getting an engineering degree from ISU requires very few 'general education' courses you would take in a two year stay at a community college. I know several people that did the CC route and it added a year to the time it took them to get their degree because of how few of the classes actually fit the degree requirements for engineering.

Yes, aerospace engineering is going to be difficult. Lots of people drop out and switch majors. However, twice a year we have a 'career fair,' and hundreds of companies come to ISU to hire engineers. I don't know anyone that didn't have a job offer by the time they graduated. If you make it through, you will get a job. And you will make it through if you put forth the necessary effort.

On a semi unrelated note, there are lots of Buells here. I know 7 other people with Buells and I have seen about 5 or 10 other Buells on campus and around town. None of the other Buells in town are as awesome as mine though, I have Cyclone colors.

 

[FIDOSOL]

That is a nice color scheme. I see you don't have your passenger pegs mounted. Any chance they are laying around somewhere collecting dust?

 

[buzzhead8189]

The passenger pegs and license plate just 'fell off' for the photo shoot.

XB12s Photo Shoot

I reactivated the passenger pegs for the ladies. Sorry.

 

[FIDOSOL]

That's unfortunate, I need a set. Oh well, back to topic.

Any input on Private vs Public Universities?