Hi Andi, I studied in Aerospace Engineering and now work in industry. I do mostly research and development work, but on a variety of aircraft and spacecraft. I had the same kind of question when I first decided what to study so I'm happy to give you my perspective! I currently work with people of all kinds of majors - civil, mechanical, and aerospace. There are a lot of similarities in those areas when it comes to aerospace work. You would be able to find a place in the industry regardless of major you do when you learn the engineering behind it. Mechanical Engineering tends to give you a broad perspective of engineering and gives you opportunities in many areas - aerospace, cars, construction, etc. Some people think that Aerospace can be limiting, but like mechanical there is application of the major in other areas too. What is most important is getting a good foundation in the engineering background. A major in mechanical with a minor or emphasis in aerospace would definitely work and I would recommend it to give you some exposure to hands on aerospace type of work and background for your first job. If that's not an option, some schools have clubs and hands on programs that all majors can join to participate in projects and lessons in the industry their interested in, so I would definitely take advantage of that. Internships and summer programs are another good way to give yourself exposure to the industry. It is most important to find something that you like in a good program. If you already know you want to work in aerospace, going into that major would give you the opportunities to start studying right away in the area that you enjoy. You may find that you enjoy your classes more when they relate structures or aerodynamics problems to a shuttle vehicle rather than a car. But if you found good a university or a program that you like that does not offer it or only has the minor/emphasis, you can still be successful working in aerospace. Good luck! Nikki

Hi Shammy, I'm happy to give you my thoughts on getting an internship and I'm so glad to hear that you're interested in doing one. I agree with you that hands on experience is a strong point when looking for a full time job. There are two key recommendations I would make. The first is for online applications - make sure that you tailor your resume for each job that you're applying for highlighting skills that match the position. You want to identify what is really critical and in the job posting and make sure that your resume highlights the skills you have that address that so that you don't get filtered out. An online resume can be longer than an in person one, so use it to your advantage. Second, make sure that you're personally getting out there to meet recruiters and companies at events like career fairs and workshops. A lot of companies do recruiting through organization and school career fairs and that is a great way to get some direct feedback and meet people in person. Things like the Society of Women Engineers conference, diversity events, and other things that your schools may offer. And if you have ways to get involved in projects, research, other university work make sure to do that in the meantime! Good luck with your internship search!

Hi Yarra, thanks for the question! I'm excited to hear about your interest in how planes work and engineering and I do not think that you should give up your dream because you are currently struggling in math and physics. Math and physics are a base to engineering, so you will have to work hard to make it happen, but that does not mean you cannot do it. What is really important is that you find something you love and the interest in how things work is a key aspect of engineering. I personally struggled through some of my core classes, but I excelled in and loved my major classes and I know others who felt the same. With hard work and extra focus, you may find that you will come to understand these tough subjects better in your own time. You may have to spend extra focus on working hard in these areas, asking for help, finding tutors, and the right people to help you get through your classes. Find a support group of friends, women engineers, and people at school that can help you understand and work hard on those classes. Asking for help is a good thing when you have trouble with a class and being able to do so will benefit you at work someday too. So what I am really saying is that you can definitely still excel as an engineer if these are not your best subjects, but you will need support and to put in a lot of hard work! But in the end, if you can do something that you enjoy, it will be worth it! Good luck! Nikki