I am working as a mentor with an aspiring engineer, Vivian, who is interested in pursuing aerospace engineering. She has been accepted to two universities and is trying to decide which school to attend.

Can you please provide any thoughts as to how Vivian can best evaluate the engineering schools at these universities and what they can provide her? She has been offered a (close to) full scholarship at both schools, so finances are fortunately not a consideration. She already knows that one school would offer smaller classes than the other, particularly during the first couple of years. Any thoughts on the support she might get in finding interesting summer jobs, access to professors working in the aerospace field as an undergrad, etc.

Areas of Impact Machines , Materials , Space

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Nicolette Yovanof Little , The Boeing Company

Answered Monday, April 16, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Here are things that I would look into from each school and other resources to help find out some of this information.

Does the school have a career services center? If so, I would try to reach out to them to find out more about what they do and how they help. Do they have established relationships with companies? Do they have career fairs? What companies participate in their programs?

Research the professors in aerospace on the school website. See if they have past industry experience in their biographies or research areas that are of interest to you. If their bios aren't very detailed, they should have more of an internet presence to give you a feel for it.

Do you know students or alumnae for the schools? Talk to them and get their perspective.

Find out if there is a women in engineering program, sorority, SWE chapter, etc, at the school. See if they advertise any career resources, connections with companies, etc and any kid of support that they might provide.

Think about what the schools are known for. Is it research or industry involvement?

I hope this helps! Good luck!