education

[EliteArsenal]

Hi, I am currently a high school student in New Jersey, United States of America. First, let me tell you that my dream is to become a formula 1 aerodynamicist. I am looking into my educational options and trying to shape my education around becoming an aerodynamicist in formula 1. I have found it highly difficult to find advice in this area. I'm a senior in high school and about to apply to several schools. These schools include.
RPI
University of Illinois
Purdue
University of Maryland
Rutgers
Penn State
University of Colorado
Cornell
University of Michigan
I need to decide between aerospace and mechanical engineering. I also need to choose a school. If anyone has any advice for me at all I'd really appreciate it.

email: vestwithsleaves@hotmail.com

[Onlooker]

Mech has an element of aero in it as well so you may be better of in that, after all there are bugger all jobs in F! for an areao only guy, bit limiting really, maybe be a mech and major in areao may be the way to go

[Cryos]

aerodynamic engineers require Physics and Mechanical knowlage as far as i know...

[Chucky]

In my experience, if you need career advice you'll never make it.

[EliteArsenal]

I plan on doing graduate study in aerodynamics after i receive my BS in either aero or mech engineering. I just wasn't sure which undergraduate degree I should start out with. Aero would give me a stronger basis in aerodynamics, but i feel that mechanical would give a more rounded education in the field as well as possible taking some vehicle dynamics texts. I've already read carroll shelby's books on racecar engineering and tuning and i've read the Milliken & Milliken Race Car Engineering Text.

[Onlooker]

Think about how much use you will be when they bring in control wings etc ? next to none. Go for mech , then you cn get in no matter what door is open.Specialise once in there but get in first, that will be the hard part. We are talking about 10 teams that maybe at best employ an average of say 5-6 areao guys , you do the maths.as opposed to the same teams that employ probally in some cases upwards of 20-30 engineers

[shiny side up!]

I tend to agree with Onlooker, I would think it best to study Mechanical Engineering as an undergrad and choose your electives wisely (focus on aero, FEA, and other CAE classes), and then go for additional aero education after that. The schools on your list are for the most part quite strong in the programs you desire, but I would suggest you give serious attention to Michigan (they have very good lab facilities for automotive and aerospace engineering, as well as many faculty with industry ties to the Big 3 in Detroit) and also Cornell. Also, make sure you get involved with the FSAE team at whichever uni you go to as soon as you can... no better way to see if you are cut out to chase your dream than to do a trial run!

[dasc04]

Originally posted by Chucky
In my experience, if you need career advice you'll never make it.

What do you mean by that? What experience has led you to that conclusion?

[autosportfan]

As someone who works in Formula 1. My advice is to a choose a subject you are interested in and it would seem you have that decision already. Complete your degree then get good experience in aerospace. Then if you are still interest begin to look at F1. Despite what the other poster says, the majority of the teams have getting on for thirty members of the aero department,including tunnel tech & engineers, CFD users, research and project engineers etc.

[GolddustMini]

Originally posted by Chucky
In my experience, if you need career advice you'll never make it.

what a completely ******** uninformed and stupid comment


hell at the age of what 17 did u know exactly what u wanted to do, as well as EXACTLY how to achieve it?, i certainly didnt, thats what career advisers are for to give u a helping hand in the right direction. i found something i enjoyed, motorsports, went away looked into it and bang 4 years later im well on the way there.


do us a favour and NEVER EVER go for a job in personel beacuse with an attitude like that you'd be a complete waste of energy, people are supposed to suppport one another and help them out and that comment was completely malicious and clearly from your expereince (which cant be at all relevent to anything career based) you know a big fat nothing.


the idea of career advice is to point out to a person the windows and doors that they need to aim for to get further on down the path u want to go.

[EliteArsenal]

hey thanks guys, i really appreciate all the help your giving me.

do you guys think control wings are a reality?

[EliteArsenal]

oh and autosportfan, what is ur position in formula 1?

[avsfan733]

sent you an email

[StephenRae]

Whichever direction you take academically you would be well advised to involve yourself with a racing team in any capacity, paid or otherwise, it won't do your CV any harm. Prospective employers warm to an enthusiast..oh and you might find you hate it!!

[dtype38]

Admittedly its quite a few years ago, and in the UK not the US, but I think the same principles will apply. I had to make exactly the same choice as you, although in my case I wanted to be an aircraft designer. I had the possibility of an opening at British Aerospace, but knew that if I didn't get it a degree in Aero might not be much use. I decided to hedge my bets by picking a university with a good reputation for both aero and mechanical, although not the best for either, and applied to do aero. I got in on that course, but later I found out that I hadn't got the job I wanted. The uni were very understanding and let me switch to the mechanical course as that only involved swapping an aero lecture and lab period for a mechanical one! All the rest of the key subjects like math, FE, structures, electrics, fluid dynamics, etc etc were common to both courses.

I'm not saying this is the best approach, but it keeps your options open the longest. But for now, if you haven't already, get hold of the individual prospectus/syllabus for both the aero and mech courses at each of the Universities you are thinking of going to. Chances are you'll find there's a lot of common areas with some having more or less emphasis on pure mechanics and pure aero. Also check around to see which universities have a good reputation for each area - doesn't always follow that the best uni has the best reputation for individual courses.