Ask An Engineer

Practical Answers and Advice from Practicing Engineers

You're considering a career in aerospace, but you still have questions.

This is the page where all the answers (or at least most of them) will be revealed. We've consulted with aerospace engineers to answer the questions we hear most from students.

They're listed below. Just click on the question to jump to the answer.

The Questions We Hear Most From Students

• What's the difference between aeronautics and astronautics engineering?
• Why should I be an aerospace engineer?
• What does an aerospace engineer do?
  
  
  • The Aerospace Engineer
  • The Scientist
  • The Technician
• How can I become an aerospace engineer?
• What should I consider when I look at colleges?
• Does AIAA offer scholarships for aerospace engineering undergraduates?
• How can I find out if a particular aerospace program is accredited?
• How can I find out which university programs are ranked best?
• What do I need to study in order to be an aerospace engineer?
• How does AIAA help in my career as an aerospace engineer?
• How does AIAA help me as an aerospace engineering student?

Scholarships

The AIAA Foundation undergraduate scholarship program awards 30 scholarships of $2000 - $2,500 to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors each year. All participants can apply to renew the scholarships annually until graduation.

Design Competitions

Show Us Your Best Stuff.

The AIAA Foundation sponsors several design competitions every year, which ask students to solve real-world design problems. These respected competitions give America's best student designers a chance to put their talent front and center for the aerospace world.

Student Branches

Your Aerospace Fraternity on Campus.

AIAA currently has over 160 active student branches, including 12 foreign student branches, with a total active membership of over 5,000 students worldwide. Your student branch is your base of operations in AIAA during your college years, and it's an open door to professional activities, recognition, and contacts that would otherwise be unavailable to students.

Student Conferences

Establish Professional Relationships and Friendships that Will Last a Lifetime.

How? By taking part in your AIAA Regional Student Conference and the AIAA Foundation International Student Conference. Here you'll have the chance to present your research in a formal technical meeting atmosphere. Just as important, you'll exchange ideas and discuss programs with students from other schools in your region.

Student Journal - VIEW ONLINE

The AIAA Student Journal Online is a publication geared toward Students and their interests. It contains scholarship and design competitions available to students, activities of student groups, papers written by students, and more.

The AIAA Student Journal Online is updated as information occurs and is provided. The journal does have several "issues" posted throughout the year, but ALL available archives from Winter 2001 to present are accessible from the site.

The AIAA Student Journal Online is a benefit to all AIAA members. Libraries, institutions, and nonmembers can gain access for a minimal cost.