My name is Nicole Lopez, and I am a Mechanical Engineering student at the New York City College of Technology (City Tech). After graduating, I plan to attend graduate school where I will earn a Master’s of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. As an aerospace engineer, one who will be working on and building airplanes for either NASA or the United States Air Force (USAF). This is the best career for me because I have been into building and working technology for a long time and feel like I am good at it. I love to build. I chose this major because, there will always be room for engineers in this industrial and technologically advanced world, and if I have a bachelor’s degree in a field as broad as Mechanical Engineering, I feel I would have an advantage to the changing needs of the industry when I move into Aerospace engineering, even though Aerospace focuses more on aircraft rather than machining. In this essay, I will provide information about my chosen major, show why this is the best career for me, and explain how City Tech’s preparation can help me with my chosen career path.
While my career choice is Aerospace engineering, my undergraduate major is Mechanical Engineering. In the Occupational Outlook handbook, Mechanical engineering is generally defined as engineering that will focus in machinery, mechanics and production tools. At City Tech specifically, a student who is majoring in mechanical engineering will learn a “broad-based engineering technology education required to solve applied engineering problems through design and analysis” (City Tech 291). This means that City Tech’s programs teach the basics of engineering and industry standard tools to provide better career flexibility in the work force. Aerospace engineering can be defined as working with and designing aircrafts, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles (occupational outlook handbook). I believe the preparation I get from City Tech and studying Mechanical Engineering will help me increase not only my knowledge of machining but also what I should expect to face as I enter Aerospace engineering.
The first reason I am in Aerospace engineering is because I enjoy building. Both Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering deal with designing and creating things. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Aerospace engineers “may develop new technologies for use in aviation…[and] can specialize in designing different types of aerospace products.” I have been interested in building since I was in middle school. I used to be in the robotics club throughout my middle and early high school career. For me, this is perfect because I enjoy being able to build and design new technologies. It gives me a sense of pride to be able to build something that will not only function properly, but will be put to use and will help take a step forward in the advanced technological world. Building is my passion and there is nothing I’d rather do.
The next reason I am in Mechanical Engineering as a major before I go into Aerospace engineering as a career is that Mechanical engineers are known to be flexible and have the advantage in the engineering work force. According to career cornerstone, “The key characteristics of the profession are its breadth, flexibility, and individuality.” The worldwide learning website states that some other careers that can be used from mechanical engineering are the following: Automotive engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer, nuclear engineer, and robotics engineer. This means that mechanical engineer are able to flex into other careers and put their talents to use in different ways.
The last reason I aspire to become an Aerospace engineer is because there will always be room for engineers in the technologically advanced world we live in today. According to Career Cornerstone, and the U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor statistics, “Mechanical engineers are expected to have employment growth of 6 percent between 2008 and 2018, slower than the average for all occupations.” However, they continue to say “Mechanical engineers hold about 238,700 jobs in the United States. Mechanical engineers are capable of working in a wide variety of industry sectors, and new technologies will create industries that don’t exist today.” Even though there has been a drop in the amount of engineering jobs expected to arise, mechanical engineers will always be able to expand and improve upon the technology we have and will have in the future. The future is technology, therefore the future is in engineering.
In order to prepare for a career in Aerospace engineering, there are many things I must do. According to Sullivan, “A bachelor’s degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs.” Basically, many places will be satisfied with a Bachelor’s degree, but I want to make the most of my education by going for a masters in Aerospace engineering, as proven where the worldwide learning center website states “Mechanical engineers often continue their education throughout their careers because technology changes rapidly.” If I want to survive, I have to know the ins and outs of the current technology. Engineers also need a “good understanding of science, mathematics and computers with a good knowledge of current technology” (Worldwide Learn). Basically, an engineer uses science, technology and math in their everyday work, so naturally an engineer must be well-rounded in these areas. Some other important qualities an engineer must have are “Analytical skills, Business skills, critical thinking skills, math skills, and writing skills” (Occupational Outlook Handbook). Engineers also encouraged to go for their Fundamentals of Engineering Exam senior year (FE) and Professional Engineers (PE) license after a few years of Engineering experience, as stated in careercornerstone. This means that my education does not stop after I graduate college. I must always be knowledgeable in my field of work in order to keep up with the advancements of technology.
As stated throughout this essay, my plan is to graduate college with a bachelor’s in Mechanical engineering before getting my masters in Aerospace engineering. However, I know it will take more in order for me to be successful. I plan on finding internships for mechanical engineering and learning as much as I can in school. I plan on getting help through the school in getting my first job, hopefully somewhere in the mechanical fields I work towards my masters in aerospace. Eventually I will move on to the aerospace engineering field. Even here, I cannot stop learning. I must stay knowledgeable about the current technologies and advancements. Technology never stops expanding, so my knowledge should have no limits. For others looking into this field, I recommend doing a lot of research to make sure this is the career your heart is set on. Engineering in general not only takes math and science, but it also takes curiosity and a love for learning and building. With this career, I can achieve many things. One of my many goals is being able to inhabit Mars, or building a machine that will give us details and recordings on what happens in black holes and worm holes. I also want to try and make a time machine. The possibilities with this major and career are endless and I plan on using that to my full advantage. The sky is the limit and I plan on reaching for the stars.
Works Cited
Bucak, Seyda and Kadirgan Neset. “European Journal of Engineering Education.” 2011. Academic Search Complete. 15 April 2015.
Evans, Brad. Mechanical Engineering – A Look into the Discipline and Profession. n.d. Web.30 March 2015.
Jones, Wilkins O. “Careers in Mechanical Engineering.” 1993. Academic Search Complete. Ed. Black Collegian. 15 April 2015.
New York City College of Technology. “Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering .” 01 April 2015.
States, United. “Bureau of Labor Statistics.” 2014-2015. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Mechanical Engineers” 19 April 2015.
Sullivan , M. “Mechanical Engineer.” Science Teacher, vol 78, no. 8. 2011. 74-75.
US Department of Labor. career cornerstone. 2014. 17 April 2015.
US Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-1 Edition. “Aerospace Engineers.” 19 April 2015
Worldwide Learning Center. What is Mechanical Engineering? n.d. 17 April 2015.
