To start, would you mind introducing yourself and the STEM fields you are planning to study?

I’m Aaron Du, and I’m going to be going to Yale in the fall as an undergraduate freshman. I’m interested in aerospace engineering, although at Yale I’m deciding between mechanical engineering and astrophysics since they don’t offer aerospace.

Thinking back, was there a specific class, project, competition, book, or other experience that first made aerospace engineering genuinely interesting to you?

It was actually a video game! In 6th grade, I got a game called Kerbal Space Program for no real reason other than I thought it looked cool. It’s a game where you build rockets and send little green humanoid aliens to space with realistic physics and parts, and although it was really difficult, I fell in love with it. Over time, as I thought about what I wanted to do later in life, the idea of becoming an aerospace engineer crossed my mind because of this game. I just really like the idea of sending something you built into the vast, harsh unknown.

What activities did you do in high school that contributed to your interest in aerospace engineering?

I’m lucky to live in the college town of Purdue University, which is known for its aerospace. So, I’ve had access to professors and facilities like Purdue’s Zucrow Labs, which is a propulsion laboratory only 15 minutes from where I live. Of course, aerospace is a bit difficult to do in your backyard, so having access to professional resources is definitely a huge plus, but I did also try out more hobby-level things like model rockets and DIY RC planes.

Since Yale doesn’t offer aerospace engineering, what are you hoping to explore during your first year before committing to a major?

As I said, I’m probably going to explore mechanical engineering and astrophysics in my first year. Yale, in particular, is really good about having their first-years explore their options and actively encourages students to step outside their preconceived views of their own interests. Once I have some experience with both paths, I’ll narrow it down to engineering or physics during my 2nd year.

Are there any projects, research areas, student organizations, or courses you hope to become involved in at Yale?

Yale might not have a dedicated aerospace major, but students have their own “replacement” for it called the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association. They do all sorts of stuff like build rovers, design liquid fuel engines, and create model rockets for competitions. I’ll definitely take part in that, as well as other non-STEM clubs/organizations like the symphony orchestra.

What advice would you give to a student who has a specific career interest but is considering a college that does not offer the exact major they originally wanted?

Just don’t immediately discard a college, even if it’s not so strong in your field of interest. Of course, the college’s ranking in that field should factor into your consideration, but something that also matters just as much is whether that college’s culture is right for you. For example, my first choice was initially Stanford because they’re really highly ranked for aerospace, but in retrospect, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed their culture around startups and general competitiveness. Yale has a greater focus on collaboration and multidisciplinary learning, which are things that I connect to much more.

If you could go back, is there a specific piece of advice that you would offer to your ninth-grade self?

To answer the question literally, no. Partially, it’s because I’m pretty content with where I’m at right now, but the bigger thing (maybe the real advice I’d give to a 9th grader other than myself) is to challenge your own ideas of who you are and what you’re interested in. There’s a value to stumbling around and making mistakes, and by doing that you’ll gain way more than you would by just putting your head down and grinding towards being the “best.” Maybe the field you thought you wanted isn’t actually right for you, or maybe you don’t even want to do STEM at all. Whatever you do, make sure you choose the path of least future regret. Then, you’ll never have to look back and wish you did something different.

What is one realistic step a high school student could take this summer to learn more about aerospace engineering?

Like I said, it’s best to have some access to a professional institution or facility, since that’s where you can get involved with real work and exciting stuff. That being said, I think inspiration and excitement play a huge role in any career journey, and if you’re just starting out, I’d just begin consuming media that I find interesting. Maybe that’s Kerbal Space Program, or maybe that’s a documentary, or maybe that’s just YouTube videos like the ones from Kurzgesagt. You could also try out hobby options like model rockets. I think aerospace is by nature infused with the spirit of wonder and exploration, so the best thing you can do is to cultivate that within yourself.

Thanks for having me on!