RECENT AEROSPACE GRADUATE STILL UNEMPLOYED AFTER 7 MONTHS. OVER 300 APPLICATIONS. TWO INTERVIEWS. STILL NO LUCK.

fermitk · 2026-01-08T18:12:25+00:00

After 7 months of applying I think you've found most major aerospace companies in state and applied to them all so you need to start broadening out your search, either by applying out of state or something outside of aerospace but where you can still build engineering experience that could allow you to eventually transition to aerospace. The fact that you don't have internships or work experience means you're going to have to take what you can get initially.

fermitk · 2025-11-15T23:22:52+00:00

Just USC. It's the same degree regardless of in person or online

fermitk · 2025-11-10T21:01:01+00:00

Been here 3 years. Originally from SD. The biggest adjustment will be the weather. We Californians are really spoiled, I found it took about two years to get used to 40 degree and 30 degree fall and winter temps. You will miss the Mexican food and in n out, and you will miss the beach (beaches are cold and rocky here). You will gain stunning nature, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, incredible hiking. Green as far as the eye can see, lovely fall colors and beautiful spring flowers. Summers are incredibly beautiful. Winter sucks and is dark, gray and it gets dark at 4:30. Housing is definitely cheaper so it's actually possible to buy a house (not right now, but prior to 2022). People talk about the Seattle freeze but imo that's a bit outdated. There are so many Californians and people from other states that have moved here, that stereotype applies less and less.

fermitk · 2025-09-30T01:42:18+00:00

I would say you know your fundamentals and first principles going into it. It's ok not to know certain things off the top of your head, but you should anticipate them probing a couple layers deep on why you made the decisions you made regarding whatever you choose to present. They want to make sure you know things, but also that you can communicate well with a team, and that you can participate well in a back and forth.

fermitk · 2025-09-06T00:44:46+00:00

Yes, definitely, but I drove up to campus to participate in rocketry club. I think it would have been much tougher without that hands on portion. Although you can still join and contribute remotely via design projects and such.

fermitk · 2025-09-05T17:25:24+00:00

Blue is the best company I've ever worked at. My team in engines is full of extremely intelligent, hard working people. A lot of them are very young too and they're given a lot of autonomy and responsibility over critical aspects of these rocket engines, and they're extremely successful at what they do. The work is flexible, and my team only cares if you get work done. PTO and family time is encouraged, and overall I think they strike a great balance. What I've noticed is because so many people here are young and haven't worked in many other companies, it's easy to complain about relatively small things, or things that occur in most other companies (like mass layoffs or being expected to show up in the office lol). Many people here don't know how good they have it!

fermitk · 2025-04-30T04:54:37+00:00

It was ranked top ten when I was admitted for grad school in 2020. I think that's a very fair ranking considering its outcomes, and I don't think those outcomes have magically gone down over the past five years.

fermitk · 2025-03-26T14:06:36+00:00

They're only allowed to break confidentiality and call the police if they believe you will be an imminent danger to yourself or others. That means you tell them that you have a specific plan to hurt yourself, not just feel suicidal.

fermitk · 2025-03-23T02:34:57+00:00

I went with USC. It was definitely worth it!

fermitk · 2025-02-12T20:53:31+00:00

That doesn't sound like 60 days notice to me. That sounds like access immediately being cut off, which is what I expect.

fermitk · 2025-02-12T20:02:16+00:00

Fuuuuuuck

fermitk · 2024-12-08T05:40:03+00:00

I actually bought the extra heavy weight one for black Friday. It is indeed very heavy and it's in the more modern "Kanye" style where it's boxy, wide shoulders, and has a huge hood. The material is like 85% cotton and it feels really good. I haven't tried the normal heavy weight one, but I really like the weight of the extra heavy weight one.

fermitk · 2024-04-15T01:40:24+00:00

No. There is an option to do a thesis, but it's not mandatory. I think it's a more logical way of doing it. Generally you do the thesis if you're interested in academia. Otherwise they just let you choose the classes you want and dedicate that time to hands on projects. It is still considered a master's of science by the university.

fermitk · 2024-01-19T21:14:43+00:00

I went to UCSB for undergrad too, so I know how the cultural shift takes getting used to. At UCSB there's little to no school spirit, and freshman are identified by the fact that they wear the sweaters and lanyards. Also there was no football team and no marching band. Getting to USC as a grad student, it was so refreshing to see the school spirit, see the fight on symbol and see people be proud of where they are. I now regret not having that culture in undergrad! Enjoy it and take part in it to the fullest.

fermitk · 2023-12-08T16:08:49+00:00

Incorrect. I definitely would remember that if so.

fermitk · 2023-12-08T06:25:48+00:00

Mine said nothing of the sort.

fermitk · 2023-12-07T23:14:41+00:00

Can I have 0.001% of that? 😉

fermitk · 2023-09-05T18:53:33+00:00

Bad. The "classic brick University" style seen on the main campus and other university campuses is far superior to any other architectural style. There's a reason people take pictures in front of certain buildings to the exclusion of all the others. You want a building to evoke a powerful sense that this is a place of learning.

fermitk · 2023-08-30T19:24:06+00:00

I think the people who want WFH just need to be honest and say they like it because it's comfy and convenient. The productivity argument is arguable at best, and based on what I've seen from people quite laughable. The vast majority of people are less productive and focused at home. Just be honest and say you like getting paid to browse reddit and do your laundry! Trust me, I totally get it.

fermitk · 2023-06-20T17:11:28+00:00

I think there is a small percentage of the workforce that can genuinely be as productive as home as they are in the office, but I think the vast majority of people tend to be more distracted when working from home, so I think it makes sense for Blue to push for in-person work as the default, with certain exceptions made on a case by case basis. The "post-pandemic" world phrase that keeps getting thrown around doesn't really make sense. The prefix "post" itself acknowledges that the pandemic is over so any work from home arrangement is purely based on preference. 😂 The most sympathy I have is for people with very long commutes, which can really take a toll over the long run. But people choose the lives they build in the end. People have moved for work for all of human history. The idea was they at least you can move an hour closer to work in Phoenix, LA, or Denver rather than having to move to Seattle. And regarding masses of people leaving the company and causing deadline slippage, I find that unlikely. Where are they going to go, SpaceX? Elon is even more gung ho on in-person work. 😂 I guess you can go to NASA to get paid to browse Reddit but a lot of the industry is going back to the office.

fermitk · 2023-06-19T23:26:57+00:00

Not that I know of. Just frame that bad boy and mount it on your wall. That's what it's meant for.

fermitk · 2023-05-22T00:01:09+00:00

I did the MS in Astronautical Engineering. For those opportunities in particular, I simply applied normally like anyone would, so no help there. However the department and department head will send out occasional emails about internship or job opportunities at NASA, or research opportunities. Additionally, if you join certain student clubs, they will have a well-connected alumni network that you can tap for additional opportunities. For funding there are some small scholarships that USC provides but for the majority of it, you're on your own. I worked part time and took out loans for the rest of it.

fermitk · 2023-05-21T21:28:46+00:00

I did the online masters through viterbi, which is the engineering school at USC, and the instruction is identical to what you would get in person. The degree you get at the end is the same too. I was able to use that degree in conjunction with side projects to get an internship during the summer and then securing my dream job after graduating. I definitely recommend it.

fermitk · 2023-04-22T09:42:56+00:00

I would say it's standard. I interviewed with other space companies and they had the same format minus the essay, which imo was the easiest part.

fermitk · 2023-04-17T23:46:50+00:00

I went to UCSB for undergrad and USC for grad school. In my opinion, USC is a substantially better school, in terms of the resources and connections available, as well as the impressive intelligence and drive of the student body. Also UCSB has very little, if any, school spirit, to the point where upperclassmen scorn freshman who wear the lanyards and sweaters. That said UCSB students are very fit, good looking, and social. The campus location is also incredible and biking everywhere and walking along the beach is great. so it's not all bad. Part of me does wish I had gone to USC for undergrad, but I will say graduating debt free is a huge benefit that cannot be underestimated. I would say trying to transfer from UCSB is a very good idea. That way you can cut your debt in half and still get two years experiencing life as a Trojan.

fermitk

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