Shreyas Mathur High School Senior

Over the week-long on-campus experience, I attended lectures on a variety of aerospace concepts like flight mechanics, rocket propulsion, orbital dynamics, and aerospace materials. The program also involved introductions to industry tools and analyzing how to solve problems using Excel and Python.

I also visited world-class aerospace research facilities on campus, including the LASSI, ARL, and the Wind Tunnel Laboratory. I witnessed how aerospace industry research is done using industry-grade tools, testing equipment, and design processes. I also spoke with researchers working on active projects and discussed their experiences to give me a clear picture of what aerospace engineering looks like in practice.

The program also included model glider and rocket design activities, where I applied key engineering concepts like lift, stability, and thrust. I worked through the full design process—planning, building, testing, and making adjustments based on performance results. These hands-on projects helped reinforce what I learned in lectures and provided a deeper understanding of how aerospace engineers approach challenges.