To the stars: Tec graduate enters Stanford aerospace master’s program

From an early age, Jorge Cosío has dreamed of the stars. Although his journey began with robots, the Tec de Monterrey graduate was admitted this year to study the Master’s in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University (#3 in QS Rankings), marking the beginning of his journey as an aerospace engineer.

Jorge was admitted to a master’s program which is considered one of the most selective in the world, with 30-50 places available each year and an acceptance rate below 7%.

“Stanford competes every year for first place in this master’s specialty, so to have been accepted is a huge privilege that gives me the confidence of knowing that I have the capacity to develop within this industry”, says the Tec graduate.

A passion for the stars

Since his time at PrepaTec, Jorge has participated in extracurricular activities that, inadvertently, were shaping his path towards a passion for space.

“In high school, I competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge, where my team and I won the 2019 Engineering Award”, he says.

But it wasn’t until he entered Mechatronics Engineering that he discovered his true calling wasn’t on this planet.

“This desire to pursue an aerospace engineering career comes from one of my university professors, Dr. Víctor Robledo. During one class, he set us a challenge related to the Perseverance Rover landing. 

Gathering the information, writing the equations, and then solving them, made me realize that engineering transcends the boundaries of this world. That was when I decided to become someone who challenges the impossible”, he says.

“Engineering transcends the boundaries of this world, and I decided to become someone who challenges the impossible”.

Since then, Jorge has been involved in various academic and professional experiences in the aerospace industry.

He participated in the International Air and Space Program (IASP 2022) in Huntsville, Alabama, where he also graduated from the NASA Advanced Space Academy.

What’s more, he received the KOSPIE-DAAD scholarship in Germany, an award given to outstanding Latin American students, which enabled him to specialize in Aerospace Engineering at the Dresden University of Technology. 

Subsequently, he worked as a research engineer at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Quantum Technologies.

Next mission: Stanford University

Jorge shares that he’s ready for his next professional step. However, he’s facing the biggest challenge of his career at this stage: financing.

Despite the scholarships he has applied for, the graduate shares that life in California isn’t cheap, so in order to continue pursuing his dream, he has started a crowdfunding campaign hoping to inspire young people like him who wish to work in the aerospace industry.

Similarly, the aspiring aerospace master’s degree student speaks about the double challenge facing Latin Americans in this sector, confronting stereotypes abroad and the lack of opportunities within the industry. 

“Mexican talent possesses the capacity to excel in the aerospace industry, as well as in any other sector, but we don’t have the means to maximize that potential.

“I believe that with the support of the entire community, this major opportunity can truly materialize, therefore demonstrating that Mexicans do belong in these types of sectors”, he says.

This master’s degree represents an opportunity to continue developing expertise in the field he dreams of working in one day, and even solving Earth’s problems.

“Irrespective of being able to explore space, space technology can enhance everyday life here on Earth”, he says.

Finally, he shares his long-term vision and desire to embrace Silicon Valley culture.

“I want to absorb the Silicon Valley culture that merges entrepreneurship with academia, not just to found my own company in the sector, but also to bring that technological knowledge back to Mexico”, he concluded.

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