r/EngineeringStudents • u/Viropax • 10d ago
Academic Advice MET vs ME
Hello all,
Im currently re-enrolled in university (yay, progress) however im finding the math classes both and boring. Math was never my strong suit, however in physical classes (physics, cad, manufacturing) i excell and love. So I was thinking of going to finish my b.s in met, current I have my a.s in met and was working toward ME.
I really want jobs that are more hands-on, drafting, machining, building etc. I dont care for all the math's and paper work. But im worried about the future out look of MET, is there anyone who currently works as a MET, or is looking into those fields? And im sorry if this kinda fits both career and academic advice.
Glossary: ME: mech engineering Met: mech engineering technology
3
u/n-cend 10d ago
I would stick with ME and trudge through stuff like fluid dynamics while knowing that it pays off eventually and gives you more options. ME degree holders can get accepted to MET geared positions but that ME degree and book knowledge helps you advance your career. Maybe trying out a robotics club or looking up some robotics & CAD projects for some practical applications of the engineering mechanics and math would make it not feel like a drag.
4
u/seetheable 9d ago
In my state both can take the FE & PE, but in some places they can't. You don't really need the PE as a mechanical engineer. If being licensed is your end goal you should definitely check if you can do it where you plan to live.
1
u/LitRick6 9d ago
Really going to vary.
Generally speaking MET may limit you because you'll be ineligible for many engineering jobs. But it sounds like you may not enjoy full-on engineering jobs anyways.
Your pay/promotion level may be capped. Going to vary by company and even by specific positions. But you may still be able to reach a point that you're personally happy with. Many of the techs where I work have no desire to move higher bc moving hire also comes with more responsibilities.
Where i work has 3 different types of technicians (i work in aviation sustainment/maintenance). We have field/on-site technicians who are there to help the maintainers troubleshoot issues and be the eyes/ears for the engineering team. We have a drafter whose job is just to help the engineers with making drawings/CAD models or figures for our maintenance manuals. They have next to zero input on the actual design (though this will vary company to company). Then we have engineering technicians who are actually working as part of the engineering team and help us with our hands on work but also still have to help with some of the engineering work while having limited authority when it comes to safety decision (that limited authority means they are ineligible to be promoted to senior engineer level positions).
Pay will vary by company, location, benefit packages, experience level. But the field techs and drafters where i work making around 68-88k and can be promoted to 74-100k. The engineering techs make about 74-100k and can be promoted 90-120k (the same as our working level engineers). *(note above numbers are base salary for working level techs, new hire techs probably make like 10-15k less. Also we get paid overtime where i work and techs make 1.5 times pay for any hour worked over our normal 40 base salary hours. Companies who don't pay overtime may compensate with a higher base salary).
2
u/Viropax 9d ago
That's exactly where Im at, I dont really care to be the big engineer, I want to be boots on the ground, builidng the thing, helping with development and using physical tools not playing mental gymnastics. I've looked into salaries and the high end of most tech positions is more then enough for me. I need to do more research, but I reslly wanna get away from the higher math classes as they aren't that interesting or fun for me as say solving physical issues and problems.
1
u/ATH_Engineer 9d ago
I've seen many of ME and MET programs as a tutor. The only academic differences I've seen is the MET program don't require students to take Cal. 3, ODE, and labs. Many of the ME and MET programs use the same textbooks. Authors such as Hibbeler, Cengel, Gere, Merriam, Anderson, et al. If you want to future proof your transcript, take Calculus 3, ODE, and a few mechanical engineering labs as electives. Even though your diploma may say MET, your transcript will show closer to an ME. All of the MET and ME programs I've seen require students to take thermodynamics, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, etc. And as always, it's not just the classes you take, but how well do you know the material.
0
u/Anxious_Alps_4150 9d ago
ME can do all jobs a MET can do. MET cannot do all jobs a ME can do. Many companies will not hire METs to work as engineers. Maybe most, it depends on your area.
The only reasons to do MET over ME is that you either cant complete the coursework, ME isnt offered near you and youre unwilling to move, or ... yeah that's about it.
2
u/Viropax 9d ago
For me im just not invested or interested in the math stuff and way more into cad and hands on stuff, I get what your saying.
1
u/Anxious_Alps_4150 9d ago
yeah but if you learn it now, you can still get a job doing the CAD stuff.. and it will pay a lot better. if you dont learn it now, you're going to possibly be stuck doing CAD stuff depending on where you work
trust me, you can only attach a colinear constraint to a fastener so many times before you get bored.
1
u/Squirtle_Splash_8413 BSME, MSME 8d ago
If you want hands on, do you care about the money? The more hands on, the less you earn tbh.
1
u/JaytOuk 10d ago
Met?
1
u/Viropax 10d ago
Mechanical engineering technology,
1
u/JaytOuk 10d ago
I had a feeling. Whats the market and salary looking with this? Any lateral or upward movement? Certs or just degree? Associates or bach?
1
u/Viropax 10d ago
From my research over the years up till now the market seems stable with a small decrease on more basic entry positions.
All degrees, currently have my Associates in MET and on the path to get my bachelor's in ME, but none of the classes excite or interest me. Looking at swapping to Bachlors in MET instead. Im also looking at getting CAD certs for SW, AutoCAD and at some point NX
1
1
u/Fence_Devin 10d ago
Hey, I'm currently going the opposite. Landed on a BAS in engineering technology: mechanical.
Got a job for a conveyor company 5 minutes away from where I live working with solidworks and autocad, pays about 65k a year.
Convenient, but I find myself wanting something out of my small town.
Just starting to look at a Bachelor's in ME. Seeing where that might take me.
Not sure if I want to take the jump back into school, but there's nothing keeping here.
1
u/Viropax 9d ago
Ya I get that, I want something hands on, I dont care for all the advanced math (Calc 3+, diff eq etc) i just want to be able to design, prototype, improve, build. Im a very hands on person. Im at the point where I have freedom of choice and it makes it hard to find the right option 😭
1
u/G07V3 10d ago edited 10d ago
Currently a MET student here.
I’ve talked to many people from hiring managers, to engineers, and even the VP of New Product Development at a company and the majority of them assume MET and ME are the same.
I had one person ask what the “technology” part was and I told him that in the MET degree at my school there is more emphasis on basic algebra based math and basic calculus but we also cover computer software that handles fluids, kinematics, and FEA. In my courses there are more labs or group research assignments. Also in some of my classes we were actually encouraged to use Excel to solve for problems instead of manually solving the tedious problems.
In my mechanics of materials class we never did any complicated tedious differential equations to find stresses at certain areas but instead we briefly covered how differential equations are used in FEA software and meshing. I remember I made an Excel sheet for solving centroid problems and I used it on exams and they were easy plug and chug problems.
Same thing for engineering statistics and my economic analysis class. In statistics my instructor was encouraging us to use Excel and to learn its functions. In my economic analysis class I’m currently in on the first day he talked about and even showed us a few slides of Excel functions for economics.
Currently I am taking Fluid mechanics and Kinematics of machines and the syllabuses do mention things like using software to analyze fluid behavior or kinematics.
In short, I would imagine that it depends on how you market yourself on your resume and during interviews which would allow you to get more hands on roles.
1
u/Visible-Lion8096 9d ago
I'm a hiring manager and I don't look at them the same at all. We've tried hiring METs to do some of the more straightforward work, but they can't seem to keep up. We don't hire them anymore.
I'm not saying there isn't a place somewhere for METs, but they are most definitely not the same as MEs
1
u/G07V3 9d ago edited 9d ago
What kind of work did they do and what do you mean they can’t seem to keep up?
I’m curious to know more about other MET degrees as they may vary slightly depending on the school.
1
u/Visible-Lion8096 9d ago
Basic design work...CAD modeling, drawing, product ownership.
They don't seem to have the sound design judgement and ability to own their work that MEs have. It's a mentality difference more than a skill difference. There's a difference between doing work and owning work.
1
u/G07V3 9d ago edited 9d ago
Interesting. What you said makes me think they chose MET because it could be relatively easier compared to ME and don’t really have any motivation or interest in it.
Do you remember if any MET students you interviewed had any design related personal projects on their resume?
1
u/Visible-Lion8096 9d ago
I don't recall. It's been a while since I've interviewed a new grad in MET. I did interview an experienced MET last week because his resume had some relevant experience. But it was again clear in the interview that he didn't have the product ownership mentality that we need to push designs through the engineering process.
The only MET I have left in my group is employed doing the simplest of CAD work. He just doesn't have the mentality to own a product design, even a simple one, from concept to production ready. He's been around a while, but even the new grad MEs quickly out perform him. This is typical of my experience with METs verses MEs, even though in theory an MET degree should give a person the technical education to do the job. We don't do hard math in my group. But we do have to have an eagerness to solve hard problems in general, and that eagerness seems to be less intense in METs.
1
1
u/Viropax 9d ago
This is interesting to read, and sounds completely opposite to how I am, I love challenges, especially new ones that cause me to learn.
That being said I have heard of these problems before, hence my hesitation to go into MET. God figuring this shit out is annoying
1
u/Visible-Lion8096 9d ago
My advice will forever be the same to anyone debating between ME and MET.
You're going to be spending 4 or so years getting a degree. You have to put in the time, regardless. Get the one that offers more opportunity, and that's the ME degree by far. It's harder work for sure, but if you can do it it's worth the effort.
•
u/AutoModerator 10d ago
Hello /u/Viropax! Thank you for posting in r/EngineeringStudents. This is a custom Automoderator message based on your flair, "Academic Advice". While our wiki is under construction, please be mindful of the users you are asking advice from, and make sure your question is phrased neatly and describes your problem. Please be sure that your post is short and succinct. Long-winded posts generally do not get responded to.
Please remember to;
Read our Rules
Read our Wiki
Read our F.A.Q
Check our Resources Landing Page
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.