/notes
Mechanical Engineering Technology
There seems to be a lot of tension around this degree, since many consider its graduates not "real engineers", which, from a legal standpoint, is technically true. For those who don't know, the MET degree is the applied version of the "regular" mechanical engineering degree. In most states, MET graduates are not eligible to take the PE exam, which, when passed, allows you to stamp private and public engineering plans.
I fell into the MET degree not out of choice but because, in my first year of college, it was the only engineering degree offered. I did end up transferring to a school where the regular ME degree was offered, but it would require 1.5 extra years of college, which not only costs more money but also delays the time to get into the industry. I am a big believer that industry experience beats education in almost every facet, so the thought of delaying this did not sit well with me.
I hear discussions, or more often arguments, between the two degrees about which is better. It is a discussion I think is completely circumlocutory. I will, however, leave it at this: a core theme you will see on this page is that education will only get you so far and is seen as a prerequisite for many occupations. The best way to stand out and make something of your education, no matter the degree, is to develop your own foundational knowledge and experience. Whether that is through industry experience or personal passion projects. This is why I do focus a lot on the theoretical side of thermodynamics and combustion. It is an area that my core coursework falls short in, so it is something I have the opportunity to pick up on myself. In the end, I think the degree you get in college will matter less than you might originally think.
I know this might be an unpopular view, but it has let me grow into my passions much more easily without relying on education to do the heavy lifting.