career advice 1

[fuzbalman]

hey guys, I'm a newbie on this forum and I find it very informative. I recently migrated here in New York, am from the Philippines with an undergrad degree in Mechanical engineering. I still have some units or credits in order for me to graduate. I'm planning to finish my degree here, I'm just wondering if I'll be better off taking mechanical engineering technology because after seeing the curriculum, there are less credits to take rather than taking the degree. On the other hand, I still wanna acheive my dream, that is to be an engineer. Should I take up mech. eng. tech first so that at least I'll have a certificate then continue on taking up the degree later on? I had some experience woking in an oil refinery, as a field engineer trainee in which job responsibilities include piping lay-outs, tank repairs; plant turn arounds....
Thanks guys in advance!

 

[PSE]

My recommendation would be to go with the engineering degree vs the engineering technology degree. It may take a bit more time but you will be more desirable as a job applicant, especially with your previous experience.

Good luck.

 

[HgTX]

Absolutely. A few classes more and you'll have the engineering degree and won't be kicking yourself later when you miss some job or licensing requirement by this -><- much.

Hg

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[JStephen]

As I recall from long ago, the "technology" courses don't necessarily match up to the "engineering" courses. Its like two different routes, rather than stopoffs on the same route.

 

[monkeydog]

Yes, start off for the "full-up" engineering degree. If personal circumstances force you to finish school earlier, most of the credits should transfer to the technology school. It will not work the other way.

You may find once you start working, you may be side by side with a technology graduate, but there is a stigma that a technology grad cannot do the work. True, for the engineering work that requires the higher math and more theoretical understanding, but for the day-to-day tasks, the technology grad will work out fine.

 

[l3city]

you are already there!! (in college), go for the highest degree!! Regards

 

[pso311]

As long as the program is accredited, you won't have a licensure problem with either direction. Given your field experience, you seem like a hands-on guy, and I'd recommend the MET route.

As I see in the previous posts, you may face a "stigma" issue with employeers. None of the folks I went to school with had any issues with getting a well-paying job - at many well-known corporations.

-Scott

 

[IRstuff]

Get a full BSME, MS and higher are relatively optional. If you intend to be a mechanical engineer, then the ME tech partial degree is pointless and a waste of your time. To try and start up a BSME program later is rife with difficulties.

As a previous poster said, you're already in school, so get the degree you need, not the one that's easiest to finish.

Frankly, that attitude speaks ill of your future chances in industry.

TTFN

 

[Beggar]

Agreed with all the preceding. If you want to be an ME, get an ME degree. If you want to be a technician or technologist, get the ET degree. Personally, I'd go for the former. You can take your BSME and successfully compete for tech jobs. You'll have a much harder time going the other way around.

Agreed also with IRstuff. Pick your degree based on what you want to do and what you're interested in, not which is the easiest or quickest.

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[fuzbalman]

thanks guys for the advice. The problem now is that I' can't find a school here in albany,new york that offers mechanical engineering. But some community colleges offer mechanical engineering technology...Or, maybe i haven't searched thouroughly. anyway, thanks again guys!

 

[PSE]

Take a look within the SUNY (State University of New York) system. There may be something relatively close by. From Albany you can get quite a few places (including within vermont and connecticut) in a hour or so.