- #1
aerohead_18
- 33
- 4
I've been looking into some AET and MET programs lately and trying to decide if it might be a viable major choice. I've been interested in aerospace engineering for a long time and always thought of that as my go-to college major, since I have a passion for just about anything with wings and/or a motor. But certain elements of AE don't appeal to me at all, especially the high-level math involved. Math is my weakest subject in school, and I have some concerns about being able to perform well in a math-intensive program. Additionally, I always prefer hands-on work to conceptual stuff, i.e. I'd rather be building a part than designing it. Seeing as most engineers seem to spend their careers in "desk jobs," it sounds to me like AE would probably fall into that category in most cases. ET seems to bridge the gap between the trades and engineering, so kind of like engineering with the benefit of picking up a tool every now and then.
That said, I'm a little skeptical of engineering technology in general. I don't know much about the field beyond the "hands-on engineering" generalization, but from what little I've read it sounds like the job prospects aren't great beyond the entry-level positions. Also, many of the ET programs I looked at didn't have very high academic standards (~3.5 GPA, <28 ACT, etc.), and I think on paper I would probably look more like an engineer than a technologist because my grades are quite a bit higher (~4.5 weighted GPA). I wouldn't want to end up in a degree that I was "too smart" for, if that's even possible.
If anyone has some more insight on engineering technology vs. engineering, I'd like to know more about it because there doesn't seem to be much about the two fields on PF. What kind of jobs do aerospace technologists usually have? What's the market looking like in terms of hiring prospects? How much mobility do aero or mechanical technologists have? At first glance ET sounds interesting because it appears to be a blend of conceptual and practical knowledge, which I think would suit me really well. But I'm still a sophomore in HS, so I still have plenty of time to look through all the options.
That said, I'm a little skeptical of engineering technology in general. I don't know much about the field beyond the "hands-on engineering" generalization, but from what little I've read it sounds like the job prospects aren't great beyond the entry-level positions. Also, many of the ET programs I looked at didn't have very high academic standards (~3.5 GPA, <28 ACT, etc.), and I think on paper I would probably look more like an engineer than a technologist because my grades are quite a bit higher (~4.5 weighted GPA). I wouldn't want to end up in a degree that I was "too smart" for, if that's even possible.
If anyone has some more insight on engineering technology vs. engineering, I'd like to know more about it because there doesn't seem to be much about the two fields on PF. What kind of jobs do aerospace technologists usually have? What's the market looking like in terms of hiring prospects? How much mobility do aero or mechanical technologists have? At first glance ET sounds interesting because it appears to be a blend of conceptual and practical knowledge, which I think would suit me really well. But I'm still a sophomore in HS, so I still have plenty of time to look through all the options.