You must be of the "T" variety. When a new grad steps out into the working world he is supposed to be equipped with the KNOWLEDGE needed to succeed in his career. The knowledge given a "T" is much different that the knowledge given the "no T".
Yes, my undergrad is a BSMET and your claims appear to be common myths which would correctly be associated with 2-year ASET grads, not BSMET or other grads. Like BSME, BSMET math requirements start at Calc-1 and run thru either differential equations or linear algebra depending on the school. In the mechanical sciences both programs start at statics and run the usual gamut of strengths, kinematics, dynamics etc thru vibration and machine design. In the thermal sciences both programs start at thermo-1 and run thru various fluids, heat transfer, hydraulics, etc. Both have the same common electives like FEA and CFD with niches depending on the local industry and school, automotive engineering being popular here at schools around Michigan. You're suggesting there's a major difference in education yet classes are commonly taught by the same professor in the same session using the same texts with a mix of majors and many BSMET students graduate and immediately begin MSME programs alongside BSME grads, and after the same 4-5 years many become PEs.
Regarding hiring, most BSMET grads I've met that stay in engineering have gone directly into design engineering roles with little difficulty. BSME grads OTOH often struggle in design and either start or quickly end up in a variety of other roles - customer service, project or process management, sales, etc. Not to belittle in any way, but most BSME grads have had little exposure to design in college outside of an intro to solid modeling and the usual FEA elective, even intro to machine ops has become a less common elective or not offered at many colleges. Most cant read GD&T, have no experience with common solid modeling practices/structuring, and know little/nothing about common manufacturing operations. BSMETs IMHO are better prepared, I had multiple classes on each of two solid modelers, FEA, CFD, GD&T/advanced drafting, statistical process control, design of experiments, two manual machining courses, a separate cnc course, five welding courses (and certification), and several other industrial engineering/industrial management courses. Unlike our oounterparts, BSMETs graduate with much of the practical experience BSMEs get during their first few years in industry.
Apologies if my comment regarding degree difficulty offends, but compared to the military prior and my engineering career since, college was simple including grad school. I understand there are engineers who go their entire career without applying calculus or solving a differential equation and will likely disagree on relative difficulty, but no part of my education is near my top accomplishments bc I have never accepted an easy position (challenging ones pay much better IME). While interviewing for my first position in recip engine research for an OEM I was cautioned that I would learn more in my first year of engineering than I would in four years of college, and its something I have heard repeated to engineering grads at several companies since. JME but most successful engineers prove it true.
