Petroleum Engineering Major

[nathancpike]

As to your question about the girls, UL is in the southern part of a state that's rarely cold more than a month out of the year. Enjoy the view.

[kelbow7]

Haha you are in for a culture shock! I am a Mechanical Grad Class of 2012 and as for the Girls there are none in your classes but we have so very good looking girls down here (yes true Southern Bells). The degree is a good but you are stuck to the petro industry (not bad mouthing it I work in it) and there are only so many thing a Petroleum can do. It is your chose but I would suggest talk to the Department heads of the two or three engineering majors you are considering and talk with some seniors from each one. the School has a great red in the Petro industry and you can get an internship with any one you want as long has you have the grades.

Mike V?

[Just1More]

This is excellent advice. I wanted to go into the aerospace industry, but I was adviced not to major in aerospace engineering because that would over specialize me up front. So I majored in mechanical engineering.

After working in aerospace for six years, that mechanical engineering degree is what allowed me the flexibility to change industries when I wanted to. Now I'm in the oil industry as well.

Another thing to consider is that he can major in any one of the engineering colleges to begin with, and make the final determination well into his sophmore year and not lose too much ground. I graduated in electrical engineering with the intent midway through to move to another university for biomedical engineering... but was talked out of it. Much like the discussion around petroleum engineering, biomedical engineers are specialized and are at the mercy of an industry that cycles.

As for females... you aren't likely to get your fix from hanging around the engineering department. Some of those girls are what we refer to as "engineering good looking". The best looking one has you turning your head every day in the engineering department, but wouldn't make you look twice in a bar. As for a guy coming from New York... he better have some self-control... tons of babes... tons of sweethearts... tons of opportunity for as much fun as he can handle. But... you had better balance it right... engineering is no cakewalk... even the easy way to an engineering degree (petroleum)... Ha at you PETE's!!!

[Cajunman99]

Anytime you go out in Lafayette, the ratio of women to men is a minimum of 3 to 1. Its an amazing place to be a single guy.

[Cajunman99]

Also, I have a number of friends who graduated in one flavor of engineering or another from UL. Lets see.... One is traveling the world for work and has a 6 bedroom house in Dallas..... One lives in Denver, just because he loves to climb.... One writes video games (that you have played) in Seattle and makes more money than God.... A couple who have stuck around down here in LA are working in the oilfield (Chemical, Civil, and Petro) doing great.... Another (me) went to Law School instead and couldn't be in a better place now.... I could go on...

[Just1More]

Also, I have a number of friends who graduated in one flavor of engineering or another from UL. Lets see.... One is traveling the world for work and has a 6 bedroom house in Dallas..... One lives in Denver, just because he loves to climb.... One writes video games (that you have played) in Seattle and makes more money than God.... A couple who have stuck around down here in LA are working in the oilfield (Chemical, Civil, and Petro) doing great.... Another (me) went to Law School instead and couldn't be in a better place now.... I could go on...

I met a lawyer from Mandeville at a party and he told me that he had graduated in electrical engineering and said it was just too hard. He went back to school and got a degree in accounting and became a CPA. He said that was too hard too. He went on to law school and passed the bar. He said he finally found the vocation where he makes a lot of money (he's a personal injury attorney) and doesn't have to use his brain.

[Cajun_in_NM]

As long as you have the grades, you should be able to get in. Now, keeping grades is something else. If you can keep your head in the books, you'll make it through, but it isn't a cake walk. Just remember that a little extra effort will pay off big, in the end. From day one, you'll see lots of engineering students that couldn't keep up with the curriculum, and they tend to go into Industrial Technology (ITEC), most of them are doing better than typical college grads.

When it comes to internships, not a problem. Career Services does a great job at getting lots of companies in, and getting nearly all petroleum students into summer jobs. I can personally attest to this, as I had internships at Exxon (2000) and Baker Hughes (2001 & 2002). When I graduated, I signed on with Baker Hughes and worked off-shore for three years. Following that, I went to New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah for five years with and oil company. Now, I've been in Houston for four years, working for a different oil company. The amount of living I've been able to have, by age 30, can't be rivaled by any other industry. The only professions that allow someone to move (see the world, etc) and experience life, as much as petroleum engineering, is the military or international business.

Trust me, while you may be held to oil & gas, you will never regret it. This is an industry that is already beginning to need more engineers than what are available. This demand will only increase, as years go by; just look at the Department of Energy's (DOE) statistics, the US is expected to be the largest producer of petroleum on Earth, by 2024. This isn't by producing what we have, its by producing what we can't get, yet. My company is a part of that, as much as anyone. We have found oil in an area that was abandoned over 40 years ago; we tried new completion techniques, and are making more oil than anyone in the Midwest. This is just one example of where petroleum engineers are the right choice.

If you live on campus (I did for all four of my years), you'll have a great time. The school does lots of activities to keep you engaged, and you'll find yourself going to lots of sporting events - they are both easy to get to, and are tons of fun. Live on campus, it's cheaper and you'll have a blast - just some advice, your second or third year, try to hire on as a Residence Advisor, you'll get free room and board (including meals) and it is a very rewarding job too. It really helps develop good social skills with all types of people.

As for party scene and girls, I can't say enough. I found myself in college and can tell you, by your sophomore year, you'll know the women's dorms like the back of your hand. There are too many gorgeous women at UL to try and write about - trust me, there are plenty, and they are typically very sweet. If you want to party, just know that there is a festival nearly every weekend, during the warmer months, so no worries.

Here's the point, you can't go wrong with Petroleum Engineering. You'll be culture shocked at first, but by the time you graduate, you'll be thankful for every second you had at UL. I say go for it, I did, and can't be more thankful and blessed for it.

[CajunAmos]

As long as you have the grades, you should be able to get in. Now, keeping grades is something else. If you can keep your head in the books, you'll make it through, but it isn't a cake walk. Just remember that a little extra effort will pay off big, in the end. From day one, you'll see lots of engineering students that couldn't keep up with the curriculum, and they tend to go into Industrial Technology (ITEC), most of them are doing better than typical college grads.

When it comes to internships, not a problem. Career Services does a great job at getting lots of companies in, and getting nearly all petroleum students into summer jobs. I can personally attest to this, as I had internships at Exxon (2000) and Baker Hughes (2001 & 2002). When I graduated, I signed on with Baker Hughes and worked off-shore for three years. Following that, I went to New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah for five years with and oil company. Now, I've been in Houston for four years, working for a different oil company. The amount of living I've been able to have, by age 30, can't be rivaled by any other industry. The only professions that allow someone to move (see the world, etc) and experience life, as much as petroleum engineering, is the military or international business.

Trust me, while you may be held to oil & gas, you will never regret it. This is an industry that is already beginning to need more engineers than what are available. This demand will only increase, as years go by; just look at the Department of Energy's (DOE) statistics, the US is expected to be the largest producer of petroleum on Earth, by 2024. This isn't by producing what we have, its by producing what we can't get, yet. My company is a part of that, as much as anyone. We have found oil in an area that was abandoned over 40 years ago; we tried new completion techniques, and are making more oil than anyone in the Midwest. This is just one example of where petroleum engineers are the right choice.

If you live on campus (I did for all four of my years), you'll have a great time. The school does lots of activities to keep you engaged, and you'll find yourself going to lots of sporting events - they are both easy to get to, and are tons of fun. Live on campus, it's cheaper and you'll have a blast - just some advice, your second or third year, try to hire on as a Residence Advisor, you'll get free room and board (including meals) and it is a very rewarding job too. It really helps develop good social skills with all types of people.

As for party scene and girls, I can't say enough. I found myself in college and can tell you, by your sophomore year, you'll know the women's dorms like the back of your hand. There are too many gorgeous women at UL to try and write about - trust me, there are plenty, and they are typically very sweet. If you want to party, just know that there is a festival nearly every weekend, during the warmer months, so no worries.

Here's the point, you can't go wrong with Petroleum Engineering. You'll be culture shocked at first, but by the time you graduate, you'll be thankful for every second you had at UL. I say go for it, I did, and can't be more thankful and blessed for it.

Just an FYI. Now, the girls dorms ARE the boys dorms as all but one residence hall on campus is coed.

[Cajun_in_NM]

Just an FYI. Now, the girls dorms ARE the boys dorms as all but one residence hall on campus is coed.

Guess I graduated too early!!

[CajunAmos]

Guess I graduated too early!!

Showing my age, but I guess "panty raids" will be a much shorter walk.

[axg8750]

I graduated in EE and am now working on drilling tools in the oilfield. None of the tools I work on have any electronics in them.

All they want to see is "Engineering" on your degree. Most dont care what it says in front of that.

[Boomer]

I graduated in EE and am now working on drilling tools in the oilfield. None of the tools I work on have any electronics in them.

All they want to see is "Engineering" on your degree. Most dont care what it says in front of that.

---------------OH there is one HUGE fact that hasn't been touched upon----We have an outstanding DEAN of our Engineering school---Dr. Marc Zappi!!!!!!

[CajunFan3406]

I graduated in EE and am now working on drilling tools in the oilfield. None of the tools I work on have any electronics in them.

All they want to see is "Engineering" on your degree. Most dont care what it says in front of that.

Thanks AXG. This doesn't give me any confidence in finding a EE job closer to home.

[axg8750]

Thanks AXG. This doesn't give me any confidence in finding a EE job closer to home.

I'll shoot you a text with a few leads.

[Cajun90]

Thanks AXG. This doesn't give me any confidence in finding a EE job closer to home.

Shouldn't be an issue but you will need to be proactive. A lot of companies have given up on traditional advertising campaigns. You need to network. Send me a PM and I can point you in a a few directions if interested.