Petroleum Engineering

[cajun4life]

If you don't mind me asking, how much is the starting salary? I am going to need loans for the tuition, dorm, and meal plans because my parents will not support me in any matter.

Any degree'd engineer in the oil field with a strong work ethic will make more than enough money to pay back any student loans that you may stack up. There is a lot of money to be made in the oilfield if you are willing to do the work.

I have been working for a "major" service company for only two years and will top 6 figures. It is not MD type money but more than I ever imagined I would make when I was in college. I will be stepping away from that career field in the near future to pursue something else but it is not a "not enough" money issue.

Things can always change in the industry, but from everything I have seen we will remain busy for the foreseeable future.

[CajunFan3406]

ACT math score is 28.


How is the local people to out of state kids (I'm from Chicago)? Do you have classes on Saturdays?

Well you're in luck with that 28. If you have a 28 or over and at least 8 weeks of Trig in high school then you can register for Calc 1 in your first semester.

I would also look into trying to take some advanced credit tests that the university offers. I got out of having to take one English class and a Biology class because of this testing. I would suggest talking to someone from the university about these tests.

No classes on Saturdays during the semesters or the traditional summer school period, unless you're taking some type of short intersession between semesters. I suggest avoiding intersession classes if you can.

And you will have no trouble fitting in here. Locals won't give you a hard time. Just don't make a habit of shuttering yourself off in your dorm or apartment. Get out and explore. Make friends with your classmates and go out and do things with them. If you do that, you will have your own little group of friends in no time.

[Chicago24]

Any degree'd engineer in the oil field with a strong work ethic will make more than enough money to pay back any student loans that you may stack up. There is a lot of money to be made in the oilfield if you are willing to do the work.

I have been working for a "major" service company for only two years and will top 6 figures. It is not MD type money but more than I ever imagined I would make when I was in college. I will be stepping away from that career field in the near future to pursue something else but it is not a "not enough" money issue.

Things can always change in the industry, but from everything I have seen we will remain busy for the foreseeable future.

My parents want me to be a doctor. I don't want to be a doctor. I want to be a petroleum engineer and my mom even said she feels like dying if I don't go back overseas to med school.

Well you're in luck with that 28. If you have a 28 or over and at least 8 weeks of Trig in high school then you can register for Calc 1 in your first semester.

I would also look into trying to take some advanced credit tests that the university offers. I got out of having to take one English class and a Biology class because of this testing. I would suggest talking to someone from the university about these tests.

No classes on Saturdays during the semesters or the traditional summer school period, unless you're taking some type of short intersession between semesters. I suggest avoiding intersession classes if you can.

And you will have no trouble fitting in here. Locals won't give you a hard time. Just don't make a habit of shuttering yourself off in your dorm or apartment. Get out and explore. Make friends with your classmates and go out and do things with them. If you do that, you will have your own little group of friends in no time.

Yeah I took AP English & AP Biology last year. Are the math classes really difficult? I'm okay at math.

[Cajun_in_NM]

I think UL is the right school for me because I don't really love the theory & lab variants.

If you don't mind me asking, how was your GPA the first year?

I really would love to work for Chevron or Marathon, what type of GPA do you need to work with them?

Is it really hard to get a 3.0 GPA?

If the lab and theory thing is not your cup of tea, then look at UL or the other 3 schools I mentioned. Don't worry too much about cost of education, as if you are 3.2+ GPA, you have a higher than average shot at getting an AADE, SPE, or Foundation scholarship. Each of these are $1,000+ per semester and have terms of 1 year (2 semesters). Generally, getting them a second time and so forth is easier than the first time.

For myself, my first year's GPA was 3.9. Now, a lot of that is because of the general classes that we are required to take those first 2 years (English, Calculus, Engineering 101, etc). The thing about GPA your first two years is this, buckle down and try. If you don't get caught up in the club/bar scene too much, you'll make it...but you have to be willing to put in the time/effort to make the grades. The curricula isn't too hard, but is demanding and time consuming.

As was stated before, to work for most major oil companies, you must have a 3.0+ GPA to be considered. Some require 3.5+. Most service companies require 2.5+, but the higher your GPA, the better the opportunity and the higher/more stable the company you interview with (i.e. more money).

Here's the good news about getting a 3.0 GPA. If you can show the work ethic and ability to be 3.0+ in your first two years, it gets easier at the end. Your Junior and Senior years are much "easier" since you will spend 80%+ in PETE classes (you'll be done with most general classes). If you are a hands on person or more apt to understand operations, then drilling, production, and geology classes should be no problem. Reservoir may post some challenges, but the labs help bring those to life.

Here's my advice on understanding PETE and how to succeed in the major, GIVE ALL OF YOUR ABILITY TO LEARNING EVERYTHING YOU CAN IN PETE 391 (PHASE BEHAVIOR)! This is the class that first showed me what all of this looks like when not on a drilling rig. The book that is used for this class is in every petroleum engineer's office. If you want to really know what it's all about, learn what you can from this book: http://www.amazon.com/Properties-Pet...troleum+fluids

Hope this helps!

[CajunJack55]

My parents want me to be a doctor. I don't want to be a doctor. I want to be a petroleum engineer and my mom even said she feels like dying if I don't go back overseas to med school.


Yeah I took AP English & AP Biology last year. Are the math classes really difficult? I'm okay at math.

Do what you want to do. It's your life and career. You will be okay financially as an engineer and it's something you want to do. Your parents will get over it.

[Chicago24]

Do what you want to do. It's your life and career. You will be okay financially as an engineer and it's something you want to do. Your parents will get over it.

My mom is threatening suicide unfortunately. Every time I try to tell her I want to do petroleum engineering, she is saying it is killing her on the inside and that she is getting chest pain.

middle eastern problems family

[ULvictory]

Hey y'all,

I have some questions about the Petroleum Engineering program @ UL. I'm thinking about joining UL this fall and I've always been interested in this since I was a kid (even though back then I didn't have any idea what it was) because many of my Father's friends were petroleum engineers for shell, exxon-mobil, etc...

They all said it is hard work and they constantly have to travel.

A) How hard is the program?
B) How hard is it to get an internship?
C) How hard is it to get a job after finishing the course?

An engineering program is a hands on "put the time in" curricular. It is a profession and not just a degree. Internships are available and all engineering graduates have a job before or right after graduation. Louisiana needs an additional 30% more engineers as we speak. Do the time, make the grade, and a bright future is ahead. Go Cajuns!

[cajunhawk]

My mom is threatening suicide unfortunately. Every time I try to tell her I want to do petroleum engineering, she is saying it is killing her on the inside and that she is getting chest pain.

middle eastern problems family

Might I suggest an elaborate ruse that makes it seem you are a doctor while all the while you are happily an engineer. I have seen this on a sitcom somewhere.

[Chicago24]

Might I suggest an elaborate ruse that makes it seem you are a doctor while all the while you are happily an engineer. I have seen this on a sitcom somewhere.

Problem is she wants me to go back to study in the UAE where at that med school we could only leave the campus once a month + had classes even on Saturday + no electronics. I sure as hell do not want to go back to that dictatorship.

She is worried about the arab/middle eastern community's opinion and how she will be embarrassed by me quitting to study in the US.

[CharlieK]

Might I suggest an elaborate ruse that makes it seem you are a doctor while all the while you are happily an engineer. I have seen this on a sitcom somewhere.

Get your PhD in Petroleum Engineering. Dr. of Petroleum Engineering. Problem solved. :-)