<p>Hey guys,
I was accepted into the petroleum engineering major at the University of Texas-Austin and the energy resources engineering major (seems to be the petroleum engineering equivalent) at Stanford. This is a really tough decision for me as getting into Stanford has always been one of my dreams, but from what I gathered online it seems that UT is a slightly better program and is a much better location for internships and job placement. Any advice is appreciated!!!!</p>
<p>dang, I need a problem like this! Congrats, OP. You cannot lose whatever you do. </p>
<p>Go to Stanford u/g and Texas grad if you want to. </p>
<p>“The kinfolk said, ‘Jed, move away from here. / California is the place you oughta be-e-e-e. / So they loaded up the truck / An’ moved to Stanford Universit-e-e-e”</p>
<p>Assuming cost is not an issue and fit is the same, Stanford, just in case PE turns out not to be for you. UT isn’t bad-great in fact for many majors, but Stanford has more great alternative options and in most cases comes out ahead of UT in head to head competitions across the majors. </p>
<p>Grad school in petroleum engineering is by and large unnecessary if a student wants to go directly into industrial applications. </p>
<p>Most of the large oil firms recruit widely and their summer internship programs aren’t just limited to students in the states with heavy oil production. Personally I would choose Stanford in a heartbeat knowing that a) the overwhelming majority of students change their majors, b) Stanford isn’t exactly some schlubby school, c) Stanford is extremely highly ranked and has plenty of industry connections including an extremely important oil recovery institute (one of my professors at OU collaborated with them and frequently discussed its work), d) it’s a smaller school with exclusively top students. </p>
<p>Additionally, virtually all of the super majors and some majors recruit Stanford students and it has a chapter of SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) which often helps students get jobs owing to industry connections. Finally, it’s a much smaller department than the one at UT Austin which could be a good or bad thing (fewer students to recruit, more personal attention from many of Stanford’s world renown professors).</p>
<p>That being said, you can’t go wrong in your choice. UT Austin is a fantastic choice, and its petroleum engineering program is second to none. If it’s PE program is anything like OU’s, you’ll see oil companies darn near every week trying to recruit undergrads, discussing problems and solutions the industry is facing, and collaborate with faculty. You’ll also be in a state which is far more supportive of the oil industry as a whole, and have the opportunity to go on more site field trips. </p>
<p>Wow, congratulations!!!
Visit if you can.
What about costs - would they be roughly the same cost for your family, are they both affordable (without more than the $5,500 federal loans)?
But if you’re not sure - pick Stanford.
If you were to change majors - which MANY if not most freshmen do - you’d have more choices. Plus, I’m all in favor of living in another part of the country for college if it’s affordable, and California is a State many would like to spend 4 years in.
Congratulations again!</p>
Hay Hayden lol. I also applied to The University of Texas’ Petroleum school. I applied early August soon after they released the application. I have not yet heard back from them yet and it seems like it is taking longer than it should.
I have a 4.58 GPA, Top 4% of my high school, 2010 SAT, 1370 math/ reading, I have athletics, clubs, and National Honor Society. If you could shed any light on this situation that would be great. Additionally, since you got accepted so early I would like to know your scores and rankings and such for comparison. Congrats on the acceptance to Stanford, that’s outstanding. Thanks
