<p>Hi all, I am in my mid 20's and I already have a degree in Biology with plans to attend medschool. But, I changed my mind because I got really interested in Petroleum Engineering and I already got accepted into LSU, University of Louisiana Lafayette, and Oklahoma University. I am really interested in learning my new profession very well but at the same time I am looking at the school that will offer more scholarships, grants, research, internships and something of that nature. So far I am leaning towards UL Lafayette simply because they have an out of state waver and they seem to have more internship opportunity. I need some advice from anyone who is familiar with any of those institutions with regards to scholarship and stuffs of that nature. Any other help will be appreciated regarding the individual petE programs. My Biology GPA is about 3.4</p>
<p>Personally I’d go with UL Lafayette because of the OOS waiver. I’m going to be a transfer student into OU’s Conocophillips School of Geology and Geophysics, which is part of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy (the one you were admitted into). I’ve talked to my transfer counselor and she emphasized how easy it is to get research at OU. Because much of their funding comes from two main areas of specialization, geology with an emphasis on extraction and meteorology, I’d imagine she’s right. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if there’s any difference in internship opportunities between ULL, OU, and LSU except for potential location. Since my admission in February, the MCEE emailed me twice about two different recruiting events where representatives from major oil and mining companies were coming on campus to interview prospective students. OU is also home to the Oklahoma Geological Survey, which offers geology and geophysics majors excellent research opportunities but I’m not sure how useful it is to a PetE major. As a biology graduate, you might be interested in OU’s biocorrosion center ([OU</a> Biocorrosion Center](<a href=“http://biocorrosioncenter.ou.edu/index.html]OU”>OU Biocorrosion Center) ). I’d imagine you’d be useful to professors almost immediately as you’d have a better understanding of the material than most. </p>
<p>Again, I’d go with UL Lafayette as it’s cheaper. But make no mistake that OU offers plenty of opportunities in all the areas you’re looking into.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advise… I really appreciate it! I am just more worried about the tuition because of the school fees and the room and board fees. They haven’t offered any scholarship yet. But as for now, I am only going to go to LSU or OU if any of them offer me any form or scholarship or grant. Thanks again</p>
<p>Go to UL. Lafayette is a major oil industry hub. The class sizes are smaller and the professors show an interest and care about their students. I think you have a better chance at success in Lafayette. Start practicing your interview skills. The major oil companies use a lot of situation and leadership skills questions. Try to get an internship your first year. Apply just to get the interview experience, it will help you out in the long run. I have a buddy of mine that graduated from UL as a Mech E. He loved it there and was really mentored by his professors. </p>
<p>I recently interviewed with one of the big 5 and all I can say is the salary and the benefits are amazing. Hopefully I get it. You don’t pay for food, you don’t pay for travel, you don’t pay for lodging. Everything is paid for by the company. I flew first class to the interview. The rental car was paid, the hotel was paid, the food was paid. Yearly bonuses, performance bonuses, pension plan, insurances, 401k match that dwarfs other companies, benefits. It is all well worth going for petroleum engineering or petroleum engineering technology. The job opportunity is roughly over 100k after everything is said and done for the first year. After your first five years the sky is the limit. International and Deep Water Gulf/International opportunity is also available. I say go for it.</p>
<p>LSU has much better oilfield recruiting than UL. I won’t elaborate, but I have access to both career services sites so if anyone says otherwise I can confidently back that up. </p>
<p>The problem at LSU, and probably all schools, is that there are TONS of people going into PETE right now, so get ready for competition! LSU has a massive surplus of students in PETE right now. UL does too, but I think you won’t have to struggle to be known as much as at LSU. That shouldn’t matter to you if you really want to get into the oilfield, however.</p>
<p>Send me a private message and I can help you with information. I am a grad student at one of the 3 schools and was an undergrad at one of the 3, so I have a lot of insight into your questions.</p>
<p>LSU does attract some of the bigger names. When I went there I remember that they had OXY, Shell, Chevron, Exxon, Conoco, BP, Hilcorp, and the service companies. </p>
<p>I agree with VikingDude that LSU isn’t really the best environment since it is so flooded with graduates. I don’t know how well the staff is managing all those Petrol students. When I went I felt it was crowded. Could only imagine now.</p>