ok lets say that I want to follow the premed program because i want to be a doctor, but i know how hard it is to get into medical school so my plan B is to become a petroleum engineer.
would chemistry be a good major to complete ?
what would u recommend me ?
what about my minors ?
If you want to be an engineer, the best major to complete is an engineering major. There are actual majors in petroleum engineering, but mechanical, civil, chemical, or potentially environmental engineering majors may also suffice. A chemistry major would have to do a lot of extra coursework to become an engineer - essentially getting a second bachelor’s in engineering. So it’s not really a good major if becoming a petroleum engineer is your backup plan.
Universities in places located closer to the oil industry tend to have more of these kinds of programs. Not surprisingly, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, and Texas Tech all have petroleum engineering majors. So do a lot of “mining” public universities, like Colorado School of Mines, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Other universities with it are Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana State, University of Oklahoma, University of Alaska at Fairbanks, University of Tulsa, and University of Kansas. There are more, probably. Stanford has a program in energy resources engineering, which is pretty similar.
If you pursue mechanical, chemical, or civil engineering - perhaps with some supplemental classwork in the geosciences, chemistry, and environmental science - that may also prepare you adequately, although you’d want to do more investigation to be sure. But that will also open up more opportunities for different schools, since mechanical and civil engineering are offered more widely.
An engineering curriculum and/or a pre-med curriculum is demanding enough. You don’t have to worry about minors.
so it’s not possible to try to pursue both of my plans in case I don’t get into med school?
med school is my top choice but I was also considering Petroleum engineering!
btw im from Arkansas so its not a good idea to do something like petroleum engineering here ?
thanks!
Be aware that petroleum engineering job prospects are tied to oil prices and can have boom and bust periods.
I didn’t say it wasn’t possible. You can major in engineering and be pre-med. (You can major in anything and be pre-med.)
Also, unless you are unwilling to move from Arkansas, you being from there doesn’t mean petroleum engineering is a bad idea.