<p>I'm turning to the collective wisdom and knowledge of the CC community to answer a question that has arisen for my son while looking to apply for internships at petroleum companies. He'll graduate with a BS in May and plans to apply to Grad schools for the fall of 2015. He wanted to take some time and explore some different areas of geology before grad school. He thinks he wants petroleum geology, but would like to see what it's like through an internship first. The wording on many applications is vague or downright confusing. For instance, they often say things like this:</p>
<p>Qualifications:
Current enrollment in 4 year college or university
Working towards a masters degree in Geology or related field;
Minimum 3.0 GPA for consideration;
Transcripts required.</p>
<p>Does that mean he must be enrolled in a graduate program, or must be a full time undergrad intending to go to grad school?</p>
<p>He says it means that they want grad students, but I'm not so sure. Any insights greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>If he plans to go and get a master’s, then he is working toward it during undergrad. But I agree that the wording is bad. By their definition, he was working toward his master’s in fifth grade.</p>
<p>Regardless, though, if it sounds like work he would understand and enjoy, I would apply even if they said they were looking for grad students only.</p>
<p>I think it requires the applicant to be a student. Why? The program may be set up for a non-employee student. The business wants to sponsor a student and not hire someone.</p>
<p>two, it does sound like they want a student, which my son will be when he applies and plans on being again in the near future. I guess the biggest puzzle is whether they’ll give an internship to someone whose between full time degree programs. Any recent graduates out there who have gotten internships with oil companies?</p>
<p>Just have him apply. If they like him they will offer him the internship. Id there is a qualification problem, they will let him know. Best of luck!</p>
<p>As others have said, seems like they want a current student - at either UG or grad level. If this is for the summer after graduation, he may not be eligible. He could call and get some clarification and certainly could apply. But it may not make sense if they will only accept active students. Why wouldn’t he look for a job in the field instead of an internship? Good luck to him!</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback.
mom2and, he’s trying to decide which sub-specialty of geology he wants to study in graduate school. He wants to get some experience in the petroleum industry before deciding, but they don’t offer many real geology jobs to people with just undergraduate degrees.</p>