<p>I'm currently on my last year of high school, and plan to attend community college for the first year and a half, and then transfer to Colorado School of Mines to get a bachelors in petroleum engineering. I'm wondering if there's some advice I should get now before it's too late? </p>
<p>I've heard joining SPE and attending their meetings is crucial, so I'm on that already. </p>
<p>Obviously, maintaining a high GPA is my priority. </p>
<p>How about learning a new language?
I'm fluent in Spanish and English, and I'm good at picking up languages easily, so would learning Chinese or Arabic give me any significant advantage when looking for a job? </p>
<p>Looking forward to hearing your advice.
Thanks! </p>
<p>My advice, the way i did it. Very important is studying and making good grades in Engineering Physics, Mathematics, from engineering calculus 1, 2, vector calc III, linear Algebra, Differential equations, get a good grades on those, and use time studying physics. These are very very important, because it will come back to u once u take fluid mechanics and statics (no stats). Don’t worry about the languages. I might change from Petroleum engineering to Chemical engineering even tho i got accepted, we are running out of oil :), that worries me, and many Petroleum Engineers will be jobless. Only type of Engineer that gets the respect, are known as “Universal Engineers”, and can get a job very easily are “Chemical Engineers”. Since u r young, u have time to think, i know many peoples just go after the money, big mistake :), especially today’s and in future … Chemical engineering is the future, once u get B.S in ChemE, u can also work as Petroleum Engineer, and make same money, peoples avoid Chem E because its “tough” and ChemE departments in any university will accept the applicants because we need ChemE in future… </p>
<p>No, we are definitely not running out of oil, we are just having to create new technology to access new reservoirs. But as a chemical engineering working in drilling, I will say that i chose chemical engineering due to its flexibility in career paths. </p>
<p>As far as learning arabic or another language go i personally don’t think its worth your time. I was incredibly interested in learning Norwegian to help me out if i ever work there. Needless to say, one of the european companies i worked for told me that it was a waste of time and that the majority of people speak English. If your passionate about learning another language then go for it, but there are more beneficial things you can be doing with your time in my opinion.</p>
<p>@Hans14 in your opinion would a chemical engineering graduate have an advantage over a mechanical engineering graduate in terms of finding a job in petroleum engineering? </p>
<p>@maximiliom37 Yes, Chemical Engineer have the highest respect of any engineering discipline. I confirmed that by the engineering professors. Chemical Eng is tough! all agree, you will be surprised that Intel corp. hires chemical engineers then any other engineers, even nasa, you will always going to have a job… Designing and implementing from nuclear reactors to chemical reactors and distillation of crude oil (petroleum), etc, is no engineers can do except ChemE. Good luck!!</p>