Petroleum engineering-----a big dilemma

<p>Hi
Im an international student....i got admitted for petroleum engineering at the following universities:
1)university of houston,Texas----no aid
2)west virginia university----no aid
3)new mexico tech----no aid
4)university of louisiana at lafayette----no aid
My main questions are
1) since i dont have any aid is it worth going to these schools for my petro degree
2) since im an international student at this point of time when even local people are not getting jobs would i be even able to support myself for my studies
3)is work visas given for international students for working in oil fields?????....it is very difficult to get work visa for international students to work in oil wells big names dont recruit....
among my colleges which is best placed (ie in terms of getting a job based on location)....i would like to know especially about new Mexico tech,,,university of Louisiana at Lafayette,,,,university of Houston texas....from the view of an international student( that is probability that they may get a job....)....please help me......i have to start my preparations....im especially worried since im going to come on educational loan and if i dont fall into a job....i will be under debt since i dont have any sort of scholarship....please guide me....thank you....</p>

<p>bounce…</p>

<p>1) Maybe still worth going. I think there is a glut and hiring will be tough for quite awhile.
2) Probably not unless your family is wealthy.
3) Work visas for international students? I don’t think so.</p>

<p>Thanks…payne…</p>

<p>nearly every internship I’ve come to know for petrol has been for US citizens only. Most of the foreign guys I know in the field were hooked up by their fathers who were engineers who got them jobs in their country of origin. Most of the guys go an get internships in their own country. Also, with the state of the economy, I know juniors who are having a hard time finding internships and seniors who are having trouble finding jobs. Luckily I didn’t have this problem, and know people in high places. The oil field is sometimes like everything else, you have to know someone. Year before last they were hiring engineers like hot cakes. This has affected everyone. Let me put it this way, for our universities career service engine, the only organization looking to hire someone right now is the US Military. That is something that is never affected by the recession. The only operations going on right now are deep sea exploration. My father works for an oil field reasearch and service company, about the only work they are getting right now is stuff from BHP and BP. It is getting rough.</p>

<p>may I also note, that the deep sea stuff is for the highly experienced guys with PhD’s or 30 years in the field. They really aren’t look for anyone to train up and watch over right now. An engineer with a Pete Engineer with just a bach right now, is pretty much screwed.</p>