<p>So I recently returned to school after a ten year adventure carrying heavy things up hills for the U.S. Army. I'm 2 1/2 years shy of completing a B.S in Petroleum Engineering (with a math minor, for what it's worth) at the University of Oklahoma, and I'm starting to look into potential grad school options. Specifically, I'm interested in completing an M.S. in Petr Eng immediately after finishing the B.S. However, I'm not sure if it's worth the effort in the long run, so looking for some input from folks with more experience than I in the industry. Here's a few details pertinent to my situation:</p>
<p>1.) I'm going to school compliments of the GI Bill. Once I complete the B.S. I will still have one year of GI Bill funds remaining.</p>
<p>2.) OU is in the process of implementing a "4+1" program. In other words, they're creating an accelerated program such that one could complete a B.S. and M.S. in Petr Eng in a total of 5 years. It's not certain whether this will be available in time for me to qualify, but if so it would mean that I could apply that extra year of GI Bill money to completely fund the graduate degree and it would only require one additional year.</p>
<p>3.) I am a pretty solid student, so the rigors of graduate school aren't out of reach.</p>
<p>4.) I will be completing my first internship over the summer of 2013 (a field internship).</p>
<p>My school also offers an accelerated B.S.P.E/MBA, but I'm not very interested in that for a variety of reasons. As I mentioned above, I'm older than the average undergrad (30 to be exact), and so I'm already a bit behind the curve with respect to most other folks my age in the industry. It has long been a goal of mine to complete a graduate degree, but given the nature of the oil and gas industry and the current earning potential, I'm having a hard time deciding whether it's worth it to financially to forgo a year or two of income in order to complete the M.S. If anyone has any input on the long-term value of a graduate engineering degree in the oil and gas industry I'd sure appreciate it.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar boat, but am only in my first year of LSU’s PetroE program. I spent 4 years as an Infantry Marine and 1 year as a roughneck on a drilling rig in Texas before deciding to become a Petroleum Engineer. </p>
<p>It would be hard to pass up an MS degree if it’s already covered by the GI Bill, but I would say that most of the people I’ve worked with and spoken to in the industry recommend going to work after getting your **. There are several schools in the country that offer distance MEng degrees which, under the new rules for the GI Bill, can be paid for. If it does’t cover the cost 100%, a lot of employers give tuition assistance for graduate study. </p>
<p>Go into the industry, figure out which part (drilling, production, reservoir, etc) that interests you the most, then get your MS in some related field while you are working. </p>
<p>Lastly, if your internship falls through, finding a job throwing tongs around on a rig can be a great experience. I loved my time on the rig, and it’s a great talking point on a resume.</p>
<p>As a 30 year Pet Eng, here are my thoughts:</p>
<p>An MS won’t help much unless you want to work in a lab or design environment.</p>
<p>An MBA would provide for possible upward mobility in certain organizations, and would give a broader view of business. (Lots of engineers are too narrow minded at times.)</p>
<p>But my best advice would be to go to work ASAP with your ** degree. Petroleum Engineering is a unique field that simply does not require grad degrees to set yourself apart.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, some of us look down on job applicants with MS grad degrees because it often reflects an individual that couldn’t get or keep a job without that extra paper. </p>
<p>What about a non-Thesis masters? Would that be beneficial? I’m contemplating doing that, it will only take one extra semester OR I might be able to work and finish it at the same time.</p>
<p>Noleguy33, my reply was intended for the original poster, since he is an older student. I think it’s important for most in this field to simply get that undergrad degree and get to work. His 10 years of military experience tells me a lot more about that guy than a grad degree would. </p>
<p>If you can get an MS with only one extra semester, it becomes a more practical option. Even better if you can get it while working. That shows moxy when you get a grad degree while working full time.</p>
<p>Please do not take my original comments as a knock on getting a grad degree. It’s just that it isn’t as helpful in the Petroleum industry as in others, and it certainly isn’t typically required to get employed.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input an advice. Your words echo those that most of the faculty I’ve talked to have spoken (get the degree, get to work, then consider grad school). I suspect that’s what I’ll end up doing as well, and as DesertIce mentioned above, the GI Bill will indeed cover courses in the future should I decide to return.</p>
<p>Thank you as well to everyone else who replied as well, and DesertIce, good luck with your classes!</p>