<p>Hey everyone,
I'm strongly considering going to graduate school for petroleum engineering. The main reason is that I don't like my current job as a field engineer for a service company on drilling rigs very much. It pays well but I dont like the work. I have a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from LSU, but despite great efforts, I couldnt get a job with an oil company (the difference between an oil company and oil service company is like night and day). I have also been applying for oil company jobs for a while now, with no luck. So, my goal is to go back to graduate school, do research and take interesting classes while also having the chance to interview and network "as a student" again, which really opens up the doors to employers.</p>
<p>My question is, since I'm really just looking to get a good job out of this, what are some petroleum engineering grad programs that are not too difficult and also have good career connections? Louisiana Lafayette is my top choice, but I'm not sure how good the industry connections are there. I'm also thinking New Mexico Tech..anyone have any info about them? I am not interested in going back to school at LSU.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for reading, and for any advice you might have.</p>
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<p>Seriously? There is no easy way out as you seem to be searching for. Don’t expect to find something you can just skate through and still get the same benefit of something that would actually challenge you. The idea is just laughable. Going to a school because it is easy is kind of like going to a doctor because you know he will give you good news: it doesn’t benefit anyone.</p>
<p>Might I ask why you want to stay in petroleum engineering when you just said you hate being a field engineer for a service company? I realize that working for the service company and the oil company is different, but it won’t be so drastically different that you are guaranteed to be happy.</p>
<p>There is such a thing as schools that are not excellent academically, but have great industry connections and recruiting. LSU is one of them, but as mentioned I don’t want to go back there. There are also excellent schools who don’t have the best connections.</p>
<p>I guess I should explain this to you…doing what I’m doing now (working on call, weeks at a time with no schedule, 12 hours a day, middle of nowhere living in a trailer) is completely different than what oil companies have to offer, for the same pay. Not to mention it is a career opportunity that isn’t even worth comparing to.</p>
<p>VikingDude,</p>
<p>With all due respects to what Boneh3ad posted, I think I know what you mean but you worded incorrectly. Seems like you want a M.S./M.Eng degree that where get you where you need to be without it being too much of a hassle.</p>
<p>You probably have to assess how the Petroleum industry evaluates master degree holders. If the industry is into knowing about your past research and it is possible that you will actually MASTER the knowledge by going to grad school then you need to factor in academics as well as connections into your school selection.</p>
<p>IF…and this will not be a popular statement on this board…IF</p>
<p>You will be working in an industry sub-area where holding a M.S./M.Eng is more for “resume decoration” in order to qualify for certain experienced positions, then I PERSONALLY do not see a problem with structuring your M.S./M.Eng degree to be say…ummm not-so-challenging when your industry sub-areas basically cares if you HAVE the degree.</p>
<p>In my case, I didn’t see a need to get a M.S. in Computer Science or Math/CS since in defense contracting and federal contracting, your M.S./M.Eng is really just “checked if you have it” for high billing rates (and higher salary). Doing a plain 'ole M.S. in Engineering (with no real engineering specialty) was good for me. In other words **** taking a graduate real analysis or combinatorics course. I will admit that I took some graduate-level courses which were basically grad courses of the ones I had as a undergrad…or in areas which I already had work experience.</p>
<p>Again…depends on your industry.</p>
<p>I honestly can’t answer your question but I wondered about something as two things you wrote seem contradictory. </p>
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<p>It looks like the ‘not excellent academically but good recruiting’ didn’t really work out for you, or perhaps such a school isn’t as it seems? If so, could it suggest this next time around, you might focus more on a degree from a school with more rigor and less on their espoused great recruitment/industry connections? </p>
<p>I’m just throwing that out there, I don’t mean to judge. How has your graduating class from LSU done with jobs in the oil industry?</p>
<p>Have you looked into TAMU’s online program?</p>
<p>A M.S. is not required by any means in the petroleum industry. My reason for it is simply to open up recruiting opportunities, and also gain some project experience.</p>
<p>Starbright, I also noticed my contradiction as it seems. LSU has a lot of campus recruiting, but I and probably about 1/4 of our class didn’t come out with engineering jobs with operators (oil companies). Now, I find it difficult to get an interview, whereas when I was in college it was not hard, because we had career fairs, on campus interviews, etc. Even though it didn’t work FOR ME, the opportunity was there, I just didn’t get selected for good internships/jobs. I’m considering attending school again, so that I will have these opportunities again, and also be working towards an advanced degree. </p>
<p>I know you might think, if I didn’t get a job at LSU then why do I think I would at another school? Well, I think an M.S. plus 2 years field experience will be appealing to oil companies, and I will certainly try harder both academically and career wise. </p>
<p>The schools I am considering are:
UL Lafayette-Cheap (in state, likely waived) and easy, can get out in 3 semesters, heard different things about the recruiting.
New Mexico Tech-Hard to tell from their website, but it’s in the West where I would like to work.
Alaska Fairbanks-Going to Alaska would be awesome.
Anyone know how the recruiting is at these schools? Unless I am persuaded otherwise, UL is the most logical option.</p>
<p>Noleguy, I did look into TAMU’s online program. It seems very legit, it’s just expensive for me. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>
<p>I went to New Mexico Tech in the '70’s, some of the top guys at supermajors were classmates. It’s a very good school. </p>
<p>What kind of service work are you doing? I know several guys who worked for Halliburton and Schlumberger who are millionaires after going out on their own. Ditto guys who worked for mid-majors and went out on their own. The two companies that really don’t seem to train people to be entrpreneurs are Exxon and Shell. </p>
<p>It depends on what you want in life. If you want a job, look to large companies. If you want training to go out on your own and get rich (or at least try), the smaller oil companies and service companies are better at that.</p>
<p>hi guys i want to get admission for bsc petroleum engineering in canada… can anyone tell me about any cheap university in canada where i can work and afford my living and study expense
please do help me with your answers … i am from pakistan</p>
<p>hi guys i want to get admission for bsc petroleum engineering in canada… can anyone tell me about any cheap university in canada where i can work and afford my living and study expense
please do help me with your answers … i am from pakistan</p>
<p>Since my thread got bumped, I’d like to say that I went back to school this january, worked really hard to find an internship with an oil company and succeeded. I will now be working for that company during the school year. I am so much happier than I was at my job and I am very pleased with the decision.</p>
<p>^^^Congrats! Where did you wind up going back to school?</p>
<p>I’m from NOLA and there is definitely an upturn in the oil industry, so your timing is excellent.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Texas Tech to you, but glad things are working out for you.</p>
<p>Viking I know what you are coming from with the service company experience. Everyone I talked to that worked for one didn’t like the experience. I’m really glad I got on with a super major right out the gate. I really feel sorry for the service company guys.</p>