So I was just accepted to the petroleum engineering program at ut austin, and I’m absolutely thrilled because I never thought I’d get in. However, I’m worried that this may not be a smart move right now due to the state of oil prices and the industry’s cyclical nature and whatnot. I know that once you’re admitted, you can request a major change starting in April and obviously there’s no guarantee that I would be granted a change of major, but I’m starting to wonder if I should consider trying.
You and everyone else I am sure. Since you can’t try until April anyway you have some time to think about it. it is hard to tell how much of what is happening today is temporary versus permanent. It is definitely an industry that is dependent on the price of one thing and that price is manipulated by a cartel which we cannot control. If you do choose that industry, you should be prepared for ups and downs over the course of your career. But that is not unique to petroleum engineering or engineering for that matter.
@Walker246, Petroleum engineering continues to be a strong major at UT, irrespective of what is happening now with jobs in Texas oil. 4 years from now, a lot will happen. Remember that for the aspiring talent that wants to travel the world, learn languages, your major will remain highly sought after and among the highest paid in the world. UAE? Iran? China Xinjiang? Indonesia? South China sea? All good to go for the long term; great international opportunities. What does “and whatnot” mean?
@Walker246 I also have been accepted into the Petroleum Engineering program at UT. I probably got in because everyone else decided to not apply, LOL. Fortunately for us we won’t graduate for about four and a half years which is a long time in the oil and gas business. The business will always be cyclical. More than likely when we graduate it will be on the upswing.
My father works at Chevron with the next president of the SPE and she told him that there are the PE programs at UT and A&M and then everyone else. The point being that graduates from UT and A&M who have good grades will always be recruited.
I have known for quite a while that being a PE is what I want to do. I am not letting the current environment change that because I know it will change. Good luck with whatever you decide but hope to have you as a classmate in the fall.
@Walker246, @K20903, Great input from K. Seriously, study language as part of your curriculum. Your major, with Chinese or Spanish or Arabic capability (or all three), is the best major at the best university in the world for petroleum engineering. Put an MBA on top of that, tap the Longhorn alumni community… A roadmap that is indefatigable.
Thanks for the input. Do you guys think it helps at all that UT Austin has one of the top petroleum engineering programs in the nation? Will that give me a leg up, or do you think I’ll be in basically the same boat as someone who graduated from any other petroleum engineering program?
@Walker246 As I mentioned in my earlier post, A&M and UT have the top PE programs. They are the only ones that restrict enrollment so that there is the proper student/professor ratio. So yes graduating from UT, as long as you have a good GPA gives you an advantage.