<p>Hello I'm a high school Sophomore who is looking into getting a degree in Petroleum Engineering degree after high school. Just have a couple of questions though based on what I had already read and what I need some clarification about.</p>
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<li><p>First off I would like to know if there is any classes in my last couple years of high school here that I should for sure be taking. I've already got down Geography, Physics, Pre-Calc, Calc and Chemistry. Out of these is there anything I should add or remove? Or does it not really matter at all?</p></li>
<li><p>I've been reading around and saw several discussions about how what college you get a degree in Petroleum Engineering in affects where you will be for the next couple of years due to recruiters recruiting generally for local (Or relatively close by) companies. Is this true? And if it is how hard would it to be to relocate somewhere completely different and still get hired assuming I where to pick up an internship whilst in college.</p></li>
<li><p>I've also read that many companies have a "List" ranking schools in terms of how good they are and then use that as a factor on how the hire people. I already know that it isn't a deciding factor and instead more or a bonus but how big of a bonus is it? Should I shoot for I really shoot to get into a top school for both the "Bonus" and the recruitment?</p></li>
<li><p>Finally based on the last two questions if they are indeed true and the recruitment and "Bonus" are a big deciding factor in what job I'll get and where it is. I would like to in this case preferably go to a school in California, are there any good schools there that offer Petroleum Engineering besides Stanford that would be really good to go to? If push comes to shove I suppose I can work toward Stanford but I would also like to keep my options open.</p></li>
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<li> Looks good.</li>
<li> Partially true, some of the smaller companies recruit locally, i.e. a Pittsburgh company would recruit mostly WVU, PSU and Marietta. Relocating in a completely different area is up to the company, but I doubt it would be a problem assuming the company isn’t concentrated in one area.</li>
<li> I’m not sure that recruiters actually rank schools… I do know that companies only recruit certain schools though. You can find out that information from the schools career center.</li>
<li> I don’t think there is a true undergrad petroleum engineering degree in California. Your best bet would probably be Cal Poly as a mechanical engineer.</li>
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<p>I know this is an old post but ill give you some advice. I graduated with a Petroleum Engineering degree from OU.</p>
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<li><p>Take AP physics, AP calc, AP chemistry and test out of them. In order to major in petroleum engineering you will have to take: Calculus 1, 2, 3, 4, Differential Equations, and Numerical Methods. AP calc will get you out of Calc 1 and 2 if you test high enough on the AP exam. You will only need Chemistry 1 and 2, so AP chem will get you out of both. You will take Physics 1 and 2 but AP physics will get you out of 1.</p></li>
<li><p>Oil companies recruit more at top tier universities. Roughly 100 plus oil companies come to OU to recruit (exxon, shell, BP conoco, ect…) and it doesn’t matter where you relocate. You will have to intern, period, or you will not get a job. Companies pay you relocation fees for internships, set you up with housing for the summer, and give you salary. Upon graduating you will definitely be moving away from home, unless you work for a local.</p></li>
<li><p>That is 100% true. I am on the recruiting team for Conoco and thats exactly what we do. Every year we evaluate our interns’ performances and rank their associated universities. We create a list of the best to worst schools and visit the best school first and bring more recruiters, flashier and bigger presentations, higher-up people will attend, and we take potential students out for dinners and what not. But the worst school, we may send 1 or 2 people with an interview sign up sheet and thats it; or we may not even go. Since we hire the most from the best schools by the time we get to the bottom of the list we may not have any positions available.</p></li>
<li><p>HAHA! Actually Stanford is at the bottom of our list. If you want to go to a top tier petroleum engineering school go to: University of Texas at Austin, University of Oklahoma, Colorado School of Mines, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M; those are top tiers (OU and UT battle for 1 every year). All those schools also have strong engineering departments if you decide that petroleum engineering is not for you. For advice, stay away from east and west coast schools for petroleum engineering and go to the midwest.</p></li>
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<p>Davidharter89: Do you guys also recruit for any graduates from Mechanical Engineering to work for Conoco? I am from OK (Booker T. Grad) and will finish my Physics (BS) from Tulane next year, current GPA 3.80 cumulative and will do ME (BS) from Vandy. Now, however, I am looking for internship if any. Please advise and thanks.</p>
<p>Davidharter89:
Thanks for the insight! My son is a junior in HS and plans on pursuing mechanical engineering. We have visited several schools (Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech among them) but my son seems to prefer smaller schools. We are visiting Colorado School of Mines and Clemson University in April and are visiting University of Tulsa, Missouri S&T (Rolla) and Rose Hulman in March. I was how those schools are viewed by your company. Also echoing the poster above, Are MEs sought out as prespective interns/employees by Conoco. Anadarko is right in my hometown and I have several friends that are petroleum engineers with them, though their degrees were in ME.</p>
<p>DPMdad: I am wondering if your friends are still active/working at Anadarko? I would love to get an internship with that oil company. However, I have browsed their website but nothing tells me about how to apply for internship, etc. </p>
<p>Please let me know if any of your friends can help to direct me to the right dept or person (s) for such internship. Thanks for your help.</p>