<p>I'm currently a high school senior who is deciding on which college I should attend. Tamu just sent me their financial aid offer and it turns or the net cost for tamu will be around $18500 (surprising higher than what net costs will be for UT which is $17000). University of Houston's tuition will be only around $7000 per year after scholarships/etc.</p>
<p>I was accepted into petroleum engineeri for both programs. I basically want to choose the college that will give me the best chance of getting a job as a petroleum engineer. My single mom said cost doesn't matter for her but I really don't want to be a burden. She has decent enough job for me to not qualify for any Considerable FAFSA aid but not as good to support my younger brother and sister along with my education. Does going to TAMU give me a considerable advantage in getting a PETE job?</p>
<p>The program at UH is very new and not yet accredited, so TAMU will definitely give you some edge for job prospects. Petroleum Engineers are in pretty high demand, however.</p>
<p>$80K is way too much debt. I would without a question go to UH if going to A&M is going to mean borrowing that kind of money. How were you planning to borrow this anyways? The most one automatically can get as a freshman is $5500 in Stafford loans. Are you being offered Perkins as well and looking at outside loans? </p>
<p>If your mother cannot afford to help you out right now to bring that figure down substantially she isn’t likely to be able to help you later in reducing it A lot of things can happen between now and paying back those loans. The industry can go bust, you can decide the engineering classes are not for you. Not wise to be contemplating taking on that kind of debt at age 18.</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse
I guess 80000 was a bit of an exaggeration. I was offered most the subsidized stafford and unsubsidized stafford loans. I was given the option for the direct plus loan as well. My mom can definitely afford maybe $5000 per year. But that still leaves about $52000 left to pay.
And yes the volatile oil industry is another reason why I’m worried. If petroleum industry goes through a bust in the next 3-4 years then I will definitely be in trouble.</p>
<p>You don’t have family to help you out financially, it appears. So you are better off keeping the cost down low. If you get through the program and the jobs/ pay are up there, that you are at UH vs A&M are not going to be that much of difference–you’ll find something, especially if you do well at UH which might not be as much of a challenge as at A&M. If you do a great job, you have a chance of doing just as well as anyone. If things go bust, you won’t have the loan monkey, really more a gorilla on your back and the same if you change your mind and go for another major. </p>
<p>DIrect PLUS is a program for your mother to borrow the money. Is she willing and able to take on these loans? Are you sure you want her strapped with them? The interest rate is a hefty 8% and the meter starts ticking as soon as they are taken out.</p>
<p>Going to UH would take care of a lot of these problems.</p>
<p>Texas A&M without a doubt has a better established PE program with endless possibilities as a graduate. The department at A&M also offers scholarships each semester - that could get you nearly $2000 or more each year. The only requirement is to maintain a 3.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Summer internships are also available if you network appropriately. Many have received nearly $6000 a summer (including after your freshman year). This should help you pay for your schooling as you go along.</p>
<p>In engineering, getting internships and co ops are very important to future employment. Will UH give you the opportunities for that? I don’t know and it is definitely something to think about. </p>
<p>I am sure that TAMU has tons of contacts in the PE field. If money becomes a problem later in school you could take off a semester or a year and co op. There were lots of these situations where my S went to school. Also it was cheaper for my S to live off campus than on. He made enough to pay for his room and board after his 2nd year, it helped us out.</p>
<p>I’m not a fan of debt either but considering the better contacts TAMU has, I think some debt might be worth the employment opportunities. You will be able to pay for some of your schooling by working summers. Also if you are working on a rig you will be able to bank most of your salary and pay any debt you have faster. </p>
<p>D has friends who are on the road most of the time and are able to bank a lot of money. But you have to be sure you want to stay in your major, changing it will change this advice.</p>