<p>I'm a senior in HS who's conflicted between a bachelor in Petrol and Economics. I know petrol has higher pay prospects and that UH is probably gonna be cheaper plus the fact that I already have a scholarship that may be up to $4500 from UH. Between the two fields, I really have no preference, so job passion isn't really a factor here. Still, TAMU is more prestigious and getting a job with a degree from TAMU will probably be easier. Also, I live in Houston, so I'm leaning towards petrol, but I need a second opinion.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Have you investigated what each career path entails?</p></li>
<li><p>How big is the price difference, and how much does it matter to you (particularly in terms of student loan debt)?</p></li>
<li><p>How easily can you change major to the other at each school (assuming you start off taking courses that work toward both majors to preserve the option for the first year)?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>1) For starters, petrol engineers get around 50% in median pay, but that’s in 2012. Entry-level education for economists requires a master’s as opposed to a bachelor’s for petrol. Moreover, jobs between 2012-2022 are growing at rates of 26% and 14% for petroleum engineers and economists respectively according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</p>
<p>2) UH is about $$18,513 while Tamu costs $18,202 annually according to according to college calc. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have a scholarship from UH( the amount of which is undisclosed due to problems with my social security). Also, Fafsa is down, so we may have to wait to find out how much I can get. The prices mean a lot, but aren’t as important as getting good education in the field I’d be studying if the price differences aren’t that high.</p>
<p>3)At UH, I’d have to consult an advisor in the department of my intended major, “meet the same requirements as students seeking admission to an academic unit (department, school, or college) from outside the university who have completed the same number of semester credit hours.”, and submit an Undergraduate General Petition to be approved by department chair and the college Dean, all of which seems like a tedious process. Tamu’s process seems a little shorter requiring only that I fill out an Undergraduate Change of Curriculum Request form to give to the advisor of the program I want to transfer. Petroleum engineering will likely be competitively stocked on students, so my GPA and hours completed will be major factors in approval. Some departments may have one window each semester with deadlines for applying to change majors. Other departments will not approve changes of major for students who have exceeded an hour cap. </p>
<p>On question 1, what type of job and career are you more interested in doing?</p>
<p>Also consider the nature of the job beyond the pay level. For example, some petroleum engineers work in messy oil fields, subfreezing conditions, blazing hot deserts, lonely oil rigs, politically unstable countries, and/or countries with strict religious-based social restrictions. Many economics graduates work in “business” areas that are not, strictly speaking, economics.</p>
Haven’t really thought about it that way. I guess I do need to be comfortable with my job, especially since I’m pretty indoorsy. In fact, I hate traveling, so economics probably suits me best. Thanks! I appreciate the consult.