<p>I know I know. If I'm looking straight up at ranks and stats the hands down choice would be UT Austin regardless of what I say. But I'd like to start of by saying the 2 schools I'm stuck between are OU and UT. I've been accepted to OU, seeing that I'm an instater for Oklahoma, and I'm waiting on UT. The reason why I'm hesitant about going to UT is because I think I'd probably be drowned by the academics and the people I'm competing against at UT. My ACT score is a 29 with a 32 in Math. I'm reading about freaks of nature (sorry if you're one of them) with 35's and 10 AP classes that I'd be going to class with. I'm just not sure If I could keep up with the academic atmosphere at UT. OU does fairly well when it comes to PE and it isn't in a free-for-all atmosphere that I'm sensing coming from UT. Also, the cost for me at OU would be significantly less and I feel the size, although still large, but no where near as large as UT, would be better. I know that UT is the pinnacle of PE, but I'm starting to sway away from it. Any input? Or did I just ramble?</p>
<p>I don’t think there is anything inherently hard about the petroleum engineering curriculum, assuming you are a hard worker, you will be fine. I’d be more concerned about cost. I definitely wouldn’t turn down instate tuition at OU to pay out of state at UT.</p>
<p>I think you are making UT sound way more competitive then it is. It’s a state school, plain and simple. A fantastic state school, but you are going to be competing against regular kids. Not bashing on state schools at all, I am currently an Undergraduate at A&M. Also, PETE isn’t really known as being a “difficult” degree for what it’s worth. At A&M it’s actually considered one of the easier next to Civil (I’m a civil, I get that comment all the time). Also, consider applying to A&M. UT is more competitive in the application process, and you might get some good scholarships from TAMU.</p>
<p>I would second applying to A&M as well-great program, and a little less competitive to get into.
That said, Which do you like better? OU or UT? As mentioned above, would going to UT put you in serious debt? Petroleum Engineers make bank straight out of college. The average starting salary (for A&M grads) is just over 85K/year, so paying off debts probably wouldn’t be a big issue anyway (depending on how much debt you’re talking about).</p>
<p>You don’t need a 4.0 to get a nice industry job-a 3.2+ puts you in very solid position, assuming you do internships while in undergrad. A 3.2 in engineering isn’t a walk in the park anywhere you go, but it generally won’t be because of competition from classmates-it’ll be because of the complexity of the material, and your propensity to comprehend concepts. Engineering undergrads tend to be very cooperative with one another and MUCH less cutthroat (if at all) than pre-med or IB seeking students.</p>
<p>Hey OP,</p>
<p>I’m currently studying petroleum engineering at OU, and prior to coming to school here I was in much the same boat as you. I was accepted to several top-notch programs, to include UT, Mines, and TTU, but for me OU was the best overall fit. First and foremost, regardless of what rankings on the Internet may tell you, the PE program at OU is no less rigorous and no less regarded than the one at UT. Right now the industry is exceptionally hungry for new engineers, and as a result it quite frankly won’t make any difference whether your degree comes from OU, UT, TAMU, or any other established, accredited program. That being said, I would strongly discourage you from paying out of state tuition to attend UT because some website shows it being a few spots higher on somebody’s ranking. Instead, choose which school best fits your situation (financial, familiarity, etc.) Look at the cost of living in Norman vs. Austin, consider the ease with which you will be able to drive home to see family on holidays, and think about which of these schools will give you the best overall value for your money. </p>
<p>Also, I wasn’t aware of this before coming to OU so I don’t know if you are, but Oklahoma is absolutely awesome at connecting students with companies that are hiring. On any given week there are several companies hosting a recruiting/Q&A event of some sort, there is a fantastic career fair attended by virtually everyone int he industry, and there are phenomenal resources available to help you find an internship or full-time job. This is my first year at OU (I was a transfer from out of state), but within a few weeks into the internship search I had multiple offers and ended up accepting a position with a large Oklahoma City-based company, and the resources available at the school went a long way toward helping me accomplish this. </p>
<p>Choose the school that feels best for you, but if it was me I’d have a hard time walking away from in-state tuition at a top-notch program simply because of some subjective ranking online. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you’d like more info on OU or if there’s anything else I can do to help.</p>
<p>I am also a graduate of HS in Oklahoma and lots of my friends go to Univ. of Tulsa (TU). Some of them are majoring in PE. So, check it out as it is also a very good school if you really like to make a career or into Petrol. TU also has a very good connection with Big Oil Companies. More importantly, if you are native oklahoman, you will not have any hard time to find financial aid, scholarship, etc if you go to TU, OU or even OSU. One more thing, you can contact the office of Thunders (basketball) since they also start giving out scholarship for native oklahomans.</p>
<p>I don’t know why I just now read this for the first time, but these are awesome answers. Thanks to everyone who helped.</p>
<p>I thought about applying for OU just for the fact that, I think it was 1 of only 3 university with a drilling simulator. Seems like an advantage. However, I think that out of 30,000+ or whatever PetE in US, 50-51% work in TX. Came upon it while researching about salary, employment growth, etc. </p>
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<p>I’m a TX resident and money is a factor, so I’ll be happy at Tech or A&M.</p>
<p>Who are the other two schools?</p>
<p>Missouri S&T [Missouri</a> S&T undergraduate degree in petroleum Engineering program](<a href=“Petroleum Engineering – Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering | Missouri S&T”>Petroleum Engineering – Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering | Missouri S&T)
</p>
<p>Colorado. [PETROLEUM</a> ENGINEERING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES](<a href=“http://petroleum.mines.edu/facilitypages/drillingsim.html]PETROLEUM”>http://petroleum.mines.edu/facilitypages/drillingsim.html)
</p>
<p>I guess them…
I don’t know google it.</p>
<p>Here’s a new one in January. Wyoming
[Drilling</a> Simulator Will Allow UW to Expand Courses, Provide Industry With Experience | News | University of Wyoming](<a href=“http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2013/01/drilling-simulator-will-allow-uw-to-expand-courses,-provide-industry-with-experience.html]Drilling”>http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2013/01/drilling-simulator-will-allow-uw-to-expand-courses,-provide-industry-with-experience.html)</p>
<p>Oklahoma is smaller than Texas where everything is BIG. But, when it comes to finding job after Petroleum School, you can count on Oklahoma where jobs are plenty ! </p>
<p>I have NEVER seen anybody who has degree in Petroleum from OU, OSU, Univ. of Tulsa who is unemployed. IN fact, I have kids from middle-east study in Univ. of Tulsa pursuing Petroleum degree. And they told me there is plenty of jobs in Middle East and OPEC nations with big money…and those three schools offer native oklahomans (in-state students) with free or lots of financial aids. </p>
<p>I’m a OK resident and money is a factor then I would go to any of those three. After all, all you need is “just one job” after school…and you may apply at Williams Company, ONEOK, etc…those are big local companies with billion dollar operations.</p>