<p>Go to UL. Lafayette is a major oil industry hub. The class sizes are smaller and the professors show an interest and care about their students. I think you have a better chance at success in Lafayette. Start practicing your interview skills. The major oil companies use a lot of situation and leadership skills questions. Try to get an internship your first year. Apply just to get the interview experience, it will help you out in the long run. I have a buddy of mine that graduated from UL as a Mech E. He loved it there and was really mentored by his professors. </p>
<p>I recently interviewed with one of the big 5 and all I can say is the salary and the benefits are amazing. Hopefully I get it. You don’t pay for food, you don’t pay for travel, you don’t pay for lodging. Everything is paid for by the company. I flew first class to the interview. The rental car was paid, the hotel was paid, the food was paid. Yearly bonuses, performance bonuses, pension plan, insurances, 401k match that dwarfs other companies, benefits. It is all well worth going for petroleum engineering or petroleum engineering technology. The job opportunity is roughly over 100k after everything is said and done for the first year. After your first five years the sky is the limit. International and Deep Water Gulf/International opportunity is also available. I say go for it.</p>