<p>Well, I’m a petroleum engineering major at LSU and I will give you advice based on my insight. I will agree with what SBR said, are you an engineer. Is it for you. I will comment on this by saying that the people that start off in engineering at LSU are basically doing it for salary. But they soon realize that engineering is no joke. It is a strenous curriculum with a heavy course load. No matter which one you decide to go into. Now I know here at LSU a boat load of students end up switching there majors out of engineering, especially petroleum. Now, this is due to the face(my honest opinion) that they first off are doing engineering just because they want a career that pays, second they are idiots who don’t set aside the time to study. I mean we have people failing intro engineering classes. First, you must ask yourself why are you doing engineering? For the money is not the right answer. It literally has to be your calling, like a physician or a pharmacist. Or atleast that is the way I see it. Also, you must ask yourself why you selected petroleum? If it is for the money, which comprises most people’s reasoning, that is the wrong answer. I see it everyday. Now, let me say why I am an engineering student. I absolutely love it with all of my soul. I love the challege and I love solving problems. I hate just about everything else besides engineering. I was as studying, reading, watching engineering concepts and designs. I love everything to do with it, from airplanes, to engines, to automobiles, to CNC lathes, to well heads. It is all amazing. I can’t even sleep until I understand the next concept or problem. I love it. I love learning period, besides english, and all that other crap can go to hell. Now,why am I in petroleum, it was the natural thing for me to do, I absolutely love geology, if I could wrap my arms around the earth i would give it a big hug. For the past two summers I’ve worked at an oil field service company. That is what really let me know that petroleum is what I’ve wanted to do. That experience will really let you know, when you get to intermingle with petroleum engineers when they are on the job. It’s one thing to be a school with your petroleum professors but a whole different thing to be working on field projects. Now, I’ve even met petroleum engineers who absolutely hate what they do. Why, because it wasn’t for them, they would have some that would tell me to do something else, but I just love it. Pay will not compensate if you do not like what you do. These guys are making anywhere from 250 to 350 a year. And all they do is complain about how much they wish they would have done mechanical, lol. Or developing equipment for field usage. My father has been working for the oil industry his entire life. I love when he tells me about his experiences on the rigs, out offshore, and the love for all of it. His dedication is what also inspires me. But, the simple fact is my friend, I can’t see myself doing anything else.</p>
<p>This biggest issue you must considered with petroleum engineering is the lifestyle and job itself. You will be working offshore, or in foreign countries. You will be away from family. All of my advisors have told me to put off a wife and kids until at least mid 30’s. Because basically you’ll be out in the field for the first 10 years learning the ropes so to speak. I don’t have a problem with this at all. I can care less. Especially, with the way my cousins marriages ended up, they can have that, lol. You will be staying up hours on end. Usually, drilling engineers will pull 2 days non stop before getting any rest. Is that something you want to do. Do you want to go out for 21-28 days on a rig in the middle of the Gulf, or in Nigeria or Angola somewhere. Ask yourself if a family is not important to you. If you can deal with that. If not, then petroleum is definately not for you. It isn’t the most difficult of the engineering disciplines by any means. But I would have to say it is one of the most stressful. If you are a person prone to stress, then you’ll probaly won’t make it. I study in 20 hour sessions now, lol. It doesn’t bother me to much, I enjoy it. It’s easier than pulling 100 hours in one week, lol. Try that. I’ve done that already. Fun, lol, to say the least, it just makes me feel like I’m alive. That may be odd, but I love the stuff. I mean you must ask yourself, is this what I want to do? Is this made for me, or am I made for this. Also, about grasping the engineering concepts, it all depends how you think, mechanics and circuits all make sense to me. But mechanics seems easier. I have electrical engineering friends who have the god given gift of the OHM, but hate mechanics with a passion. All depends what type of person you are. Some people will never understand, whether it is due to, they just can not, or lack of application. I look at it like this, nothing is hard, hard is a lack of application, dedication, and appreciation for the fact you actually get to recieve an education. Don’t complain, you could be starving in DAFUR right now. Wondering where you will get your next meal, or sleep. American students are just being whining babies. I never hear my asian or arab friends complain about studying or assignments. We have become spoiled. I rarely see people who put 100 percent effort into what they are doing. It’s kind of sickening to me. But I hope my insight helps you to make a decision.</p>