Source
r/geologycareers•
StriderSword

Last Minute Uncertainty About Grad School

So originally, I was planning to apply to 2-3 of Colorado School of Mines, UT Austin, Houston, and/or Texas A&M to study petroleum geology. I already have three letters of recommendations lined up from some great professors of mine and I have a 3.45 GPA. But after reading some posts on this sub about how terrible the future is looking like for petroleum geologists, I'm starting to have doubts.

Could I still apply to one of these schools and maybe go into resource mining instead? Is it worth it to take a year and work or travel a little to find out what I really want to do? I basically just have a draft of my personal statement ready and the deadline for funding consideration is in a week. I just really want to maximize my chances of landing a well paying geology job with good career potential and avoid something like a geotech or crazy hours. I don't want to commit to a field with risky future job security. Could use some encouragement/advice on this stressful christmas eve thanks

Posted Dec 25, 2023, 3:02 AM UTC

814
No_Profession_6178•

Oil and gas is extremely volatile and boom bust in nature. If you do not want a career where there will be a guaranteed down turn I would not recommend petroleum. I have been in the petroleum business for over 17 years and have been through several boom bust cycles.

13
AGneissGeologistExploration Geo•

I had the exact same worries when I was graduating undergrad. I ended up working in geotech for 2 years, going back to school for a graduate degree, and then breaking into mineral exploration and mining. Don't stress about your first step out of undergrad.... everyone struggles with the first job. The important is just to get out there, even if it's a shitty job, so you can learn and start to shape your path.

I don't know much about petroleum geology, but I frequently encountered coworkers that moved from oil & gas into mining/exploration. Based on their experiences, I think an MS with a mining focus would be a better investment.

I'll always recommend taking 2 years between your BS and MS to work. It's amazing how much it shifts your perspective and keeps your head outside of the academic bubble. Best case scenario, you land a good internship/career at a major and you don't have to waste earning potential during grad school. Worst case, you get adjacent experience that earns a bit of money and pads your resume.

If you want my actionable advice, I would recommend you apply for everything: internships at mining majors (Rio Tinto is a big one), a few grad programs, maybe start look into decent geotech companies (if your in the SE, I can recommend a few). That way you can sit down with as many options as you can scrounge up and make the best decision you can based on actually offers.

6
HeartwarminSalt•

Mines will be the only one of those with an easy pivot to mining. UT, A&M, and Mines also have a bit of a reputation for just cranking out drones who can do, but can’t necessarily think. They are also like CrossFit (how do you tell if someone went to CrossFit? Don’t worry they’ll tell you.) However, they also have huge alumni networks that can help get you a job at any part of the business cycle. If you go to any of those three, make sure you can set yourself apart. I’ve really only heard of UH folks getting jobs in Houston…fwiw.

3†
LaLa_LaSportiva•

I work in mining and Mines students definitely do not have that kind of reputation, but instead do tend to have larger egos. You come from Mines and you interview decently, you're going to get a job in mining. To be fair, if you graduate from any mining school and you interview decently, you'll get a job in mining. I've noticed a slight advantage in hiring mining over non mining students as far as being able to jump in a bit faster and having more passion in the work, but I've also hired non mining students who did great.

5
StriderSwordOP•

Honestly, I wouldn't mind being a drone as long as I can find good paying work with career potential. That alumni network sounds really appealing to me. I think I can demonstrate my critical thinking skills on the job through internships and such, right now my focus is just getting my foot in the door at these schools through the applications.

2
moretodolater•

Either/Or, you could literally go log core for MinEx or get a production job right now if you wanted and feel that out. O&G… try to call your uncle’s friend’s wife’s uncle and get an internship? Harder to get into those high level positions.

High paying with job security is not really a geologist’s lifestyle. I was in MinEx and now engineering geologist and make around 150k but geotech around here has been cancelled apparently.

1
halobiont•

MSc from any of those three schools will serve you well in any Geology future. I had a wonderful and fulfilling career in petroleum geology. Yes it’s a commodity with ups and downs. Mining is probably similar. Be great at what you do and that ride will be a lot smoother. I would not delay earning the degree. Take time off after if you feel it’s still necessary. Follow where passion leads you. You have chosen a career that provides what people need to survive and thrive. That’s not going away anytime soon. Petroleum products are in everything. EV’s are mostly powered and built by petroleum. Good luck.

-1
therockhound•

ts definitely do not have that kind of reputation, but instead do tend to have larger egos. You come from Mines and you interview decently, you're going to get a job in mining. To be fair, if you graduate from any mining school and you interview decently, you'll get a job in mining. I've noticed a slight advantage in hiring mining over non mining students as far as being able to jump in a bit faster and having more passion in the work, but I've also hired non mining students who did great.

Guessing your career started before unconventional took over. Just because oil is being produced does not mean you need (many) geologists to find/develop it.

1
halobiont•

Unconventionals need more Geos than conventional deposits. They are very complex with many geologic variables. That is if you want to produce commercial volumes.

1
therockhound•

Have you worked unconventionals? I did. Need less and less geos every year. More and more engineers.

1
StriderSwordOP•

Could I pivot from petroleum geology to petroleum engineering with only an geology BS? My undergraduate grades in physics and calc were not stellar unfortunately.

1
whalewatch247•

Is it all about money? We will be using petroleum for the rest of our lifetimes. Do what you are interested in.

-3
LaLa_LaSportiva•

Not to mention petroleum geos are paid pretty damn well compared to mining.

1
StriderSwordOP•

A petroleum geo career would be ideal, but I've heard it's much more competitive bc the job market is smaller than mining. Considering I believe that I'm a good candidate but not a stand-out one, I'm thinking I should try to get into the mining field instead for better opportunities.

1
Sardonic-•

Don’t bother with oil. There’s an EV revolution, didn’t you hear? That will take METALS.

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