Thomas asks…Help? Should I study Corporate Finance or Petroleum Engineering? A bit Long?I relate more easily to finance but I think it’s just an easier degree.
I’m certainly not passionate about engineering but I can be interested.
I didn’t do well in the hard sciences in high school but then again I never studied.
Corporate finance: Easy for me (as for most people). I can finish a 4-year degree in 3 years (including one year of internships) and add another year of internships for good measure, graduating with 2X the work experience of my colleagues. And then go for an MBA. But, there are zillions of finance graduates. A job, if I find one (which is hard), would start at around $48,000.
I don’t really know if I have the charisma, persuasiveness and social skills that are essential to make it big in finance as a stock broker, investment banker, hedge fund manager, etc. I’m a loner.
Petroleum engineering: Very difficult and boring if I don’t get really involved from day one. I can finish a 4-year degree in 3 years if I kill myself, but not with internships. It’s not hard to find internships after graduation, though. The subjects would be challenging but I think as long as I attend my lectures and labs and do my coursework I’ll be fine. Jobs are supposedly plenty and a salary can start at $83,000 or more. I even heard of some $100K starting salaries.
I don’t need to be a great people person. I get paid well to do important and specialized work.
With an engineering degree an MBA is still possible, but not the other way around. I can look for a job and do my MBA at the same time — the salary would be enough.
I’m starting college all over again at 22 and I want to make the right choice this time. I want to be a wealthy worker.Brad Perry answers:It sounds like you have done your homework in checking out Corporate Finance and Petroleum Engineering. Your assessment of the course work seems correct, However engineering is more difficult than people realize, and has a very high drop out rate. I faced a similar choice when I was deciding to go to college. My tour in the military was ending I had to decide whether to study business or engineering. I chose engineering. The course work was very difficult and I had to work almost full time to pay the bills. As a result my grades were Cs which places you down the list for getting hired. I did get a job and found engineering is an ok paying job but there is not a good a career path to higher paying management jobs. If I had to do it