Can't Decide

Hey I'm about to enter into university i have high grades and cant decide between doing investment banking or petroleum engineering i am interested in both but i think the investment banker lifestyle would fit me better. ask me for more information if you need it also i live in canada, alberta (oil country). I would like to move to new york for investment banking by the way and i would be open to moving anywhere for petroleum engineering. If anyone had to make this decision could you please give me some insight to what you choose and why. thanks any help would be nice.

Edit: whats the chances of me getting a investment banker job at goldman with an engineering degree?

12 Comments
 

Go engineering. An Investment Bank will hire an engineer - an engineering firm won't necessarily hire an investment banker.

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Best Response

You have plenty of time to make that decision if you haven't even started at a university yet. My suggestions to you in order to set yourself up for either:

  • try out some engineering, finance, and accounting classes and determine which major you think you would excel at...if you can double major in engineering and finance/acct that would be helpful
  • read WSO everyday
  • start networking early...you have a good position since you are just starting university and have time...getting informational interviews with individuals in both areas will be helpful in making a decision down the road
  • get involved on campus in an energy club or finance/banking related clubs to learn more about the areas
  • start reading WSJ and other news publications....I suggest OGFJ (Oil and Gas Financial Journal) because you seem to be interested in O&G
  • maintain your GPA
  • look for some internships after your fresh/soph year in either IB or O&G so you can get your feet wet and decide if you are actually interested
  • Have fun in college.....don't get bogged down in focusing on after too much

Good luck...but really the best advice anyone can give you is to Network, Network, Network

XX
 

I do but instead of watching videos on youtube i enjoy researching this stuff and trading small amounts of money. I still play video games and stuff.

 

As a recent chemical engineering grad trying to break into finance, let me give you some advice. I'm not trying to dissuade you from pursuing your potential dreams, but if you're interested in finance or some other field I would not recommend that you major in chemE/petroE. First of all, getting a high gpa (3.7+) in chemE is going to almost impossible if you're not truly interested in the subject. Second, chemE will ruin your college experience and that's not an exaggeration. If you major in chemE you won't have fun, won't get a high gpa, most likely won't get laid, and if you get a shit gpa (3.0) u might not even get an engineering job. I know this may sound a bit harsh, but it's the truth pal. Like one of the previous posters said, you're only 14 so go enjoy your youth and don't worry about engineering/ibanking until you're in college.

 
BicepBrahAs a recent chemical engineering grad trying to break into finance, let me give you some advice. I'm not trying to dissuade you from pursuing your potential dreams, but if you're interested in finance or some other field I would not recommend that you major in chemE/petroE. First of all, getting a high gpa (3.7+) in chemE is going to almost impossible if you're not truly interested in the subject. Second, chemE will ruin your college experience and that's not an exaggeration. If you major in chemE you won't have fun, won't get a high gpa, most likely won't get laid, and if you get a shit gpa (3.0) u might not even get an engineering job. I know this may sound a bit harsh, but it's the truth pal. Like one of the previous posters said, you're only 14 so go enjoy your youth and don't worry about engineering/ibanking until you're in college.

As someone who studied chemE for 3 years at a top school before transferring to study finance at another university, I agree with this assessment. Getting that 3.5+ GPA to qualify for Ibanking position is very hard, only about 20 people in my class of 120 managed the feat. Pulling it off with extracurriculars is next to impossible because you'd be cutting down the pathetic hours you'll be sleeping. Even though I enjoyed most of my classes, I hated the fact that I worked my ass off to keep up my 2.3. Having connections in industry, I wasn't worried about immediate employment but it was hurting my chances of going to a top B-School. And that's what brought me here.

If you are looking to study chemE, whip your math game into shape in high school. Your anus will thank you later.

 

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