Petroleum Engineering Felony Question 1

[DannyTexas2013]

I am starting college this fall and I plan on majoring for Petroleum Engineering. Now the problem is I have a felony conviction of "Harassment of a Public Servant". I also have a few misdemeanors like false police report, Public intoxication (x2), possession marijuana, and that's it. I see that with my felony conviction is restricts me from many different jobs in the world. I am from Houston, Texas currently living in Michigan at the moment, but will be back in Houston to start college. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me? Is this field something I could get into with a felony conviction? Also what have yall heard about Mechanical Engineering and getting into that? I figured I rather ask a forum where people are actual petroleum engineers and not some guy who thinks he knows what he's talking about. Thank you in advanced.

 

[DannyTexas2013]

Also I would like to add that my most recent charge "Harassment of a Public Servant" happened several years ago. I am 26 and I will finish college when im 30. So by the time I complete college it will be about 8 or 9 years since that charge happened.

 

[Pmatherne]

You will have to report your past activities when you apply for your PE license and TWIK card,
I do not think those are going to be really bad marks on you
It is also possible to work in the oil field and never really need those if you do not visit any sites

Future PE Engineer
Pet project I am working on to help other engineers, not much yet hoping to get it grow as I learn more

http://www.peexamquestions.com

 

[DannyTexas2013]

Ok. So me going to college for PE isn't a waste of time for me? I just heard a lot of felons get in so I figured since it was a long time ago and it really wasnt anything too major I would be fine

 

[DannyTexas2013]

Also I rather get into the oil field with my petro degree or a mech. degree to be honest. I am inbetween on that right now

 

[DubMac]

It will also have to be discussed on any job interview you have; I don't think anybody anywhere makes a hire anymore without exhaustive background check. Make sure you don't ever conceal or lie about it.

Noting your age and that high school has been a while back; make sure you are prepared for what is going to hit you when you jump into an Engineering curriculum. I did pretty much the same thing in going back to school and working my way through Pet.E. degree at TAMU. It was so much harder than the kids who went straight from High School to college. But it CAN BE DONE; I was 30 when I finally got my degree and sticking it out was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Best of luck to you; if you put your head down and grind, you'll make it and never regret it.

 

[DannyTexas2013]

Thank you or the information. I am curious though.. If i get a petroleum engineering degree up in michigan would it matter? Would the jobs down in texas not want to hire me as much because I completed my degree up in michigan?

 

[Pmatherne]

It generally does not matter where you get your degree from. As long as it is an ABET approved college. The stuff you learn is pretty much the same stuff you learn everywhere. Some might go further into some areas, but my Me degree is roughly the same as MIT one (though they did a lot more theory)

As for the age. I graduated at 35. My wife will have finished her Law degree at 42. It is never really too late. Yes it will feel weird when you have a boss that is younger than you.

Future PE Engineer
Pet project I am working on to help other engineers, not much yet hoping to get it grow as I learn more

http://www.peexamquestions.com

 

[DubMac]

Agree. I don't think it matters anywhere near as much where you get your degree, as just getting it does. Not everyone has a Pet.E. school though; but every Eng. school has a Mech. Eng. program, and it might serve you better in the long run if you are not totally committed to the oilfield.

Curious you are wanting a Pet.E. degree with oil having dropped below $50.....not a great time to look for a Pet.E. job right now. There is no more volatile business that I know of.

The main advice I would give, and advice I wish I had been given, is: spend a lot of time doing what you are doing now, investigating all the options from professionals who have seen a few decades pass. Then, once you make a decision, commit to it, put your head down and give it everything you've got until you finish. Do not let circumstances deter you. Once you jump in the water, don't stop swimming until you reach the other side. I doubt you will ever regret it.

 

[miningman]

For what its worth, if I had restrictions against hiring ex convicts, alcoholics and drug users , I would never have been able to put a mining crew together for the last 30 years. Don't sweat the details but having said that, perhaps you haven't demonstrated good judgement on a number of personal issues over the last 10 years. If you keep your nose clean for say the 4-5 years that it will take to graduate, I might be willing to hire you but 2 more indiscretions over the next 5 years, however minor , would demonstrate a very poor attitude, likely to continue.

 

[triplebeam175]

I'm the same age and in a similar but not quite as extreme situation. I've been studying petroleum engineering for two years. The way I figure it is that if you are good enough at what you do, then employers will find it difficult to pass you up. I will tell you though, if you are still putting yourself into situations where you could get cited for public drunkenness, then you're going to have a tough time getting through engineering in college because it is a lot of work.