How to Apply for Best Petroleum Engineering Schools in USA

Petroleum engineers work worldwide, searching out deposits of oil and natural gas and designing methods and equipment to access those deposits.

To get yourself enrolled in the best grad school, one needs to follow the norms and steps. Preparation is essential. Graduate school admissions take considerable time. Entrance into best Petroleum engineering grad school is increasingly competitive.

Following are the applying directions for Petroleum engineering program:

• Shortlisting and Visiting Session

  In order to make an appropriate decision, shortlist some best Petroleum engineering grad schools. Visit those shortlisted grad schools preferably when school is in session. Take a tour of the grad school, talk to students present and faculty and make notes for reference later when applying. Get to know about their viewpoints on the college and the course. Later, Collect contact information and send a brief, friendly email thanking them for taking the time to speak to you.
  
  If there is a sign–up sheet, add your name! Colleges do keep track of which applicants have demonstrated genuine interest in the school. A visit is a great way to demonstrate your interest. If you visit many schools, your memories of them are bound to overlap. Keep track of the details you like and the stuff that you don't like.
  
  Also, while visiting different grad schools you can investigate financial aid options, sources of independent scholarships and make arrangements to speak with financial aid officers at grad schools to which you will apply. The more you know about actual costs at the front end of the process, the easier it will be to identify and target schools that are likely to admit you and give you the assistance you will need.
  
  Visit days are a recruitment opportunity for the grad schools and an opportunity for you to get a taste of what grad school will be like at different institutions. This is your chance to assess the best place for graduate study.
  

• Admission Essentials and Supporting Documents

  Review the admission requirements of the shortlisted schools and the course structure of the program. Also, review the application deadline and timelines.
  
  
• Application Form and Fee: Though the majority of universities have the online application available, some might require that students send a hard copy of the same. A non-refundable fee must accompany every application.
  
  
• Statement of Purpose: The Statement of Purpose should illustrate your academic background and experiences. It should describe your long term career goals and why you are applying to this program.
  
  
• Transcripts: One official transcript of all previous college work (Undergraduate and Graduate) is required at the time of application.
  
  
• Letters of Recommendation: Recommendations should come from individuals who can speak to the quality of your academic and/or professional background. Three letters of recommendations are generally recommended.
  
  
• GRE score: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test is required of all applicants. Only GRE scores taken within five years of requested enrollment can be considered.
  
  
• TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Students with a degree from a U.S. College or University do not need to provide a TOEFL score. A TOEFL score is valid for two years from the expected entrance date.
  
  
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Resume depicts the career objectives, educational awards, or honors the applicant has achieved. It should be clear and concise.
  
  
• Beyond the textbooks and the classroom: Your life outside the classroom can be as important as your academic accomplishments.  Colleges look at the whole student, not just grades. Students who have gone above and beyond in their studies and displayed original thinking are often sought. How much have you participated in school and community activities? There are lessons to be gained by assuming leadership positions on your campus. The kind of impact you’ve had on your community will be taken into account—there’s been an uptick in student-run community service projects. This kind of involvement speaks to your character, your generosity and empathy, and your willingness to commit to something larger than your own life. It also says something positive about your level of cultural awareness.
  
  The kinds of high school, regional, and state awards you’ve earned also provide evidence of your accomplishments, especially those for academic, artistic, athletics, and civic activities. Holding down a job while attending school will also count by demonstrating your ability to be responsible and focused- two traits that will help you succeed at an institution rich in opportunities.
  

• Essay:
  Essays are considered as a way to judge the applicants potential and skills. Admission Essays are also called as Personal Statements. A two-page personal statement (approximately 500 words) outlining your background, research interests, goals, and reasons for applying to the course and university is essential. Few tips are:
• Always remember, the essay is about you and your writing skills
• Think about the audience
• Demonstrate you have all the skills a universities is looking for; determination, hard working, able to cope under pressure
• Use active verbs, simple and clear words and sentences.
  

• Decide on “When to apply”

  There are 3 modes of application in the USA which define when you apply, they are:
  
  
• Early Decision/Early Action - Deadline is usually around November 1st.
  
  
• Regular Decision - Most students apply for this; the deadline is around the 1st of January and you can expect to hear back by around the 1st April
  
  
• Rolling Admissions - Only some universities offer this where you can apply any time before the term starts and you will hear back a certain number of days after your application.
  

• Interview

  Interview is a chance to prove that you are better than what your score shows.  Interview helps colleges understand something that is difficult to discern from an admissions application i.e. your personality.
  
  Plan, Prepare and Practice
  
  
• Prepare for the interview by researching the school ahead of time and writing down questions for the interviewer. This should hopefully give you more confidence during the interview.
  
  
• Do the following well ahead of time: map out your travel route, print out all necessary documents, pick out your outfit, etc.
  
  
• Rehearse:  Answer possible questions in front of a friend or the mirror. Don't necessarily remember specific lines, but have a general answer for as many questions as you can imagine them asking. Practice makes prepared.
  
  
• Arrive early: If you must, sit in your car and prepare more for the interview there. At least you're there, not worrying about traffic or going into the interview feeling rushed.
  

Also, Google search to see if there have been any forum discussions or blog posts about this particular school's admissions interview process. Maybe your desired school has a college admissions blog that could offer some interview insight.