OT - Ferns parts ways with OSU because he wants to be a petroleum engineer (Front Page)

Submitted by EastCoast Esq. on

This was in the Recruiting Roundup, so if this is inappropriate, mods feel free to delete.

However, I was shocked (and pleased) to see that Ferns will not be a Buckeye because he wants to be a petroleum engineer! Apparently they don't offer the right curriculum, so it isn't going to happen.

Has a recruit with NFL potential ever decided against his favorite based on the major? I know it can be a final factor, but I'm not aware of any that have made it THE factor.

 

Good for him for making his post-football career a priority.

UNCWolverine

May 7th, 2015 at 2:22 PM ^

My uncle quit michigan baseball because his computer science grades were slipping. Didn't answer your question but I thought pretty admirable nonetheless.

aratman

May 7th, 2015 at 2:22 PM ^

Picking schools because of coaches is a fools game.  Picking a school because NFL dreams is a bad idea.  Picking a school that gives you the education you want is the only good idea.  Coeds and weather aside.

PburgGoBlue

May 7th, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^

Is in an area where the fracking boom is taking place. There, Martins Ferry, etc are really taking off right now, so I would imagine he sees the impact the oil business has down there. That is a really run down area since all the Steel companies left, now it is starting to be rebuilt again, so maybe he sees that as a good chance? 

 

Good for the kid to have a goal/dream.

LSAClassOf2000

May 7th, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^

I will say that I can't exactly recall a case lately where the degree program or lack thereof at a school was the dealbreaker, but a few where it has been that plus other items rolled into simmering irritation and eventual decommitment, if you will. 

I actually was curious and looked up the top petroleum engineering programs (ranked by a site geared towards steering people into this field) and they are in unsurprising locations - Texas (specifically the Austin campus), Texas A&M, Penn State (mentioned in the article), Colorado School Of Mines, Tulsa, Stanford, USC, Oklahoma and other schools, several of which are mentioned in the article posted. 

rob f

May 7th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^

Good for Ferns.  The kid's got his head together.

Secondary to that, but still important to Michigan:  OSU's loss is our gain, even though it's highly doubtful he's coming to Ann Arbor.

Elwood

May 7th, 2015 at 2:45 PM ^

Why not just be a chemical engineer? This seems a shortsighted way to pigeon-hole yourself into a rare and soon to be outdated career.

chadman127

May 7th, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^

The difference between Petroleum Eng and Chem Eng is that Petroleum Engineers specialize in getting oil out of the ground.  Chem Es specialize in the refining process.  Being in St. Clairsville, he is right in the heart of the fracking, which is the "taking it out of the ground" part, and probably why he is interested.  The only refinery in the area is in Canton, and that is where I work. I am an Mechanical Engineer.  In general, the Chem E's make about 5-10k more than MEs.  ME's make more than EEs and Civils, but not by much.  If he wants to major in Petroleum Engineering, you will probably find him at a school in Texas, most likely A&M.  

BBA1994

May 7th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^

That $130k isn't the starting salary, that is the median salary a petro engineer can expect to earn during their entire career.

chadman127

May 7th, 2015 at 3:50 PM ^

It's probably not far off.  Chem E's where I'm at are starting off making somewhere between 110-120k.  Petroleum Engineers are more rare and with the recent boom, I can believe the numbers.  Not to mention, there arent a whole lot of people who want to move to SE Ohio/PA or North Dakota, so it takes more money to get them there.