Unanswered [6] | Urgent [0]
  

Home / Graduate   % width Posts: 4


Statement of Goals advice for dual degree program in Energy Economics & Petroleum Man


AKBen 1 / -  
Feb 22, 2011   #1
All,

I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback on my statement of goals below. This is my 3rd draft. I feel like the gpa discussion at the end is a bit tacked on, but I did not think that it fit into the main body very well. I am still working on phrasing, proofreading, and editing, but this is pretty much what my statement will look like.

This is for Colorado School of Mines dual degree program. The graduate application simply states the following for the statement of goals:

Statement of goals: The purpose of the statement of goals is to introduce yourself to the Graduate Admissions Review Committee. In the statement, you should address professional and personal goals, as well as why Colorado School of Mines would be the best place to achieve those goals. It is typically about one page in length.

Right now my statement is about 1.5 pages, but I checked with the program director and she told me that up to two pages is normal and even preferred.

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds. Now on to the statement...

I have been working in the Oil & Gas (O&G) industry over the past 12 years in small roles: disposing of contaminated water on Prudhoe Bay during my high school summer breaks, as well as larger roles: managing 20 plus engineers and designers on the largest O&G project in Alaska. I have worked in the O&G industry in the engineering, construction, production, maintenance, and field services areas of business. I now want to advance my career and provide guidance to the executive level of O&G majors and NOCs, specifically on evaluating green fields for development. CSM's dual degree program offers the most effective route to prepare me for a consulting position with an O&G specialization.

My goal after graduating from the CSM's IFP program is to obtain a position within McKinsey & Company's O&G Practice as an Engagement Manager. Ideally I will specialize in assessing the economic viability of green field (green = new, brown = existing) development in arctic environments. If the client elects to develop a field based on my assessments I will provide guidance throughout conceptual studies, detailed design, construction, commissioning and start-up. While green field development will be my specialty I will also provide guidance on methods to fully exploit brown fields.

After 10 to 15 years of building a reputation and a successful track record I would like to open my own small O&G consulting firm in Anchorage. My firm will specialize in providing O&G services that are currently not available or are done inefficiently in Alaska: small brown field upgrade designs; training for Bentley AutoPLANT and AutoPIPE; specialized studies for wind-induced-vibration (WIV) and multi-pipeline surge analysis; and conceptual studies for new potential developments.

I currently have a working knowledge of Alaska based O&G engineering, construction, production, maintenance, and field services. I do not have experience with downstream activities such as sales or marketing. I also do not understand the intricacies of working with NOCs, geopolitical considerations, tax considerations, reservoir analysis, and enhanced recovery methods. Although I took Economic Evaluation and Investment Decision Methods as an undergraduate at CSM, I have not had an opportunity to perform an actual economic evaluation. CSM's IFP program is the best graduate program that I have found that will shore up my weaknesses, build upon my strengths, and prepare me for a career in O&G consulting.

CSM's IFP program is unique in that it offers a management degree specific to O&G as well as degree in energy economics. Other top graduate programs typically offer a management degree with a "focus" in petroleum; however, that "focus" tends to be just the two or three electives offered as part of a standard MBA program. Another option available at other top schools is a petroleum engineering degree with management courses (not O&G specific management courses) as electives. CSM's program is tailored for the student who wants to focus his energy on a career in O&G.

CSM is internationally known and respected in the O&G industry. I know from my own experience that people are impressed when they find out that I graduated from CSM, and I take pride in that fact . I have taken four graduate level courses at two local universities and from my experience CSM students are in general of a higher caliber than those at those universities. I want to attend graduate school with hardworking, competitive students who will drive me to excel.

The O&G industry is inherently global. Studying abroad at IFP is an opportunity to learn from students who have first-hand experience working in the O&G industry in foreign countries. Studying at IFP will also provide an opportunity to build relationships with the future leaders of the O&G industry. These relationships will be invaluable when I am gathering data to perform a study or trying to fully understand all of the ramifications of doing business in a foreign country.

Through hard work and my undergraduate degree from CSM I have accomplished a lot. I now seek to move up to a level where I can advise O&G majors and NOCs on the economic viability of green field projects, and also on maximizing returns from existing fields and infrastructure. I firmly believe that CSM provides the best program to prepare for both leading my future colleagues and clients, and performing the detailed research and calculations that will be required to properly evaluate and compare the economics of various fields.

My undergraduate performance was not strong; I earned a 2.815 overall GPA. However in my final year at CSM I earned a GPA of 3.279. Since graduating from CSM I have taken four graduate level courses: Organizational Behavior, Statistics for Managers, Corporate Accounting, and Corrosion Engineering. I earned A's in all four classes while working full time. In 2008 I scored a 710 on the GMAT. I earned my Project Management Professional credential in 2009 and my Professional Engineer license in 2010. I believe that my final year at CSM and my academic and professional achievements since graduating reflect my abilities and potential more accurately than my first three years at CSM.
EF_Kevin 8 / 13,321 129  
Feb 24, 2011   #2
I can't find much room for improvement in this very professionally written essay. The place I would focus to improve it is here:
The story. It leaves me wanting to know how you came to zero in on this specific interest. Here, for example:
...specifically on evaluating green fields for development. CSM's dual degree program offers the most effective route to prepare me for a consulting position with an O&G specialization.-------this makes me want to know how you developed this interest. Readers really are affected by a story. If you impress them with this specific interest and then tell them how it developed, they will really become a fan of you, inspired by you.

I don't see any errors to correct!

Something I often recommend, and this comes to mind here, is to cite some recent books, articles, presentations, etc. Show the reader that you are diving into your areas of interest and catching up with all the expertise enjoyed by people in that field. Show that you are intellectually jumping right into the game by reading all relevant literature in the professional journals.

:-)
alpadino - / 1  
Mar 5, 2012   #3
How to write: cover letter for admission in for a M.sc in petroleum economics

please i was asked to bring a cover letter in a school abroad for a M.SC program in a field different from my B.SC, how can you be of help to me.samples will be very much welcomed
janeybear 1 / 8  
Mar 23, 2012   #4
You can indicate a brief paragraph why you are applying at that school. Your future goals when you finish school.


Home / Graduate / Statement of Goals advice for dual degree program in Energy Economics & Petroleum Man
Writing
Editing Help?
Fill in one of the forms below to get professional help with your assignments:

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Best Essay Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳