cajunmama

I used PowerPoint for my poster. I set the dimensions and off I went. Use lots of images, no long sections of text, try to make it somewhat symmetrical. Use an appealing color combination. A poster is a great way to ease into conferences and begin networking.

There is someone in a not unrelated field with almost the same name as me, with just one letter off. Most google hits for my name turn up as her.

I began undergrad at the age of 31 after 12 years as a stay home mom. Just graduated, it took 6 years due to a couple of years going part-time, the other 4 working part-time, school full-time. I am beginning my graduate studies (going for a PhD) this month although I have been working on my project all summer.

Age is just a number.

Same here! OP, ask yourself all the questions Dal posed, and more. I have an extremely supportive spouse and I couldn't do it without him. I'm doing this for us, not me. With all the time and energy it will take, it has to be a "we" thing, not a "me" thing. Make sure your wife is on board.

My uni, as well, has a set minimum stipend, but some students get more depending on funding source.

Or engineering. At my uni, there's usually enough projects to fund everyone.

I too am eager for opinions on this. While I'm not my advisor's first graduate student, my PhD program is very new so I am his first PhD student.

This time last year, I was doing some lab work for a prof, planning on taking the GRE and the FE (engineering exam), and planning on doing an MS (now doing PhD instead).

Well, then try to find programs that have some sort of focus on that and that aren't in the northeast.

I don't know much about any of those. Many of the universities you mentioned in your original post are in the 20-50 range. I don't know what qualities in a university are important to you, like location, cost, size of program, etc.

I'm saying you should consider and compare career opportunities post-MS in each of those fields- mechanical, chemical, civil and petroleum- and make whatever decision is best for you. I have classmates from each of those fields currently working in the petroleum industry and classmates from each of those fields working in their specific fields. I initially considered petroleum engineering for undergrad but then realized I didn't want to be locked into one industry. I went civil instead.

You may be accepted but have to take "leveling courses". One thing to consider about Petroleum Engineering is that you pretty much only work in petroleum-related industry. I know that many people working for petroleum companies are actually mechanical, chemical or civil engineers. One of those fields may give you more career opportunities later on. Just something to think about.

I agree with Cup o'Joe. Communicate individually and as personally as possible (phone call is better than email). I was in this very position not that long ago. I went to the professor I was turning down first. We had/have a good relationship since he was my undergrad advisor and I had done small amount of work for him. I had been very open with him all along about my situation. I doubt we will collaborate, the sub-disciplines we are in are very different, but it is a small department.

I've gotten an early start, too. There have been a few hurdles and a steep learning curve, but going well.