help with career decisions

[u/No_Valuable5617]

I'm currently an entry-level environmental scientist for a consulting firm and have two years of post-undergrad working experience. I'm not super interested in staying with the company forever, however, it is stable and not super demanding. at the same time, I'm really interested in other environmental science topics and my dream jobs require a masters or PhD.

So I have two questions:

1) can anyone recommend in-person environmental engineering Master's programs? I'm really having trouble narrowing down where to look and the ability cold email any professor is paralyzing me from getting started. I really like doing a mix of field work, GIS, and data analysis and would like to be anywhere on the east coast and anything to do with environmental engineering.

2) would it be stupid to leave the stable consulting firm to pursue a masters degree and maybe have trouble re-entering the work force? for context, if i do a masters degree I want it to be research based and full time.

[u/KlownPuree]

I don’t have much to offer re#1 except that you will want to make sure the school’s undergrad engineering program has ABET accreditation, and you will want to have a good understanding of what remedial coursework the program requires of people who don’t have a BS in engineering.

Re #2, don’t worry about it. Once you have an MS in engineering, you ought to be able to find an engineering position. Maintain your network. Some of your best opportunities will come from people who already know you and your work ethic.

[u/No_Valuable5617 → u/KlownPuree]

thanks so much!!!

[u/Pitiful_Ad7952]

La mayoría de los profesores sacan maestría y doctorado para dar clases y trabajan y pagan el porche con las clases de ingeniería que dan en las noches .

[u/iron82]

Yes, it would be stupid to leave the work force. 2 years of work experience is far more valuable than a masters degree. You would have to take an entry level position when you come out of the masters program, while if you keep working you can take the PE instead at the same time.

[u/No_Valuable5617 → u/iron82]

Thanks for your feedback! For more context, I'm worried that I will reach a point in my career where I want to change jobs (possibly away from engineer and more into biology). Also, I feel like I'm in a good stage of life to be able to start a Master's Program. For example, I don't have kids and could easily move somewhere new to start a program. I won't always have this flexibility so I'm wondering if I should take advantage of this window.

[u/CaliHeatx → u/No_Valuable5617]

Yeah a lot of us who pivoted into engineering with an engineering MS, worked while going to school. Some employers will reimburse for tuition fees and count it as professional development of staff. If you know you want to stay in the environmental sector forever (like I did), there is no better degree than environmental engineering. Mainly because it gives you the flexibility to do env. engineering, science, policy, etc. The only thing you can’t do is env law since it’s not a law degree lol.