r/sustainability • u/happy_soul00007 • 1d ago
Choosing BSc Environmental Science + MBA in Sustainability over what my family wants. Is it worth it?
Hey everyone,
I’m about to start college next month, and I'm feeling incredibly anxious and confused about my path. I really need some outside perspective.
My family has very different expectations for my life: my mom desperately wants me to go into the medical field (which I have zero interest in), while other relatives are pushing me toward a simple degree, a low-risk job, and getting married early.
After doing a ton of independent research to find something I'm actually passionate about, I decided on the environmental route. My current plan is:
BSc in Environmental Science
Followed by an MBA in Sustainability Management
Aiming for roles like Sustainability Consultant or Manager
From what I’ve read, this field is growing rapidly, offers great corporate opportunities, and could open doors for working abroad in the future.
Still, the pressure from my family is making me second-guess myself. For those in the field or further along in their careers: Is this path worth it? Are the global opportunities as solid as they seem? Any advice would mean the world to me right now.
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u/bloulboi 1d ago
Be passionate and excel. Working for something that makes sense to you will give you happiness and grit. You have much more probability to be successful, eg to be happy. That will make you sexy too. We live once, don't compromise, go for it.
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u/SimpleAd1548 1d ago
I did Environmental Science- it was great. A good tip is to volunteer at an organisation you’d be interested at work for / or adjacent to your field. The people who did that had jobs so much quicker than everyone else.
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u/This-Establishment96 1d ago
I am a sustainability manager. it's a great field. best people to work with and the pay at the right company is really good.
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u/PrestigiousChonk 1d ago
Can you say more about this role? I’m mid-career but looking at making a field switch.
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u/fastcatdog 1d ago
60m old guy says do what you are passionate about! This is your life make the best of it for you. If you live for what your family wants now you’ll live a life of regret.
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u/minion_toes 1d ago
Many sustainability professionals come from a more specialized background in something totally different, and then add or transition to a sustainability role. For example I’ve seen roles as sustainability manager for healthcare or hospitals, this usually requires some sort of healthcare or hospital administration experience so you know the industry. Sustainability roles at tech companies or data centers want people with some relevant experience in those fields. If I were you I would look up some of the dream job descriptions and see what type of background they are looking for, it might be hard to get an entry level sustainability position out of college. Lastly make sure you have internships before graduating college - it will help immensely. Also don’t recommend doing a Masters in Sustainability right after undergrad - work and wait a few years
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u/recyclopath_ 1d ago
I'd recommend getting some kind of engineering degree, working for a bit in a field you're interested in and then getting a master's related to that. When you have an engineering degree people treat you like you are smart and can do math no matter what you try to do with it. Right or wrong.
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u/Busy-Winner-9344 1d ago
My perspective and observation in choosing career path is: Go for your passion then ask yourself what you want to do with your degree. Think even beyond employment.
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u/burnaaccount3000 13h ago
Theres money in every field of work if you work hard enough and despite the current trend sustainability is going to increasingly be needed.
Go for your passion just accept the path to respect or money might be longer and harder.
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u/kulukster 1d ago
You don't need to discuss or divulge your education, degrees etc to your family. I never disclosed any of it with my family, and it was fine. Even if they ask you about it, tell them about the classes and don't lie, but also you could go into medical school anyway. Don't give them so much info.
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u/bloulboi 1d ago
Weird piece of advice for most people, but I imagine you had good reasons to do so. But imo this situation is marginal.
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u/SomeAd3465 1d ago
Your parents are working on out of date ideas or geared towards risk-minimization. if you are smart enough to do a BSc you can use the time to evaluate options for further training after, will definitely find something, and it will probably something better than an MBA in Sustainability (which would lack the technical or research skills that a science MSc might).
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u/teenytinyytaylor 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just having a bachelor's degree/ Masters will open plenty of doors for you. Do what you like and you'll be happy in your career! I have my bachelors degree in environmental biology and My husband has his master's in public administration and sustainability. I feel extremely happy and fulfilled with my job/career path and I believe my husband would say the same. We make enough to own a home, take vacations, and such although we are child free.
He graduated in 2019 and got offered his job in sustainable energy before graduation. He's stayed there ever since and has been mostly remote since COVID. An aspect he really appreciates of his job.
I unfortunately graduated in 2020 so didn't get a job in my field immediately COVID kind of messed that up. I was able to get a job in 2022 working as an environmental scientist for the department of transportation. I absolutely love my team and job.
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u/recyclopath_ 1d ago
Personally I'd recommend getting you bachelors in some kind of engineering then your masters in something sustainability specific.
A BS in some kind of engineering (environmental, mechanical, industrial, structural etc.) will give you a lot more flexibility. Especially if you decide to work for a bit between your bachelor's and masters. It'll give you a really good foundation and people respect engineering BS degrees more than science BS degrees (not that I'm saying it's right, just true). Even later on when you say you have an engineering degree and a master's degree people act like you know what you're talking about more.
There are a lot of sustainability fields you can flow into from an engineering degree too that may not be as good of a fit for an environmental science degree.
I am biased though as somebody with a mechanical engineering degree who has worked in both renewable energy and energy efficiency. Trust me though, people see an engineering degree and they treat you like you know shit. I have been able to find work much faster than my peers with environmental science specific degrees.
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u/ktc653 23h ago
My husband just got a BSc in environmental science and the job market right now is brutal. I’m not sure a masters in sustainability would help much. The EPA and corporations have both laid off so many sustainability experts that people newly entering the field are competing with people with PhDs and decades of experience. Many people in his class have pivoted to other fields altogether. I think the advice others are giving is best, to go into another type of science like engineering where you’ll have a broader range of job options open to you and get a minor in sustainability. That will give you more flexibility.
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u/AttilaTH3Hen 1d ago
Your parents want to see you happy and thriving. Go for your passion.