u/Inner-Stop3500

Hello! I’m moving to DC in the fall and will be pursuing my masters. For context, I have my Bachelors in Environmental engineering from UT-Austin and I’m trying to decide which school will ultimately land me a job doing what I love outside of engineering. Although these programs are all very different, what’s the consensus on these schools for an Environmental/Sustainability focused masters degree? Do they all have strong, similar reputations with lots of networking abilities? I’m excited to go to DC but want to make sure I’m making a strong choice since I’m taking the leap of faith outside of my safety net of engineering. Also, for context, my degree is free so money is not a consideration here. All advice is so appreciated !!

Looking for some perspective on a career pivot. I’m currently a 25-year-old consultant in tech, but my background is in environmental and mechanical engineering. I left traditional engineering because I found the daily work unfulfilling and a bit monotonous, and I’m now eyeing a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Planning (specifically looking at GW). Given my experience focusing on mechanical systems infrastructure and environmental design, I’m wondering if this transition into urban planning—specifically focused on sustainability management and renewable energy systems - is a smart move for someone coming from an engineering and tech consulting background. Has anyone here made a similar jump from engineering to planning, and did you find the work more engaging? I like the idea of urban planning because essentially we determine the “why”. As an engineer, I always felt myself asking “why are things this way” and the answer was always “this is code” or something along those lines.