<p>I studied Natural Resource Policy and Management at Cornell. This might just be my personal bias, but when someone comes with an “Environmental Science” degree, it kind of has the impression of being a crunchy who just loves hugging trees. Not necessarily true, just the impression. You would probably gain a lot more practical knowledge and have more credibility going Natural Resource Management.</p>
<p>It’s a great program that really engages in practical solutions that are far from the “liberal” stereotype of universities. Actually, I hired an intern who’d graduated from Duke’s Environmental program and she had clearly been indoctrinated by very unrealistic, simplistic liberal solutions that had no prayer of working in the communities where natural resources need managing. I gained new respect for Cornell’s very politically balanced DNR program after that intern.</p>
<p>Being in such a rural setting, you also have ample opportunity for hands on work in the field or out on lakes. I also took a number of classes outside the school in the City and Regional Planning Department over in the AAP school because I’m mostly interested in urban issues. Cornell’s diversity is great for that sort of interconnection between disciplines. </p>
<p>You should probably decide early on whether you want to pursue more of a hands-on path (such as a career managing eagle populations) or a big-picture policy path. I did the policy route and afterward beat out lawyers and people with PhDs in Washington, DC for a position in a department full of Yale PhD grads. So, all else equal, it would take a real pretentious nut to dismiss you because you “only” have a Cornell degree.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, don’t try to decide on your school based on what some ranking says. Find the school that is best for you. No one’s going to say, “Hmm… he only went to the 6th ranked school for this particular program.” or whatever it happens to be any given year based on whatever criteria they decide on for that year. Talk to the professors or other students if you can. </p>
<p>While you’re there - check out the ornithology lab. You’ll never see so many dead birds in all your life.</p>