r/PublicPolicy • u/Electronic_Title_120 • 1d ago

Career Advice Advice for Public Policy Student

Hello everyone!

I am currently a freshman public policy major, planning to also minor is applied data science. I plan to engage in a career within the private sector rather than the public, and I wonder if public policy would be the right choice for me if that was the case.

I initially decided to major in public policy because it was a field I was most exposed to throughtout highschool but as I started college, I am not too sure if it is the right fit. However, I still find public policy to be somewhat intriguing and do not want to switch out my major.

Does anyone have any advice about having a degree in public policy and having a job in the private sector? (for example, policy analysis for a real estate company)

4 Upvotes

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8

u/Itchy-Bench-4957 1d ago

policy degrees open way more doors than people think, especially with that data science minor you're stacking. private sector eats that combo up, regulatory compliance, risk analysis, corporate strat, all need someone who can read policy and crunch numbers without breaking a sweat. stick with it if it still holds your attention

3

u/David_Reed 1d ago

Can you find anybody doing a job you would want to have whose qualification is a bachelor in public policy?

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u/Electronic_Title_120 1d ago

I have read about another person doing a similar job while having a bachelor in public policy, but I have not physically spoken to anyone like that yet.

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u/David_Reed 17h ago

I suggest you do additional fact-finding. Look on Linkedin for people who have jobs you would like to get, and see what their qualifications are. Look at job postings for the type of job you would want to get, and see what education they require or prefer.

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u/SpiritCertain5126 1d ago

If you want to chase the big bucks, public sector consulting at firms like Booze Allen Hamilton is always an option

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u/Dapper-Coat 7h ago

Such a good question. The trick is to look into different types of jobs. Legit Google “outcomes for undergrad public policy and applied data science undergrads 2026,” add your school or your interests in quotation marks to make it more refined (for example, “private sector”).

Public policy degrees are excellent preparation for private sector careers, especially if you can gear your coursework toward what you want to be doing. For that reason, I’d prioritize the day-to-day realities of your work life as much as the public v private question. Do you enjoy the components of whatever each trajectory looks like? Is your coursework preparing you for that?

It’s never too late to switch majors, though. So much better to do it now v wishing you had after you graduate.

(I don’t work in the private sector, but I do have an MPP. FWIW, public sector seems to offer more job security, which is huge for me.)

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u/marxuckerberg 17h ago

Well, what kind of job do you want to have?

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u/Electronic_Title_120 3h ago

i think maybe that’s where my issue lies right now because i don’t exactly know what job i want, i only have a really broad idea of what i want it to be