Architecture Background transitioning into finance/real estate - Need Advice
Hey everyone,
Looking for some guidance here.
Background:
- Currently 1 year into a top 5 Master of Architecture program
- Came in straight from architecture undergrad
- Realized I don’t want to do architecture long term — goal is finance / commercial real estate, maybe IB after future MBA
- No full time work experience, just architecture internships
- Might have a CRE internship lined up for next summer
- GPA 3.9, GMAT 98 percentile, planning CFA level 1 next year
Options I’m weighing:
- Stay in M Arch → Graduate → Try for Assistant Project Manager / Owner’s Rep / CRE Analyst → MBA → IB or Real Estate Development
- Drop out of M Arch next year → Enroll in an MSF program (Vanderbilt, UVA etc). Would likely have a finance internship before enrollment, but no full time finance experience. Goal would be corp fin, REIT, or CRE analyst (but risk of back office roles).
- Drop out of M Arch next year → Do an MSRE / MSRED (Columbia, NYU, MIT). Safer bet for real estate finance / development, less flexible for IB.
What I want:
- Entry finance role (CRE analyst, REIT analyst, corp fin) after grad school that sets up a path into T15 MBA
- Post MBA: IB Associate or Development Associate
Questions:
- With no full time experience but one CRE internship, would graduating from a program like Vandy MSF still get me entry finance roles like CRE analyst, REIT analyst, or corp fin?
- Is MSRE the safer bet?
- Would it be possible to break into CRE roles (like investment sales analyst at a brokerage) if I continue with the M Arch?
- How bad does dropping out of a top M Arch look to employers and MBA adcoms?
Appreciate any blunt takes.
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