Freshman Summer: Eastdil Secured, Projected Destined, ARGUS, or Adventures in CRE?
Exactly as the title suggests.
Hi everyone,
This post is just as the title reads. All opportunities are for Summer 2025.
Context?
I'm a Canadian freshman, and will be working in Audit and Assurance this summer at a big firm (just outside Big 4 Accounting) and that's a 35 hour/week job.
There's no indication yet that any of my work will pertain to real estate, which sucks.
So, I'd like to pick the option that will help me land Summer 2026 roles in Development, Private Equity, or Asset Management.
More context:
1. Eastdil Secured Virtual Real Estate Finance Training Program
Topics include but are not limited to:
- Basic Real Estate Finance concepts, fundamentals and principles
- Hands-on general Excel Training
- Hands-on general Real Estate Financial Modeling in Excel (ARGUS is not included in this program)
- While no Eastdil Secured specific templates are being used, we will focus on general skills/topics, which will help these students interview at any Real Estate Firm
Candidates who successfully complete the Virtual Real Estate Finance Training Program may be considered for the Eastdil Secured Summer Intern Program the following summer.
2. Project Destined
Sessions covering Market & Property Analysis, Valuation, and Deal Financing.
- Gateway to Advanced Programs: Successful completion positions you well for acceptance to Virtual Internship Programs and 70+ Bridge Programs and advanced courses, including Real Estate Development, Capital Markets, Asset Management, Private Credit and Real Estate Law.
- Earn an Industry Accredited Certification: Receive an industry-accredited certification, boosting your professional credibility and appeal to top employers.
3. ARGUS
Well, learn ARGUS.
4. Adventures in CRE
Have heard conflicting things about them as it pertains to students. Many firms and folks I've spoken to would rather see club involvement or internship experience (and I have both); and frankly, ACRE will hurt my wallet the most.
I apologize for the long read. Would love to hear any and all opinions.
Thank you very much!
Hey man, I have good context on all the above. Big 4 accounting will have zero correlation to RE and will be virtual and the work is non. You can literally do nothing and I know this to be true and still get a return offer. Do that for the cash but don’t think it’ll help your resume much. You should ALSO do the Eastdil training and you should do A.CRE. You can take the ucla Argus course during the year so don’t waste your summer doing it (do things that are only offered summer time).
You can do all those things at once because it’s not actually that much and the big 4 thing is a joke. You want to build up your resume as much as possible this summer so you can recruit a lot easier come sophomore year. Push now and it will be sooooo much easier. Oh and also project destined is a joke you don’t learn anything and it’s no hours. Just do it at the same time as everything else but don’t think this will help your resume a lot. These are just filler opportunities so you can land the real opportunities next year and most importantly your junior year summer
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