UConn MBA? Is it enough for prestigious REPE firms?
Hey Everyone,
As the title states, is it possible to break into REPE firms such as Blackstone, Brookfield, Starwood, Tishman, etc., if I pursue an MBA with a General Business concentration/specialization from UConn or would it be a waste of time and effort?
The primary reason I’m considering UConn is because of the costs. I live in CT and it would give me the opportunity to either take the courses online or on-campus. However, USC & IU Kelley are also an option, but those would have to be fully online as relocating right now is not a possibility.
I know it’s not a T10 or T25 program, but due to the current economic situation, it’s something I have to take into consideration.
Thanks in advance!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's not necessarily a requirement to have an MBA from a top-tier school to break into prestigious REPE firms. However, it's been observed that many who are above the analyst level at these firms often have MBAs from Ivy League or similar level institutions.
That being said, your chances can depend on a variety of factors, not just the prestige of your MBA program. Your prior experience, networking skills, and knowledge of the industry can also play a significant role.
While UConn may not be a top 10 or 25 program, it doesn't automatically rule out your chances. It might be more challenging, but with the right experience and networking, it could be possible.
If you're considering other schools like USC & IU Kelley, it might be worth looking into their offerings and reputation in the real estate sector.
Remember, an MBA is a significant investment of time and money, so it's important to consider all factors, not just the potential for landing a job at a prestigious firm.
I hope this helps, and best of luck with your decision!
Sources: Career Advice: Family Office (RE Developer) --> MBA --> REPE, Is an MBA a necessity to move up in PERE/REPE?, Best M7 MBA Program for REPE
Possible? Sure, anything is if you work for it. But getting there straight out of grad school is less likely imo.
Anecdotally speaking - I’m at a firm similar to the ones on your list. At our new hire training, all the MBA hires came from M7/T10 schools. I think if you want to break in immediately after your mba, you should try and go somewhere name-brand. Not to say its impossible - if you network your ass off and have internships and ec’s, its probably do-able, but there’s also people at the t10 schools doing the exact same thing with stronger alumni networks and backgrounds.
Are you working in real estate or are you making a career switch? Are you hoping to go there immediately after grad school, or is one of those places a long term goal?
If you’re already in RE and your only goal with this is to make it into those big firms out of the program, i would say its unwise. However, if your goal is to make a career switch into re finance, or jump up a level or two post grad and then make the lateral to a large shop then it makes more sense. Just my 2 cents
Nothing is impossible, but unfortunately I don't think the chances are high. Frankly, I think if you pulled it off it would likely have little to do with your MBA.
From what I've seen, firms like the ones you mentioned can almost be choosier with MBA recruiting than traditional MBA pipelines (consulting, banking, etc) simply because there are many fewer seats. There's usually a handful of really strong students at each M7/T25 MBA program interested in real estate, and very little programmatic MBA hiring in that industry.
Hard to say more without knowing your situation, but there are several T25 programs within a few hours drive of UConn, not sure if that's something you could swing.
Working at one of the shops you mentioned now, I can say that it wouldn't be impossible to break in coming out of UConn or any non-M7 program. Will it be a waste of your time? The answer to that question depends entirely on your expectations and reasons for going into the program. If you're pursuing an MBA to wait out the job market and potentially grow your business acumen, then I don't think it'll be a waste of your time. If you're hoping for a direct pipeline into one of these shops, it might not be the best use of your time.
Ultimately, you're still going to have to put in some work coming out of UConn to break into any of the shops you've mentioned, but I'd encourage you to really think about your expectations for the program and then decide whether it's worth it for you.
Try to get into Yale SOM? They’re still “up and coming” and still have the Yale brand
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