University of Maryland MRED - DC Area Real Estate Programs
Hi everyone, I live in the DC area and have been mulling over the idea of a MRED/MPS for years now. Finally biting the bullet. After networking, informational sessions with other notable programs (Georgetown and Hopkins), speaking with colleagues who have gone through the Georgetown MPS program, I got a really good feel with the UMD MRED program for the following reasons:
- Personal Touch: GU's interview process was on a automated coordinated line with a random counselor. For UMD's program, multiple students and administrators met with me and I just got a really good vibe. I do not want my hand held but they genuinely seemed to care about my goals and aspirations, will take an active role in helping me achieve my goals. I have been in the operations of CRE for a decade and am moving forward with a MRED/MPS to genuinely find other areas of interest within the CRE industry (dev and asset management for example), get a better grip on the financial side of the business. UMD seems to adapt to and support the path where my interests will ultimately take me.
- Case Competition History: Although GU is the most notable program in the area, UMD is very competitive in the case competition arena, including a win at the 2024 NAIOP Capital Challenge over GU, GMU and Howard. Additionally, they consistently place in HUD's Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. I tend to learn through real world application and getting actively involved in the case competitions is very important to me.
- Cost: Not that these degrees are expensive compared to a MBA, but it is 20% cheaper and I will be funding the majority of this while working full-time.
Concerns -
- GU Prestige Factor: I totally get the Georgetown program is the powerhouse program in the area and has the name brand and the network.
-UMD Network: There seems to be notable CRE executives who are UMD grads however I still recognize it is not the same as GU and am curious if anyone has any insight into the UMD network.
In summation, I seem to be sold on the UMD MRED program however I want to fact check with people who have gone through these programs to make sure I'm not making a massive mistake. I recognize the upside of the GU program however am confident in my ability to network if I want to make a pivot within the CRE landscape. If anyone has insight on the DC MRED/MPS programs overall, this will be massively helpful. Thanks for reading - any and all feedback is appreciated :)
I did the Hopkins program. I would avoid it - started off great but over time they added a huge amount of international students without strong English skills who cheated on exams, added nothing to classroom conversation/group work, and basically are admitted for the school to make money. I would add that the degree not been super useful in my day-to-day (retail leasing). However, there is a strong alumni network, and having the credential was helpful in getting my most recent role.
Ultimately, I would say it depends on what you're going to do with the degree - if you have aspirations to become an independent developer, and are taking the MSRE to that end, the program which gives you the most information with the most personal attention is going to be a winner. Bottom line: If you're looking to check a box in your career search, or leverage a network, I'd go with the bigger name. I would also be wary in general - lots of schools out there cashing checks on students desperate for a leg up and I don't know how useful the programs truly are to most people at the end of the day. That being said, I'm a massive cynic sometimes, so take my words with a grain of salt.
One local program that I've heard good things about is George Mason University. Just throwing it out there.
@Smoking Hope - this is very helpful and cynical can be my middle name! Understand the name brand and agree it definitely can make a difference - this is my primary concern if I elect to not move forward with GU or Hopkins (those are always the two that come up in discussions).Hoping extra-curricular involvement in UMD program/case competition results could potentially sell my story (if employer's put any weight on that). I'm probably somewhere in between figuring out what the steps look like and checking the box so definitely appreciate your valid concern.
I have a friend who went through the GMU program who is very successful in development and spoke highly of it!
Thanks again for your insight!
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