Current student. Made a major relocation to attend on campus. Currently about halfway through the program. There is a ton of information on the Georgetown program (and MSRE/MRED programs as a whole) on this site. I can confirm, most of the information that has been provided is accurate and useful to someone in consideration. This post is to provide firsthand, honest feedback to any questions that may not have been addressed. Q&A.
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Thanks for doing this. Have a few questions;
Informal networking. Students are all open to meeting outside of class. It helps if there are a couple people consistently trying to set things up. I try and put things together when I can.
When I first started looking I was pretty open. As I researched, visited a few programs, and analyzed the cost/benefit of each program I ended up with three major constraints: 1) Ability to work full time while taking a full course load 2) I didn't want an online only program. 3) I didn't want to spend more than 50k. The ultimate deciding factor for me was getting the best possible brand name I could that met these requirements.
The vast majority of individuals should place high priority on choosing a program in your long-term geographic area but for my goals this was less important. I can't reiterate enough how geographically driven your networking opportunities will be. For me, I have relationships in several markets I still work in throughout the country. I was looking mostly to add a credential to my resume strictly for credibility when approaching potential investors. This is unique and some may say that it is not the best reason to pursue an MSRE, for me it has worked out great but that is mostly because I am in business for myself and view the program as a complement to my prior experience and an added tool for my long-term goals. I do not view it as a stepping stone into a higher paying W-2 role. I could definitely stay in DC long-term, or at least maintain some business here in addition to another market but that will ultimately depend on where I am at after finishing the program.
That was a long-winded answer on #3.... but it is important for each applicant to know their own personal goals and then make realistic decisions. There is a ton of great advice on WSO but no one other than you knows exactly what you have done, what you plan/want to do, and how the program might help you in doing that.
What other options did you have, what made Georgetown stand out?
How do you feel about a 1 vs 2 yr program?
Once I narrowed my requirements to the items I listed in #2 above, Georgetown stuck out above the rest for me primarily for the cost/benefit the strength of the brand offered and the flexibility in schedule it provided.
*A Note on Brand: IMO the MPSRE program's brand is diluted a bit by being housed in the School of Continuing studies but that is likely why it comes at a lower cost with a less formal structure. In talking with local professionals, the program is respected and generally regarded well but is not comparable to an MBA...though it could possibly open similar doors IF you have stellar work experience and network hard on your own. For me, just having Georgetown on the resume is sufficient but if prestige is your concern, an MBA is a better option.
In my view, the 1-2 year program debate is just another example of knowing your own personal situation. If you are someone who wants a formal internship experience then definitely research and make sure your chosen program offers that. This was not a huge consideration for me so I really can't speak deeply on the internship opportunities the program offers. They send out job postings every once in a while but I haven't seen anything too exclusive and I really haven't put in the effort to learn more about those opportunities as they aren't as a relevant to me. That said, I am confident I could find an internship through my own networking and my status as a student would likely help in that process. At a minimum it would give me an easy and solid talking point to help sell a potential employer.
What concentration did you choose?
Do people often find themselves in a more lucrative career post-grad?
Are there a lot of opportunities for recruiting or is it mostly up to you? What types of companies?
How are the classes? Hard? Learn a lot?
Do the professors want to help you succeed/network?
How is the social scene?
Are you working full time while you are in the program?
Yes, full time. Classes are in the evenings usually from 5:20-7:50 or sometimes later. Some students take a class or two on campus and then another class online each session.
Which other programs did you get into?
Is it true that these MSRED type degrees don’t do well in terms of placement into top 50 REPE firms?
ASU, Georgetown, NYU. I looked at tons. I considered USC but ultimately didn't apply. Had a high paying W-2 job been my primary goal, I may have have waited a year to gain more experience before applying to USC. Geography was less of a concern with my goals than it really should be for the majority of students.
Likely, yes since your question was specific to top 50 REPE. If you have IB or similar experience, an MRED may be able to get you there but I seem to see a lot more MBA's in those roles than MRED/MSRE. I am less familiar in this space but I feel pretty confident in anecdotally stating that I would be a more attractive candidate for those roles with an MBA over an MRED.
IMO, the key determinant of MRED/MSRE exit opportunities is your prior experience going into the program, not the degree itself. Second is your willingness and ability to network.
I can't reinforce this enough.
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