Cornell MSRED vs. Columbia MSRED or a mid tier MBA?
Hello everyone, I come from a legal background and I'm looking to get into real estate development and applied to a number of MBA programs and MS programs. I got accepted to both the Columbia MSRED and the Cornell MSRED. Also got accepted to the UC San Diego Rady MBA and the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. Not sure which to pick.
These are my thoughts on each program:
-
Columbia MSRED:
Pros: Fantastic brand name, great alumni network, one year program, networking opportunities, campus location.
Cons: Very expensive, $88,000 for a one year program, no student housing available, living expenses in Manhattan, I fear the program might not be too serious and I may be just buying into a brand name. Also, no financial aid. -
Cornell MSRED:
Pros: Curriculum seems fantastic, two year program with an internship, possible financial aid also a good brand name and cost of living should be reasonable.
Cons: Campus is in the middle of nowhere, not many networking opportunities off campus, harsh winter and a lesser brand than Columbia. -
Rady MBA (UC San Diego):
Pros: Full scholarship (a free ride), incredible location (La Jolla), great weather, an MBA.
Cons: Not a big brand name and no focus on real estate. -
UC Irvine:
Pros: real estate focused MBA.
Cons: No aid.
Off the bat, I would discount UCI immediately. The difference between UCI and UCSD won’t be great, but that price difference can be huge.
Columbia’s program is absolutely legit, I’ve spoken extensively with someone who went through it. It’s very well regarded. It is expensive though. I would lean more towards the MSREDs over a mid tier MBA, personally.
If you’re completely set on real estate and know this is what you want to do, a top tier MSRED (Columbia and Cornell) is vastly superior to a mid tier MBA.
I would imagine a UCSD MBA would raise the question of why you didn’t go to a higher ranked school. I would laugh if someone asked you why you went to Columbia or Cornell and not MIT for MSRED.
Probably Cornell or Columbia but only you can speak on how big of a role finances play
You mention you come from a legal background. Is that a legal background in real estate, or have you had enough experience in real estate elsewhere that can help you justify wanting to go into development? I mean I'm sure you conveyed that well in your application but am curious why the two mba programs you listed are in one corner of the country while the other two msre/mred programs are in the other end of the country. The MBA curriculum and the MRED curriculum are very different. Take a look at the list of required courses and electives offered. Are you going to be okay taking marketing, accounting and organizational behavior courses, or are you interested in topics like construction, real estate finance, and urban planning? MBA programs might only offer 1 to 2 courses in real estate per term or per year. You'll also be surrounded by those who want to break into other non-real estate areas, like consulting, banking, etc.
If you're totally dead set on real estate, then its really down to Columbia and Cornell. I can't say for sure UCSD and UCI won't be worth it, but I haven't heard enough fanfare saying that they've had strong placement of alumni into real estate jobs.
I'm curious about why you applied to two schools in NY and two in CA. Real estate is typically very regional.
I agree with the other posters who say that if you want to do RE then go for the MSRED. UCI and UCSD won't 'carry' much beyond California.
Here's an idea. Apply to UNC Kenan-Flagler for R3. It is a much higher ranked MBA program with an outstanding concentration in Real Estate. One of my clients who is an architect was offered a full ride. Make sure to get connected with folks in the program so they understand your commitment to RE.
Interested in discussing your profile with one of our counselors? Fill out our consult form and grab a spot to chat with Donna who worked on UNC's adcom for ~15 years.
.
1) Columbia MSRED, 2) Cornell MSRED, 3) apply again next year.
Yes, a MSRED at Columbia will be pricey but you can’t beat being in NYC for the job search / networking. Cornell being in Ithaca will make the search much harder, but the school has a very strong hospitality program.
The other programs you listed aren’t worth it. Taking 2 years off for those two MBA programs won’t get you to your goals.
The Cornell program seems more in depth than Columbia. What are people's thoughts on this?
Very in depth and grade A profs who like to help out students who put in the effort. They really get that the end goal is to get a job and they/the classes prepare you to step into a role and kill it from day 1.
Also excellent access to classes across the Dyson, Johnson, Architecture schools so can be very well rounded in terms of topics which is always beneficial.
A lot of people seem to write of Cornell's program due to location but it's a very quick ride down to NYC and boat loads of employers come to campus for on campus interviews. I wouldn't write it off because of location. Also head of the Cornell program comes from RE law and has very very good connections so with your background being able to connect with him and leverage his connections would be hugely beneficial.
I read a lot on reddit also. People seems to universally shit all over Cornell. I'm an international student based outside of the USA. Is there some running joke about Cornell that I am unaware of? Internationally both Columbia and Cornell are seen as top Ivy League schools. Is their reputation within the USA different?
It primarily comes from jealousy, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. People don’t like that Cornell is in the Ivy League while their schools aren’t (although this really doesn’t matter, it’s an athletic conference in the end). Most of the hate is from people who got rejected and/or are at schools just below Cornell and are annoyed by the lack of brownie points relative to Cornell.
The intra-Ivy jokes are all in fun. I went to HYP and some of my closest friends went to Cornell and are absolutely killing it. Anyone who ** seriously ** hates on another top 20 school needs to get whatever chip they have off their shoulder.
Cornell gets crapped on both externally and internally, often way too much in my opinion.
Outside - Cornell is one of the weaker Ivy programs so it's generally looked down upon by higher ranked Ivys (HYP). It's also a school that has lost pedigree over the past few decades, hosts a public / private Uni blend that drags down its pedigree (i.e. often called a "blue collar" ivy league).
Inside - Students at Cornell have this huge inferiority issue. The students obsess over being a lower ranked Ivy, not 'as strong' as peers. Cornell obsesses over the higher ranked programs while HYP prob don't care about Cornell. Cornell also hosts some weaker grad programs that can't help w/ internal pedigree and some stronger concentrations tend to be in areas with less pedigree (i.e. Cornell has a great HR program, but who cares).
At the end of the day, Cornell is a great top 20 Uni! Just keep in mind, you won't have to deal w/ all this if you go to Columbia.
Without stirring the pot too much, Columbia just barely edges out Cornell in my opinion. Columbia has its fair share of criticisms as well - a tier below HYP and W in the Ivy League (so arguably bottom half where Cornell sits as well), way too left on the political spectrum, and it dilutes its brand by handing out way too many masters degrees. I also just double checked and Columbia shits on Cornell on US News, but Forbes and WSJ each have Cornell ahead.
I have personally always thought that Cornell is underrated and Columbia a little overrated. Just trying to add another perspective, obviously no hate on either. Both are great schools.
Is it true that the class size in Cornell in 20-30 students? This seems a bit worrying.
From what I understand the class sizes are very similar among MIT, Cornell, JHU, and USC (around 30-40 students). Columbia is 3x the size at around 100. Not too sure on NYU.
I've boiled it down to Cornell v Columbia. No idea what to do :(
Don't underestimate the ability to have an in-semester internship during your studies at Columbia. Something you can't easily do in Ithaca.
It's a two-year program though, so you'd have a summer internship.
bump
Consequuntur molestiae et consequatur esse. Libero vero voluptatem et unde consequatur. Quam alias adipisci voluptas voluptatum. Minima rerum quis vel magni.
Est odit aliquam et repellendus. Consectetur quod cum dolore harum iusto ut molestiae velit. Voluptatem quasi quis repudiandae et. Molestias illum dolor minus quod beatae quo voluptatibus. Reprehenderit ducimus necessitatibus animi repellat in.
Maiores eum fugit voluptates culpa earum accusantium libero. Maxime architecto qui exercitationem libero occaecati labore. Ut rerum vel quasi perspiciatis excepturi deleniti.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...