Is college worth going to if I want to be in CRE and investing?
Good morning everyone,

I just ended my first year at college, but I'm struggling to decide to go back. I am very ambitious about CRE and owning my own property. But I am wondering if going to college is even worth the time and money. Since I have been learning about RE on my own from Wallstreetoasis, A.CRE, books, working on my personal portfolio, and meeting with professionals. By the way, my school didn't help or provide any assistance from the following things. I would love opinions from both sides of the table and what changes you would have loved to change. 

Personally, I feel that college is just another business seeking money. I only say this because they make you take unnecessary pre-requisition and wait until your junior/senior takes the beneficial classes. Again my opinion, and I am only a freshman student.
[{"id": "gxe71p5", "text": "Very few can even get in with nothing behind.  CRE is a business seeking money. Some make more than rest who are all struggling. \n\nIn our area they need a CCIM, related experience. A mba or JD credential are not required. Many possess them-west coast.", "replies": [{"id": "gxe84ba", "text": "Thank you for your input! If I were to not go back to college, I would get my brokerage license; would I not be able to get in that way? Or still, do most companies prefer a finance or similarly related degree.", "replies": [{"id": "gxeakae", "text": "Not sure what state you\u2019re in but in CA there are a lot of educational requirements to be able to sit for the brokers license. I have a BS, MBA and MSRE and many of the classes I took in school helped meet the requirement but I still had to take a couple of supplemental classes before I could sit.  \n\nIn this case you might as well get a degree and use the time in school to network. Play the student card and contact alumni in the industry.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "gxesnxq", "text": "You can take real estate salesperson exam. After 2 min years you are eligible to take a broker license with track record.  An appraiser license is helpful to understand. Many have a loan licenseS(feds and state). You are still on your own as a contractor.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxe8v37", "text": "It's not really needed technically but I wouldn't suggest it.  Go to school and get a BA minimum.\n\nCRE is a big field so it could be different.  I can tell you that I probably won't hire you without at least a BA preferably Finance unless you are an absolute stud at sales and converting.  Even then you may work under the senior guy with credentials.  You will be competing with people that have MBAs in Finance or JDs and CCIMs   if you are an owner of a multi million dollar asset, who would you want to hire to represent you?  \n\nIf you are wanting to become an owner, then that's a different story.  You need to understand CRE finance and you can do that pretty easy with online classes.", "replies": [{"id": "gxe9rsd", "text": "Thank you! And yes, I want to be an owner. I just wanted to get my foot into the door and learn, then leave to start my own journey.", "replies": [{"id": "gxeath8", "text": "How much cash do you have? Do you have a trust fund that will mature in the near future? Unless you have cash, it could take a while to become self sufficient as an owner. If you start out as a broker you can accumulate cash off commissions to one day be a sizable owner, but like it is said above, most owners prefer brokers that have college degrees. If nothing else, \u201cwhere did you go to college,\u201d is a pretty standard conversation question when a owner is meeting a young broker for the first time.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "gxf2og5", "text": "Start with CRE Finance classes and know your numbers.  Lots of ways to value assets and etc.  Everybody has a different strategy.  Once you know how the numbers work, look up the different strategies and figure out how you want to do it.  \n\nLike the guy who also replied, you need CASH.  (1) No bank in the world is going to loan you money without skin in the game.  (2)  They also won't loan you anything if you don't have a resume with proof you know what you are doing (ie:  college background in business) and experience.  That's when your degree comes in handy.  The experience and partnering up with a solid borrower for the first several deals are more important but the lenders look at all those details.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gxfcjtn", "text": "I don\u2019t have a degree - look into Ccim", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxeaxr6", "text": "It would open up doors for sure.  I would also suggest real estate masters.  University of Wisconsin or USC if you can get in.", "replies": [{"id": "gxeqfyb", "text": "Florida International University is where I got mine. The faculty is amazing and they are very into research. Also it is very affordable ($28k).", "replies": [{"id": "gxh99bg", "text": "I saw that program when I was looking at ones to apply to, glad I see a good review. \nIs there lots of internship opportunities and good career placement? The department seems awesome and it sticks out to me because its called MS International Real Estate instead of just MSRE.", "replies": [{"id": "gxi2yb2", "text": "The International part is really one single class, in general the curriculum is the same as most real estate programs.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gxginco", "text": "Just one data point from Reddit - I go to NU but I have seen a ton of UW-Madison kids work in Chicago CRE. A quick LinkedIn search will show you too.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxebsr0", "text": "You'll probably want a degree for CRE. It's a very legal and finance heavy industry. I'd get the undergrad intern and take classes in real estate. Join a real estate club. Get a job in property management or construction for a summer. Feel it out and see what you like. There are soooo many facets to the industry. Then, try to pursue the most cost effective option to get to that point.\n\nBut if you want a job in CRE with a decent amount of responsibility and making decent money, a degree is probably necessary. Look at others in the field on LinkedIn, see what credentials they have. At the very least a certificate.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxeibmi", "text": "There are no shortage of those without degrees that are extremely successful. However, you don\u2019t really know the outcome of this path you are on. You have to learn what you are doing first and that will likely entail working for others Unless you have a rich uncle seeding your investments.  You will compete for jobs with not only bachelors degrees but MBAs, and post graduate degrees in real estate or finance. If I had ten Resumes on my desk, why would I consider the one with no bachelors?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxenw3p", "text": "College isn't for educating you (although hopefully you get educated in the process).  College is to teach you how to learn.\n\nIt's also a place for you to build connections.  20 years from now some fellow (think: Bill Gates) is going to invent something amazing and, having watched you for 4 years not be a fool and focused, is going to say....\"*ya know...the PERFECT guy for this job (or to buy real estate from) is my old buddy Miguel1289\"*.\n\n(***That's*** *what college is for).*", "replies": [{"id": "gxeqmcg", "text": "Yes. Take a look at where all the most successful cre agents in your area went to school. If you can go to that school you are light years ahead of some kid off the street.\n\nNetworking is what you are paying for", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gxg4uqs", "text": "Nailed it", "replies": [{"id": "gxgc06r", "text": "It's a gift (*and* a curse).", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxeuow0", "text": "Well very simply, do you have money?  If so go ahead and invest it.  If you do not, you will have to have other people pay you or convince them to give you their money to invest.  Do you have a good sales pitch as a 19 year old with no experience, no degree, etc for them to give you money?  You cool with the ethics there?  I mean honestly, you do realize many people could handle their money better right?  \n\nYou are making this more complicated than it has to be, to be an investor you need money.  Figure out how to get it.  You either have it or need to earn it, or people to give it to you.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf0e55", "text": "Get a degree in Finance and Realestate. You will have instant credibility when ppl see that you have a bachelors in finance and realestate. Rest is totally upon you.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf0oe3", "text": "If you decide to get a degree, do NOT do business admin or something generic. Major in finance, financial analysis, economics, advertising, etc. Learn how to evaluate returns on investment, cash on cash returns, etc. Otherwise, I wouldn't spend the $20k a year in debt. \n\nMy opinion is higher education today only makes sense for specific professions (doctor, lawyer, some other \"speciality\"). Otherwise you're just wasting time and money.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf2yta", "text": "You don't need a degree, but to get by without one, you need to be exceptionally talented IMO. There are a couple of well respected hotel developers in my market that never finished college and people see it as a feather in their cap. Example: \"Can you believe Joe never went to college? It's amazing how articulate and successful he is despite that\". On the flip side, if you were a mediocre broker or developer, I think people would see it as another weakness. \"No wonder this guy is a shithead, he couldn't even finish college\". One of my coworkers never attended college and he is more successful than some of our colleagues with Ivy/Nescac pedigrees. That said, he is exceptionally capable and was born into CRE.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nIf college is actually inhibiting you from valuable career opportunities, you might have a case to drop out. That said, you probably know nothing about real estate, I'm guessing you're not well connected in the industry, and you wouldn't be able to add much value at any shop. In all likelihood, you are overlooking the value that can come from a college education. I went to a liberal arts college for 4 years prior to working in CRE and would certainly do it again.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf708i", "text": "That\u2019s such a tough question. I hated college, thought it was worthless. Then I went to real estate school and saw how utterly unprepared/undereducated some of my classmates were. If commercial, a finance/business school background will help you immensely. But then again, some people are self-learned.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf8dhr", "text": "Is it worth it? \n\nSure, if you make it worth it. I'm an adult college student, who has worked in CRE for over 10 years. I feel like I can speak to this.\n\nCollege is about putting info in your head, yes. BTW - take difficult classes that are out of your comfort zone when possible. Is good for you. Think broadly about what CRE is - structures, development, finance, people.  Check all the boxes - how to speak confidently, read for comprehension, think quantitatively and qualitatively, explain concepts, create a DCF (and explain it to an owner) etc.\n\nIt's also about learning soft concepts; networking, social graces, teamyness (or how to fake teamyness), time management, failure, emotional maturity, asking for help... Kindergarten 2.0.\n\nKnow that understanding something is not actually doing it. People who learn to erg as part of CrossFit cannot immediately row competitively. Sure they're fast, until the crab and fall out of the boat. Technical understanding is a tool, not an answer.\n\nGet at least an AAS and an applicable certificate, if you're bent on sticking it to the man. You can always go finish.\n\n Really though, if you want a professional career, you're going to need to check the box. Might as well make it challenging and interesting.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxf9dtz", "text": "How do you own property without income?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxfealg", "text": "No, lol. The time and the money is wasted. If you wanna be in real estate just BE in real estate", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxftbzv", "text": "This depends on the quality of your college on two points. 1. College teaches you to learn and cooperate with others in a (semi) professional atmosphere. I was a finance real estate major in a top ten business school. While I didn\u2019t end up going that route for my career, the opportunities and environment are irreplaceable. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again I wouldn\u2019t choose another path and would drop a lot of the partying for more clubs and activities. Some community colleges and commuter schools just don\u2019t offer this. \n\n2. The superficial corporate HR professionals absolutely drool over getting someone from a good school. It doesn\u2019t have to be Princeton or Harvard. It just has to be known to be difficult and selective. They don\u2019t care about degree mills and easy programs that take everyone. They care that you got in and finished. So even if you\u2019re down and out in your portfolio and you are no longer able to make ends meet going solo at life, you can easily get a job by impressing some HR manager who couldn\u2019t get into the school you did.  \n\nIf you\u2019re going to pay an ass load of money for school, make sure it\u2019s the hardest one you can get into with a program that interests you. Look for a school that has a real estate program. They are often ran by former CRE folks and have huge networks and aren\u2019t shy about wheeling and dealing to make their program better. Maybe you don\u2019t exactly need the knowledge, but the experience and possible education you can get will serve you well.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxftfiv", "text": "Really depends. The guy I do multifamily through has an mba from a tier 1 school. Not sure he would have gotten investors for his first deal without that.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxfv9jb", "text": "Are you parents paying for your college? If yes then just finish. You don\u2019t need to go to college to be successful, but good or bad it is something that holds weight. If they aren\u2019t paying grind your ass off and follow your gut.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxfy1jj", "text": "Investing is how you will put your money to work, the game is easier when you have more money to play with.\nAlongside CRE, you should be focusing on the skills that are going to earn you capital to invest... Whether that's college or elsewhere.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxg76u8", "text": "Also. Sort of depends on the school. If it is a great name school..... it does indeed carry weight. If it is a community college you might consider getting to work. The degree just tells someone you know how to finish a task.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxgblaq", "text": "Get a degree. Hard to get even a brokerage or title job without one. Also, outside of CRE you don\u2019t know what route your life will take. A degree will always help you get in any door.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxgeffd", "text": "I\u2019m graduating from college next week with a degree in Real Estate and let me just say that to get hired in this industry you need a college degree and relevant work experience. The degree is for learning financing, valuation, and other real estate concepts and applying them to project work. You don\u2019t need a degree for residential real estate but for commercial it\u2019s highly desired.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxgm1w9", "text": "College is worth it if you study philosophy or physics. Otherwise pfft", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxh2dxj", "text": "Here's a different take:\n\nIt's true that you can make it with no BS/MS, but it is getting harder for younger people than many of the guys on this sub that got started earlier on.\n\nAlso, you don't realize it now, but you are making relationships that may last a lifetime. Your undergrad years are critical for making a solid network. Get involved in your school in something you care about and make friends. \n\nAnyways, switch majors into something that you find really fucking interesting, like something you truly love, and just make sure you pick enough industry relevant training along the way (like you are already doing). Take corporate finance and accounting somewhere along the line. Or do a minor in finance, and a major in something more fun for you. \n\nFor example: Major in geography and learn another language while you're at it (Chinese, Spanish, whatever). Get some traveling in, and since you're in geography, you'll probably study some GIS and programming along the way. Plus you will probably be more interesting to talk with than your typical finance kid who just thinks about money. \n\nOr history, or astronomy, or god forbid, philosophy.... \n\nCultivate your mind is what I am saying, you won't get this chance again. Don't waste your college years on classes that you think you should do only to realize that you could have learned those things on youtube in 1/4 the time. \n\nAlso, have fun. Life is very short. \n\nFinally, try to transfer into a better ranked school if you can. It sounds like you are not getting a good \"network value\" where you are currently attending.  You would be amazed at the things transferring can achieve. Getting into the right school can do wonders for the things that you say you are currently not getting.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxi12mz", "text": "I have two degrees and am a CRE developer that didn\u2019t use either. I would do it all over again but only if I had someone paying it for me or if I could really minimize the expense. I would definitely do my undergrad again. My masters was probably a waste of money. Both were in civil engineering. \n\nI\u2019m currently a young developer trying to get the attention of institutional equity and other developers and I don\u2019t think I\u2019d have had as much success at this point if I couldn\u2019t say \u201cI\u2019m an engineer by schooling.\u201d It\u2019s silly but the vibe in the room changes. If I could\u2019ve changed something, it would be to get my degree from a more prestigious college mostly for the networking abilities. \n\nIf you\u2019re interested in being an owner/developer in legitimately large assets, you are going to need to prove that you can take peoples money and do well with it. I would work under a few developers (small companies, don\u2019t go for the corporate world, it\u2019s not worth it in this industry) and learn everything you can from them. When they put a pro forma in front of you, take it on as your own. Teach yourself to be an analyst. Everything else isn\u2019t as difficult but if you don\u2019t understand the financials on how to make a project work, you\u2019re never going convince anyone to give you money or make a successful project. Then, learn how to network effectively and efficiently and keep doing that until you feel like you\u2019ve exhausted that (you never will).\n\nFeel free to PM me if you have specific questions about CRE and getting people to take you seriously as a younger person.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxl9l5w", "text": "After graduating and getting into real estate I actually considered going back to school. There's real estate law that deals with stuff like brokering settlements and putting together deals. I guess it depends on what you want to do.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxmx0xl", "text": "People who didn't need college to be successful are usually the hardest working and most exceptional people out there.  99 out of 100, the reason they didn't go is they couldn't afford it or had family members to take care of. Had they gone to college, they probably could have handled growing a small business and school work on the side.\n\nFacebook dropouts are rare. They happen once a college kid starts collecting serious serious cash. If you've made millions in the last year, feel free to drop out.\n\nIf not, go to college AND invest in real estate.\n\nCollege is an opportunity to push yourself to the limits while you're young. It's meant to be a burden - challenges make us grow. Many kids see school as a waste of time because they go into a school without a goal in mind or with the desire to do a little as possible to pass. You're not like that. You have a very distinct goal, to be a great real estate investor. Spend every day thinking about how you can use your classes, course work, professors, and young talented peers to be a better investor.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gxspu5g", "text": "WELL.... a touch risky mon frere. if you decide to make CRE bets like major life decisions, likely to be a tough road ahead (or totally awesome, but odds are against you). \n\nGrowing wealthy through CRE is all about OPM. Other Peoples Money. Either the banks or investors. Neither of which like to back cowboys without BAs unless you can back it up with a serious track record. \n\nFor the record, I totally support NOT goin to college but instead straight into CRE. This is not rocket science. I would back you over an ivy educated PE nerd whos only built models for 5 years... but only after you have proven you used that 4 years head start in the industry to learn something and have a good deal or two to point to. \n\nGood luck.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]