CCIM courses virtually or wait for in-class sessions?
I have a few years of real estate experience with the past two exclusively in commercial real estate. As the year started, I made a goal to begin courses for my CCIM designation. As we all may have experienced, plans didn't work out for one thing or another. Mine was specifically that I was going to sign up for in-class sessions in August but found out that all classes would be offered only virtual due to covid. I figured by January 2021 that in-class sessions would come back but I don't feel as though it's safe to be around so many people in a room quiet yet, even if classes are being offered again. I've decided to go ahead and proceed with the early courses of CCIM in virtual sessions starting this January. Would y'all recommend waiting for in-class sessions or just go ahead and get the courses started in the meantime virtually?
[{"id": "gfn8883", "text": "Following.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfn9gm4", "text": "CCIM here. I highly recommend you at least begin in person with ci101 and then decide afterwards how to proceed. To me, the in-class environment with your instructor pausing to tell of a real world example/scenario is priceless. 102 was by far my least favorite course and probably very suitable for virtual environment (in my opinion). Best of luck to you in earning your designation, it is an accomplishment I am proud of and has benefitted me for sure.", "replies": [{"id": "gfp6p56", "text": "Thanks for the advice and well wishes! I would much rather do in-person classes but I've already lost about a year in preparation time plus I just checked the in-person courses and doesn't look like CI101 is offered in my city any time soon. Travel isn't feasible at this time either so that's what's making me question what direction to go through. Would you recommend the combo of virtual with instructor led courses? May be a happy medium of working on it virtually but having the real world applications from an instructor.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfnk4x5", "text": "If you have CRE experience, skip the CCIM. Who cares?", "replies": [{"id": "gfpq9ez", "text": "It's a pretty in-depth course and. 'experience' is super vague.  Can't tell the the number if 'experienced' cre professionals I met who could to a cap rate calc.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfoyfm9", "text": "Virtual CCIM never made sense to me. At its core, CCIM is a networking resource. If you're not doing it in person you're missing out on all the connections, catching a beer after class, talking about everyone else's deals, etc. I had a guy in my office who made the virtual classes work for him, but only because he joined the local chapter's board. I'd wait until in person stuff starts happening again if I were you.", "replies": [{"id": "gfp6wjw", "text": "Great point, connections and networking are a huge key to wanting to do in-person. My partner is a CCIM and many of his contacts are from his CCIM classmates.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfp4uo6", "text": "There are three types of courses 1) in person 2) virtual where you have class hours with a live instructor and your class and 3) online self paced. I just did option 2 for 103 and would recommend it. You got the benefit of a live instructor and opportunity to work with classmates but the hours didn\u2019t interfere with work too bad.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfxaaps", "text": "I took all of my CCIM classes online- its definitely worth it to get started and not wait. You do lose some of the networking aspects, but it focuses the instructor on the material and they still stopped to connect the material with real life examples.", "replies": [{"id": "gfxlv4h", "text": "Thank you for your advice. If I get started right away on CCIM virtually, I can start January 1st and have until the end of the quarter to finish the course. I plan on focusing my free time on studying then getting started on the next course as soon as I can. But if I do in person classes, I either have to travel elsewhere or wait for it to be offered in my city. Based on the calendar, it looks like it's not offered in my city in the next year.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]