Masters Degree. Worth it?
Can anyone who has gone through a masters program chime in on whether they think it truely advanced their career?

I'm considering doing a program part time \(specifically the MRED program through PSU\). Full tuition cost is around 40K. I would probably do it part\-time so I could still work and make money.

I have about 5 years of transactional experience, but not so much on the development side. My thinking is that this would bump me up into more of the institutional arena for job prospects, but that doesn't necessarily come with more $. Any guidance would be appreciated!
[{"id": "dzqcoly", "text": "I have a masters in real estate, but got it right after my undergrad. I did it to gain knowledge and separate myself from other candidates. I learned how to analyze and understand leverage and returns in models built by the professors, became ARGUS certified, did value-add case studies, etc. I am now one year post grad and got a job with a lender. I was ahead of most of my other analyst class and feel I have a wider range of knowledge than them as well. I am also constantly hit up by recruiters one LinkedIn, but I feel like that is common for most people. I am very happy I did it and would recommend it to other people right out of school, but idk if it\u2019s worth it from your perspective where you already have 5 years experience, though.", "replies": [{"id": "dzqe7fj", "text": "It\u2019s worth it afterwards.  I got mine 10 years after when I was already in a leadership position, and now I\u2019m even higher thanks to my MBA.  Higher education is always worth it IMO, provided it doesn\u2019t put you in crazy debt, because it makes you more marketable if you ever leave your company.  \n\nIf I\u2019d have gotten laid off before, I had the experience but not the education.  Now if I got laid off, I\u2019ve got both, so I\u2019m more competitive.  Gotta look at the long game, not just the immediate.", "replies": [{"id": "dzqej7x", "text": "Good to know! You're the perfect person to give OP advice then. \n\nI just wanted to give him my perspective, although it wasn't perfect for his situation.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dzqdfcn", "text": "Why not just work for s developer? ", "replies": [{"id": "dzqjivq", "text": "That\u2019s a possibility. I don\u2019t have much development experience in regards to modeling,  it it\u2019s something I could pick up. I also live in a small town, so that would likely involve relocation. ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dzqe2fd", "text": "At that price you should do it.  I got mine a few years ago, and It accelerated my career.  While it was partly to the MBA, it was mostly due to relationships I built during my MBA pursuit. \n\nThe MBA, or MRED is valuable, but meeting more professionals and being to establish connections are what really makes them worth it IMO.  You can learn most of what they teach, either on your own or through work, but the connections borne through study and long hours surrounded by your peers is what drives the value.\n\nThat\u2019s why top schools are so desirable.  Not the school itself, but the caliber of the people who you\u2019ll meet and befriend.   You said part time.  I would make sure there\u2019s some component of in class time, otherwise you won\u2019t get anywhere near the same level of value as someone who goes full time.  You need to meet, study, work, and know your cohort.  ", "replies": [{"id": "dzqjgdf", "text": "The program I\u2019m looking into is the MRED through PSU. All in-person.\n\nIn your experience, how does the reputation of this program match up to others?", "replies": [{"id": "dzqkvlo", "text": "It\u2019s ok.  It depends on whether you want to work locally, or in another state. If you\u2019re staying local, that Masters program should introduce you to people who can help you get to the next level.  \n\nIf you want to leave the area, then it\u2019s fine, but probably won\u2019t open many doors.  But having your Masters is going to benefit you as long as it\u2019s not from the University of Phoenix, or a similar type institution.", "replies": [{"id": "dzqn4yf", "text": "If you don\u2019t mind me asking, what kind of work do you do now? ", "replies": [{"id": "dzqpml0", "text": "I used to work as a real estate developer, now I handle all real estate acquisitions for several private equity funds.  I started in brokerage early on, but realized that I didn\u2019t want to do that, and moved to the equity side.  It\u2019s been a bumpy road, but now I\u2019m in a position where I\u2019m leading everything, and running things the way I\u2019ve always wanted to.\n\nBrokerage is a great way to start in CRE, and lays the foundation for success on the equity side.  \n\nAlso, had I not pursued and attained my MBA, I would not be where I am today.  It accelerated my career well past what I thought it could, and I\u2019m getting offers of roles well above where I was receiving them from before I received my MBA.  Without it, i have no doubt I\u2019d be at the same level I was two years ago.  That said, I\u2019d still be making really good money, but I probably would be at the peak of my earning potential.  Now my earning potential is much much higher, and I owe that to my MBA, and the relationships made through it.", "replies": [{"id": "dzqqoge", "text": "I really appreciate the response. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.\n\nHow long were you in brokerage for? Would you say you \u2018got your chops\u2019 doing brokerage? Or do you think you became more valuable after you made the transition into the equity side?", "replies": [{"id": "dzqs2ai", "text": "I was brokerage a total of three years. I added value by my ability to financial model.  That\u2019s how I got into CRE, and that along with my ability to model, underwrite, and write reports paved my way into the equity side.\n\nUnless you\u2019ve got a long deal list and extensive contacts, you\u2019re generally not getting a top position on the equity side.  Work your contacts at firms that you would speak to when you had a new deal.  Stress your underwriting and contacts, and how adding you to the team will make their organization more efficient as you\u2019ll be able to add value to the analysts, and free up time for senior leadership.  ", "replies": [{"id": "dzqturs", "text": "Did you learn Argus runs and development style underwriting before you made the transition? Or was your brokerage underwriting enough to make the transition?", "replies": [{"id": "dzqudjp", "text": "I learned Argus in brokerage, but true development models on the equity side.  Brokerage will give some decent numbers, but no equity developer is going to trust brokerage underwriting.\n\nBut what you get in Brokerage should be enough.  What was your undergrad major?", "replies": [{"id": "dzquodr", "text": "Undergrad was in English, so not much help there.\n\nI was in investment sales for 2 years, then mortgage banking/brokerage for 3 years so I have some pretty good underwriting experience. I\u2019ve never had to do an Argus run, but feel pretty comfortable in my abilities. ", "replies": [{"id": "dzquykr", "text": "English is good for report writing, but you should try to get some experience in Argus.\n\nYou won\u2019t really use it for industrial, but for portfolio you probably will.  I would try to get experience in Argus so that if you\u2019re asked, you can answer.  \n\nHow would you write your excel skills?", "replies": [{"id": "dzrolta", "text": "I would rate my excess skills as fairly strong.\nI haven\u2019t had to do much as far as development but I\u2019ve done a substantial amount of underwriting for loans/sales.  Argus would definitely be a good piece of the puzzle, I\u2019ve just never had the need to use it:", "replies": [{"id": "dzrp6q0", "text": "It's nothing earth shattering, but know that your competition probably has similar experience, a Masters, and can do Argus.\n\nIf you can find a way to start using it, or at least becoming familiar with it, you should.  If you do your MRED, you'll definitely learn Argus.  You can and should get Argus certified, although TBH that truly means nothing.  \n\nWhen I say that it means nothing, is that if I've got a recent MRED who's Argus certified but has never modeled a live deal, and I've got a two year undergrad analyst who's been doing nothing but Argus runs since they got out of college, in terms of Argus, that analyst is better than the Argus certified MRED.\n\nBut don't get hung up on that stuff.  My recommendation is to get your MRED, learn Argus there, make connections, and don't get deep into debt.", "replies": [], "depth": 13}], "depth": 12}], "depth": 11}], "depth": 10}], "depth": 9}], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dzqu97e", "text": "I graduated with my masters in real estate in 2015, had already been working for about 4 years when I started it. Nothing has changed yet, and I wasn\u2019t expecting it to have an immediate effect as my current role wouldn\u2019t really allow for it. I did it more for the long term benefits and I also wanted it just as a goal for myself. I made some good connections, some good friends, but I know others immediately benefited from the program through job offers and promotions. \n\nI imagine the benefits will come one day, but I\u2019m pretty happy where I\u2019m at now, so if nothing much changes I think I will be ok with it. I learned a lot, made some friends, and accomplished a goal I set for myself (albeit an expensive one). ", "replies": [{"id": "dzquum5", "text": "Do you mind if I ask what you currently do?\n\nDid you do the program full time, or part time?", "replies": [{"id": "dzqynyv", "text": "I do appraising. I did the program part time. ", "replies": [{"id": "dzr087u", "text": "Do you have your MAI? What made you decide to opt for a masters in real estate over an MBA? ", "replies": [{"id": "dzrah40", "text": "Not yet but I\u2019m close. Taking my last course and writing my demo this year and then just need to take the exams. \n\nI wanted something more specialized than an MBA, and wanted to be around people that felt the same way. ", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dzw27ok", "text": "Just finished up the Cornell one. It's a mixed bag. You're too skilled to come in at an analyst level, but all the best senior analyst/associate level jobs go to people with direct experience.\n\nI did make a TON of connections though and, if i wasn't so picky, I would have graduated with a job.   ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "e05vymw", "text": "If you are already killing it? Sure. As a means to start killing it. Probably not.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]