Top schools for recruiting real estate students for internships and recent grads for early career jobs

When you’re recruiting students for internships or recent grads for early career real estate jobs, which are your favorite schools and why? Here is what eight thought leaders have to say.

• Top UK Universities for Real Estate Talent
• USC Graduates: Industry-Ready and Well-Connected
• McGill and Concordia Yield Entrepreneurial Talent
• Discovering Gems at Diverse Institutions
• University of Pennsylvania Graduates Drive Revenue
• MIT and Wentworth: Innovative Construction Talent
• UCR and California Baptist: Local Market Experts
• Wharton and Haas: Rigorous and Practical Training

Top UK Universities for Real Estate Talent

When it comes to finding top-notch talent for real estate internships and entry-level jobs in the UK, a few universities always catch my eye. The University of Reading’s real estate program is a standout, with its focus on practical, hands-on learning and real-world projects. 

I’m also consistently impressed by graduates from the University of Cambridge’s land economy program, which takes an interdisciplinary approach covering economics, law, environmental science, and urban planning. These grads bring a well-rounded skill set and a knack for tackling complex problems.

Another favorite is the University of Westminster’s real estate program, located in the heart of London. Students there get invaluable exposure to one of the world’s most dynamic property markets, plus plenty of opportunities for internships and networking. 

While these schools have stellar reputations, I’m always open to candidates from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate passion, drive, and a willingness to learn. The key is finding individuals with the right mix of skills, experience, and attitude to thrive in this exciting industry.

Giovanni Patania, Architect Director, WindsorPatania Group

USC Graduates: Industry-Ready and Well-Connected

One of my favorite schools for recruiting students for internships and early-career positions in real estate is the University of Southern California (USC). USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate offers students both practical and theoretical knowledge, focusing on contemporary real estate issues.

Students from USC are well-prepared with a solid foundation in finance, development, and market analysis, thanks to the comprehensive curriculum and the school’s strong connections with the real estate industry in Los Angeles and beyond.

Additionally, USC’s robust alumni network in the real estate sector provides ongoing mentorship and opportunities, making its graduates particularly well-rounded and industry-ready.

Tony Mariotti, CEO, RubyHome

McGill and Concordia Yield Entrepreneurial Talent

When I’m recruiting students for internships or recent grads for early-career real estate jobs, I have a few favorite schools that consistently produce top-notch talent. McGill University is definitely at the top of my list. The quality of education there is outstanding, and their urban planning and real estate programs are particularly strong. McGill students tend to have a solid grasp of both the theoretical and practical aspects of real estate, which makes them well-prepared for the challenges of our industry.

Another school I highly regard is Concordia University, especially their John Molson School of Business. The real estate program there is quite comprehensive, and the students are not only knowledgeable but also very driven and entrepreneurial. Concordia grads often bring fresh ideas and a lot of enthusiasm to the table, which is exactly what we look for in early-career candidates. Both McGill and Concordia have excellent co-op programs as well, which means their students often have valuable hands-on experience by the time they graduate.

Samantha Odo, Real Estate Sales Representative and Montreal Division Manager, Precondo

Discovering Gems at Diverse Institutions

Having scouted talent for internships and entry-level roles in real estate, I’ve found that diversity of thought often thrives in unexpected places. While traditional hubs like Harvard and Stanford offer top-notch candidates, I’ve discovered gems at smaller institutions like Smith College or the University of Wisconsin–Madison. These students bring fresh perspectives, hunger, and a willingness to learn, enriching our team with diverse skill sets and innovative ideas.

Lara Woodham, Director, Rowlen Boiler Services

University of Pennsylvania Graduates Drive Revenue

As a real estate expert, I believe a career in real estate provides substantial knowledge of the real estate market, finances, as well as familiarity with zoning and tax laws, insurance, and mortgage and banking to students before coming into the labor market. This equips them with financial skills, analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills.

The truth is that not all colleges provide their students with these basic skills before graduating, and so when hiring students for internships or as early graduates, I take into consideration what college they attend or attended. This doesn’t apply every time, but most times their college of study is considered.

Over the years of hiring students or early grads, students from the University of Pennsylvania have made a significant impact on my business. Their stay in my business has helped improve a lot of our marketing strategies and generated more revenue for the business. To this effect, the University of Pennsylvania has remained one of my favorite schools to recruit members of my staff from.

Rinal Patel, Founder, Webuyphillyhomes

MIT and Wentworth: Innovative Construction Talent

In recruiting for internships and early-career positions at Bonsai Builders, we often look at schools known for their strong engineering and architecture programs, given our focus on innovative construction and high-quality craftsmanship. Schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Wentworth Institute of Technology have been reliable sources for interns and graduates who are not only technically adept but also value creativity and precision in their work, traits we prioritize at our company.

From our experience, MIT students bring a deep understanding of engineering principles combined with cutting-edge approaches to sustainable building practices. For instance, we recently had an intern from MIT who proposed an innovative cost-saving strategy for a residential project that implemented recycled materials without compromising on aesthetics or structural integrity. This not only helped reduce the project’s environmental impact but also cut down material costs by 15%.

Wentworth students, on the other hand, tend to exhibit strong practical skills and a ready-to-hit-the-ground-running approach. A recent graduate who joined us managed the redesign of a commercial facility, effectively incorporating energy-efficient technologies that reduced the client’s energy consumption by over 20% annually.

Our approach is to harness these diverse skills and perspectives that students from these institutions bring, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application to push boundaries on traditional construction practices. This strategy not only cultivates innovation within our projects but also prepares the next generation of builders and designers to think differently about the challenges and opportunities in the construction industry.

Kristin Hintlian, Owner, Bonsai Builders

UCR and California Baptist: Local Market Experts

In my experience in commercial real estate, particularly in Riverside, California, we at Stance Commercial Real Estate have found a strong alliance with local universities such as the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and California Baptist University. These institutions are pivotal in our recruitment strategies, especially when scouting for interns and recent graduates eager to make their mark in the real estate industry.

UCR stands out due to its robust business program, which includes specialized courses in real estate management and urban planning. Students from UCR bring not only a theoretical framework but also a keen understanding of local market dynamics due to the university’s deep engagement with the Riverside community. For instance, a UCR intern recently contributed to a project analyzing the development potential of a newly zoned area, using GIS and market analysis skills learned in class. This led to a strategic acquisition by our firm, enhancing our portfolio significantly.

California Baptist University offers a slightly different flavor, focusing on leadership and ethical business practices. Graduates from this institution excel in client interactions and project management, embodying the high ethical standards we uphold at Stance. A noteworthy example involved a recent graduate from California Baptist who managed a client portfolio refresh initiative, which not only improved client satisfaction but also increased our repeat business rate by over 20%.

By leveraging the strengths of these local educational institutions, we have not only enhanced our workforce with highly capable interns and employees but have also fostered relationships that contribute to the sustained growth and vibrancy of Riverside’s commercial real estate markets. Their fresh, data-driven approaches and understanding of ethical business practices help us maintain our leadership position in the industry while continuing to push the envelope on service and community development.

Joe Stance, Owner, Stance Commercial Real Estate

Wharton and Haas: Rigorous and Practical Training

A couple of my internship and entry-level initiative first hires are from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School) and the University of California, Berkeley (Haas School of Business). These programs continue to churn out well-prepared students who can handle the rigors of the real estate field.

Wharton real estate has been sort of a legend in terms of the kind of rigorous coursework they follow and the high emphasis given to finance and investment strategies. The curriculum combines theory with practical facts, thereby producing a student who has good all-around approaches toward the real estate market, financial modeling, and investment analysis. Further, the vast alumni network at Wharton would also mean that students are blessed with a lot of peers in the industry, which in turn means mentorship opportunities for themselves, making them highly competitive in the job market.

The Haas Real Estate Program at the University of California, Berkeley, is a program that integrates the best of research knowledge and practical applications for student use in the real world. As one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the world, access for Haas students in the San Francisco Bay Area brings students closer to developing projects. That concreteness through internships allows students to have practical experience in real-world collaborations with top real estate firms. It also impresses upon students a strong perception about sustainability and urban development, preparing the graduates with forward-thinking approaches prized in an industry with landscapes that are increasingly complex.

To sum it up, both Wharton and Haas breed graduates who, apart from being book-smart, also have valuable practical skills and industry connections, which add up to success in real estate. This is the reason why I personally prefer them for recruiting top-tier talent into internships and early career positions in real estate.

Kwame McGill, Founder and Owner, Chimney And Stone Masonry LLC.