Careers & Scholarship Information
Click through below to find information on our excellent career and scholarship resources for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The William Newman Department of Real Estate offers outreach to various real estate companies, which has resulted in numerous internship and job placements for students. Companies who have posted job or internship opportunities for Baruch Real Estate students include: Blackrock, Brookfield Office Properties, Capital One, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Extell Development Company, Kimco Realty, Lefrak, MetLife Investors, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Savills Studley, The Moinian Group, Time Equities, Time Warner, and Vornado Realty Trust.
The Department of Real Estate also offers academic advisement for students.
Real Estate students have countless possible career paths. Find your path below.
Investment Banking
For students interested in both real estate and investment banking, a career in Real Estate Investment Banking is a good option. Most banks have groups that are dedicated to real estate and whose main functions are to manage and invest in that asset class and to extend financing to developers and other borrowers. These banks may securitize mortgage loans by pooling them and repackaging them for sale as commercial mortgage-backed securities or collateralized mortgage obligations. They may also provide advisory and investment management services to real estate companies and investors.
Major Wall Street players in real estate finance and related activities include Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Lehman Brothers.
Mortgage Brokers
Mortgage brokers are real estate financing professionals acting as intermediaries between consumers and lenders during mortgage transactions. A mortgage broker works with consumers to help them through the complex mortgage origination process. Typically, a broker has a working relationship with numerous banks and other lenders, providing the consumer with access to hundreds of options when it comes to financing a home. This allows mortgage brokers to provide consumers the most efficient and cost-effective method of obtaining a mortgage that fits the consumer’s financial goals and circumstances.
Real Estate Analyst
Real Estate Analyst is a typical entry-level position with firms that do lending, commercial brokerage, appraisal, development, and institutional investment. Analysts perform assessments to determine real estate value during changing market and economic conditions. Ultimately, analysts move up to develop deals, make loans, or write appraisals.
Commercial Real Estate
Real estate sales associates work for brokers in marketing office buildings, hotels, and other commercial real estate for property owners. Starting associates typically obtain a real estate sales person’s license. After the requisite experience and supervision, they may apply for a broker’s license. Several trade organizations represent the various commercial real estate subspecialties including the AIR Commercial Real Estate Association (AIR) at www.airea.com, the American Motel Hotel Brokers (AMHB) Network at www.amhbnetwork.com, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) at www.naiop.org, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) at www.icsc.org, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) at www.sior.com, and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) at www.realtor.org.
Corporate Real Estate
Corporate real estate professionals are employed by firms to provide in-house, site-selection, and development expertise. This requires knowledge of the firm’s product, the demographics it serves, and the linkages the firm requires to its customers and suppliers. Site selection experts must understand urban growth patterns, transportation linkages, and market analysis. In addition, they need to be able to assess market values in order to negotiate reasonable purchase prices on behalf of their employer. These types of jobs are often found with growing businesses that are continually confronted with site-selection decisions. Typically, firms like fast food restaurants, convenience store franchisers, supermarkets, and retailers are prospective employers for corporate real estate specialists. The trade association is the Corporate Real Estate Network (CoreNet Global) at www.corenetglobal.com.
Real Estate Appraisal
Real estate appraisers provide unbiased estimates of a property’s value and quality. Appraisers usually work for banks or for appraisal firms and will normally value properties by finding comparable sales in an area.
For more information, go to The Appraisal Foundation at http://www.appraisalfoundation.org.
Property Management
Leading real estate owners require professional property managers. Managers are responsible for negotiating leases, ensuring that tenants are satisfied, that rent is paid, and that rents reflect market conditions. Property managers require good interpersonal, analytical, and negotiating skills. The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is the trade association representing property managers. Their training programs include the Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) designations. The IREM web site is at www.irem.org. Another valuable source of information is the Building Owners Managers Association (BOMA) International at www.boma.org.
Real Estate Entrepreneur/Developer
Developers buy, upgrade, and sell properties. An entrepreneur is a generalist with an eye for opportunity, the ability to analyze current and future market conditions, and the people skills to make and close deals. Please visit the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at www.nahb.org for more information about residential development. Additional information about commercial development can be found on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) web page at www.uli.org, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) at www.naiop.org, and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) at www.icsc.org.
Leasing Agent
Leasing agents are real estate sales associates or brokers who specialize in finding tenants for landlords or finding tenants properties that fit their needs.
Asset Management
Asset managers work for pension funds, life insurance companies, syndications, or real estate investment trusts (REITs) as liaisons between investors and their real estate investments. They are involved in strategic decision-making regarding the design of the investor’s real estate portfolio, individual property purchases, and property dispositions. They contract with property management firms, appraisers, and real estate advisory firms on behalf of their investors; and they make periodic reports to investors regarding the performance of their property portfolios. Go to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) at www.nareit.com and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NAREIF) at www.ncreif.org.
Lending
The job of real estate lending requires a solid knowledge of lending regulations, loan documentation, loan underwriting, construction, development, accounting for draws against the loan during construction, and permanent loan commitments. In addition, construction loan officers need to assess project feasibility and probability of the builder/developer being able to complete a project on time and within budget. Mortgage banking is another aspect of real estate lending. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America’s (MBA) at www.mbaa.org represents the mortgage banking industry.
Residential Real Estate Agent/Broker
Real estate agents and brokers are usually independent sales professionals who contract their services to real estate brokers in exchange for a commission-sharing agreement. To become a broker, you must be at least 18 years old, a high school graduate and have passed a written test on property laws and real estate transactions. Most states also require 30-90 hours of classroom training. For more information on residential brokerage, visit the National Association of Realtor’s web page at www.realtor.com, the NYS Association of Realtors (NYSAR) at www.nysar.com or the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) at www.crs.com.
Government
Numerous real estate career opportunities exist in state and federal government. At the national level, look into the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at www.hud.gov, the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior at www.usbr.gov, or the U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) property information site at www.gsa.gov/property.htm. The most comprehensive site about careers, including salary and job prospects, is the U.S. Government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook – http://stats.bls.gov/oco/
For additional information on careers in real estate, please go to
http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/careers
http://www.careers-in-finance.com/re.htm
Information was obtained from the following sources: Fogg, N. (1999). The College Majors Handbook. IN:JIST. Websites:http://stats.bls.gov/oco/
http://www.ncsu.edu/career/students/majors/majors.htm
http://www.ashland.edu/cardev?CareerDevelop/jajorin.html
We offer internship and work-study opportunities at prestigious firms, including:
Internship Course for Credit
Students interested in learning more about registering for internship courses for credit, should contact the Department of Real Estate’s Internship Coordinator Ms. Margo Weaker.
Ms. Margo Weaker
Director, External Relations and Student Services
Tel: 646-660-6937
Email: margo.weaker@baruch.cuny.edu
Undergraduate real estate students have multiple opportunities for scholarships:
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation – Undergraduate Real Estate Award
The ICSC Foundation is proud to announce the Undergraduate Real Estate Award Program. The award program, established in 2009, will annually provide 25 $2,000.00 awards to a junior or senior enrolled in a collegiate undergraduate real estate program that demonstrates exceptional potential for a career within the retail real estate sector.
The program has two primary objectives: First, to help familiarize universities offering real estate as an undergraduate major with ICSC. And second, to build and strengthen relationships between the undergraduate real estate program and ICSC, as well as the ICSC Foundation.
This award is to be used for student tuition and related expenses. In addition, the recipient will also receive a free ICSC student membership for one year and other benefits geared to enhance their academic path.
The schools are selected on criterion such as number of ICSC student members, academic ranking, strength of the real estate program, industry involvement, faculty investment, real estate clubs, and conference participation.
Students are chosen by the dean of their respective program based on overall academic and extracurricular involvement.
Any information regarding the ICSC Foundation’s $5,000 undergraduate and $10,000 graduate scholarships is available at http://www.icsc.org/foundation/scholarships/academic-scholarships.
Schurgin Family Foundation Scholarship
One $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student studying retail real estate or a related field. The scholarship also covers the cost of attending the Foundation’s annual award ceremony held in conjunction with RECon: The Global Retail Real Estate Convention, often held in May in Las Vegas, NV.
An ideal candidate is a U.S. citizen, who is fulltime junior or senior degree seeking candidate and enrolled in the upcoming fall academic term at an accredited university. The candidate must demonstrate a record of participation in the industry while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
Additional information can be found by clicking on the link below:
Schurgin Family Foundation Scholarship
The Jerome S. Berg Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a junior or a senior,
- Be majoring in Real Estate,
- Have demonstrated financial need, and
- Have achieved at least a 3.0 overall GPA.
The scholarship is renewable for students who continue to demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The Joseph Moinian Real Estate Award
The Joseph Moinian Real Estate Award is awarded to one or two graduating seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence in the course of studying real estate at Baruch College.
Graduate students have access to many scholarship opportunities:
The Department of Real Estate Advisory Board Awards
The William Newman Department of Real Estate will award several scholarships each year of up to $5,000 to eligible, full-time or part-time students entering the Master of Science in Real Estate degree program, or to current Master of Science in Real Estate students or current students in one of Zicklin’s MBA programs that are currently enrolled or have completed at least three real estate courses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in:
- Baruch College’s Master of Science in Real Estate degree program, or
- one of Zicklin’s MBA degree programs with an interest in Real Estate demonstrated by being enrolled or having completed at least three graduate real estate courses.
In addition, entering students must have achieved:
- A GPA of at least 3.5, and
- One of the following:
- GMAT total score of at least 550, or
- GRE score of at least 155 in each section.
Current students must have:
- Completed at least 12 credits in their program, and
- Achieved at least a 3.6 overall GPA.
How to Apply
If you meet the scholarship eligibility requirements and would like to apply to the scholarship or award listed above, please submit a one page essay that concisely explains why you want to follow a career in real estate, what you hope to accomplish in the field, and why this scholarship or award is important to you.
The essay should be submitted as an e-mail attachment and sent to Margo Weaker, Director, External Relations and Student Services, at margo.weaker@baruch.cuny.edu. In the subject line, indicate the scholarship or award that you are applying for.
For more information on these and other scholarships available through the Department of Real Estate please go to the website or contact Margo Weaker at margo.weaker@baruch.cuny.edu or 646-660-6937.
Both undergraduate and graduate real estate students can apply for these awards:
Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) Charitable Fund Scholarship
This scholarship provides support to undergraduate or graduate students specializing in real estate who expect to pursue a career in real estate. The scholarship is to be applied to tuition costs and fees. Recipient will be invited to attend AREW functions. The scholarship may be split between two students.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student, specializing in real estate,
- Expect to pursue a career in real estate,
- Have demonstrated financial need, and
- Have achieved at least a 3.0 overall GPA.
Applicants who have graduated from a New York City public high school are preferable.
CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network and CREW Foundation Scholarship
CREW Network Foundation exists to influence the success of the commercial real estate industry by advancing the achievements of women.
Rewarding Benefits
- $5,000 (tuition and books)
- Paid internship opportunity (summer of 2018)
- Free CREW Network student at-large membership (18 months)
- Matched with a CREW Network member eMentor
- Free registration to the 2018 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace
Eligibility Requirements
- must be a female
- not a previous recipient of a CREW Network Foundation scholarship
- must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
- must be a citizen of the U.S. or Canada
- must be a full-time junior, senior or graduate student (2019-2020 academic year)
- must be in an accredited real estate program, college or university
- intent is to pursue a career in commercial real estate
- focus of study included in our qualified fields of commercial real estate (see list below)
Visit www.crewnetwork.org for complete details.
Durst Family Scholarship
This scholarship will award two scholarships of $2,500 each to two outstanding undergraduate students and two graduate students majoring in real estate and maintaining a 3.2 GPA. The Department of Real Estate will select the candidate.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student and majoring/concentrating in real estate, and
- Maintain at least a 3.2 GPA.
Robert and Marian Lowenfish Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence in the course of studying real estate at Baruch College. The student will be selected by the Department of Real Estate/Zicklin School of Business according to the selection criteria below:
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled in the BBA real estate program or MBA or MS Real Estate programs,
- Intend to pursue a career in real estate,
- Submit a one-page essay that concisely explains why you want to follow a career in real estate, and
- Maintain at least a 3.2 GPA.
The Real Estate Lenders Association Scholarship
The Real Estate Lenders Association has created an annual scholarship award to be given to two Baruch Real Estate Students each year in the amount of $2,500 per student.
The scholarship provides partial tuition and textbook funding assistance to students who are enrolled in a real estate program (BBA, MBA or MS) at the Zicklin School of Business/Baruch College and intend to pursue a career in real estate finance. Students in the MBA program must be enrolled or have completed at least two real estate courses.
One graduate and one undergraduate student will be selected by the Department of Real Estate/Zicklin School of Business according to the selection criteria below.
Scholarship recipients will be provided free attendance to all RELA breakfasts and are encouraged to attend.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a senior in the BBA real estate program or a student in the MBA or MS programs,
- Intend to pursue careers in real estate finance,
- Write a statement demonstrating their commitment to commercial real estate, and
- Maintain at least a 3.2 GPA.
- The candidate should demonstrate an interest and availability to participate in RELA sponsored events
For more information on RELA, go to: http://www.rela.org/index.php/en/
Joanne C. Wittlin Memorial Scholarship
To honor Joanne Wittlin’s memory, a scholarship has been established in her name by her friends and family. The scholarship will be used to bring talented young people into the real estate industry through financial support to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in The William Newman Department of Real Estate /Zicklin’s real estate programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a junior or a senior year undergraduate or an MBA or MS student in good standing enrolled at Zicklin/Baruch College,
- Be majoring in Real Estate, and
- Have achieved at least a 3.2 GPA.
WX (Women Executives in Real Estate) Scholarships
WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate is an invitation-only association of senior-level women actively engaged in the commercial real estate industry in New York. WX’s diverse membership includes owners, developers, architects, engineers, bankers, and lawyers.
“As a recipient of the WX scholarship, I have found in the WX community the support and inspiration I needed as I begin the pursuit of my career in real estate. In addition to the financial assistance the WX scholarship has offered me, the greatest benefits I have received from it is the opportunity to interact with prominent female executives, who have used their knowledge and experience to assist me with career guidance. The WX scholarship is a great opportunity for young women to support their advancement in the real estate field.”
–Misotis Cruz, WX Scholarship Recipient 2012
“In recent years I have learned that opportunity and networking are vital for anyone who is looking to cultivate their career and to develop their professional brand. Being a member of WX provides you with that opportunity and access to a strong network of women.
The women of WX are made up of an invitation only membership. That speaks volumes about the prestige of the members. These are women who are entrepreneurs and corporate professionals and women who have a wealth of talent and experience in the area of real estate.
I encourage young women who desire to have a career in the field of real estate to take advantage of the WX scholarship. The network and the opportunities of the WX scholarship are too invaluable not to.”
–Pam Burke, WX Scholarship Recipient 2011
Additional information can be found by clicking on the link below:
The Department hosts many career events throughout the year. These events are a great way for real estate students to network with industry professionals and learn how to succeed in their careers. Check out our most recent events below:
Resume Review Workshop – March 15, 2018
Speed Networking Event in conjunction with the Real Estate Lenders Association (RELA) – February 22, 2018
Introduction to Real Estate Associations Panel – November 30, 2017
Argus Workshop in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Young Leaders Group – November 4, 2017
Real Estate Career Panel – October 19, 2017
CMBS 101: An Introduction to Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities in conjunction with Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC) – September 15, 2017
NYC Real Estate Conference – May 5, 2017
Doing Well by Doing Good: Real Estate Careers in Supporting Housing Development in conjunction with the Supportive Housing Network of New York – March 16, 2017
Networking Opportunities with the Advisory Board
Baruch Student Real Estate and Finance Club
Students interested in joining the Baruch Student Real Estate and Finance Club and/or getting information on upcoming events should contact:
Email: baruchref@gmail.com
For information on upcoming events, please see the club’s Linkedin page and Instagram account: @baruchREF
CCIM University Fast Track
Baruch College has been named a University Alliance Partner with the CCIM Institute, designed to assist its students and alumni in achieving their commercial real estate career goals. Graduates of Baruch College’s Master of Business Administration in Real Estate or Master of Science in Real Estate programs can expedite their road to the CCIM designation through the University Fast Track program. In addition, Baruch graduates have access to professional education, networking opportunities, and industry-leading technology in the commercial and investment real estate field. Learn more.
The Appraisal Institute’s Real Estate Degree Review Program
The Appraisal Institute’s Real Estate Degree Review Program enables college students to begin working towards becoming an appraiser long before they graduate. Baruch College has taken advantage of this free program to give our students a head start. Baruch has the approval of the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB), for our students in the BBA and MS in Real Estate programs to have the opportunity to fast track an appraisal career and begin applying what they learned in the classroom to the work place. Learn more.
For more information, please contact:
Margo Weaker
Director of External Relations and Student Services
William Newman Department of Real Estate
Margo.Weaker@baruch.cuny.edu
646-660-6937