A career as a real estate developer can be incredibly rewarding, and with the right education, you can become one of the most successful investors in your field. But what should you major in if you want to pursue a career as a real estate developer? Let’s take a look at some of the best majors for aspiring real estate developers.
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Finance or Economics
Finance and economics are two of the best majors for those wanting to become real estate developers. These courses will teach students how to understand financial models and the economics behind them, which is essential knowledge when working in the world of real estate development. This knowledge will also help prospective developers better understand how different markets move and affect their investments.
Business Administration or Management
Another great choice for aspiring real estate developers is a major in business administration or management. Learning about project management, accounting principles, marketing techniques, and other key business areas will give you an edge in developing projects from start to finish. Business administration majors also learn about negotiation tactics that could come in handy when dealing with suppliers and contractors.
Real Estate Development
If you’re dead set on becoming a real estate developer, why not go out and major in it? Majoring in real estate development can give you more than just an academic perspective; often, these programs provide students with practical experience through internships or other opportunities that could jump-start their careers before graduating college. This kind of experience is invaluable when starting out as a real estate developer, as it gives students firsthand knowledge they wouldn’t otherwise get from books alone.
Another View – Build Relationships – Don’t Fret About Your Major
Some successful developers say that the relationships you build in college are far more important than what you major in. William Collins, a real estate developer in New York City, says the real benefit of college was the network of other students he met at Columbia University. According to Collins, the alumni network has been more valuable in making connections, closing sales, and resolving legal technicalities than in his classwork. If you follow Collins’ advice, choose a college with a large and active alumni network that you can tap into after graduation.
Final Thoughts
Majoring in any subject related to finance or business will set you up well for success as a real estate developer, but if possible, try to find an internship or job shadow someone already working in the industry so that you gain hands-on experience along with your theoretical knowledge. With the right education and experience under your belt, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenge thrown your way! Good luck!