<p>I was recently searching online for real estate grad programs online, and there are several programs offered by top schools. I was wondering, if anyone had any additional info regarding this programs at USC, Columbia, Cornell, MIT, U of W etc. What are these school's job placement like? What is the competitiveness of these schools etc? I know some require work experience etc.</p>
<p>as an alum of USC (B.Arch) working in LA, I can definitely say that the M.REDev from USC is very highly regarded by the development firms around here, and the Trojan network is very strong.</p>
<p>It seems to be the best in country, is that a fair assesment?</p>
<p>I wouldn't know about that, maybe somebody with a broader knowledge can chime in to confirm or deny?</p>
<p>I'm working in the architecture industry, and when people say about someone we're going to be working with that they got their MRED at USC, everyone seems to raise their eyebrows. I can speak more directly to the idea of 'job placement' though. USC doesn't do much actually 'placement', but then I've never had the impression that they need to. What they do is give you excellent contacts and exposure to professionals in the industry, so that when it's time to find yourself a job, you know exactly who to talk to, and they're pretty receptive to you. Everyone in the Trojan family pretty much has gotten a break at some time from another USC alumnus, and is pretty eager to pay it forward. There are recruiting events on campus, and because USC relies on a network of adjunct professors (in addition to a healthy amount of full professors), many of your classes will be with people who own or are partners or associates in local firms, so sometimes opportunities pop up that way, but the idea of 'placement' isn't generally an accurate one.</p>
<p>I see, would you say it's worth the 54k, dollar price tag as far as earnings potential? How hard is it to get into the program?</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but there is so much difference in admissions and difficulty from one program to another within USC that I don't feel I know enough to answer those questions. I was in the School of Architecture, which is a completely different animal.</p>