Visiting the Program in Real Estate: An Insider’s Guide
The Cornell Program in Real Estate encourages prospective applicants to visit campus and experience life as a Cornell student. Many prospective students visit Cornell as a part of the application process to the Program in Real Estate and enjoy a series of events that introduce potential candidates to current students and faculty. Prospective students have the opportunity to experience a day in the program and participate in a guided tour of the Cornell campus. Also, potential candidates whom have applied to the Program typically are interviewed during their visit.
Upon arrival to campus, prospective students are greeted by one of seven members of the Program in Real Estate Student Hosting Team. Randolph Zhao, PRE ’12 and host, describes his role as “a great opportunity for students to meet faculty and students and truly gauge what Cornell and the PRE is all about.” The potential candidates, accompanied by their host, attend a session of the “Real Estate Marketing and Management” course, which is taught by David Funk, Director of the Program in Real Estate.
Potential candidates also participate in an informational guided walking tour of the Cornell campus. Tour guides introduce the rich history of Cornell, as well as student life and the role that Cornell plays as a leading research institution.
After attending classes with their host and being introduced to the campus, potential candidates whom have applied to the Program participate in a series of admissions interviews. The interview process is great opportunity for the candidates to delve deeper into the Program and engage in conversation with the PRE faculty and students. One portion of the interview process is conducted by a team of second year PRE students. Andy Green, PRE ’11 and coordinator of the Interview Team states, “The student Interview Team is a valuable asset to the program because it not only gives the admissions committee a different perspective on the applicant pool but it also allows the applicant to spend time with current students giving them greater insight into the program. Between the Host Team and the Interview Team, the constant interaction with current students truly augments the applicants’ experience.” The goal of the interview process is to provide a clear and unique perspective of the Program and its resources and allow potential candidates to understand what life as a Cornellian will be like.
The typical visit concludes with a key feature of the Program, the Real Estate Seminar Series, where seasoned professionals of the industry deliver lectures that offer insight into their specialty and allow PRE students to engage in an intimate dialogue with the guest speaker. The Seminar Series culminates in a welcoming reception where students and potential PRE candidates have the opportunity to engage in individual conversation with the lecturers.
In sum, scheduled visits are highly recommended by the Program and offer great insight into life at Cornell and the unique experience of being part of the Program in Real Estate. Chevone Hall, Graduate Assistant in the Admissions Office and PRE’12 says, “Admissions efforts are well underway and we are looking forward to meeting candidates for the Class of 2013.”