The Cornell real estate community

The small, collaborative cohort of the Baker Program is one piece of the larger Cornell real estate community. Comprising undergraduate and graduate students in real estate minors and related fields, the Cornell real estate community on campus includes more than 500 people with a shared passion for the industry. This group interacts in shared courses; through the Center for Real Estate and Finance programs; via student groups; at career fairs, speaker events, and workshops; and through the Cornell Real Estate Council. Expanding your real estate network among Cornell peers brings long-term benefits throughout your career.

Case competitions

Master’s in Real Estate students at Cornell are regular and successful participants in master’s degree case competitions across the country. Cornell students have particiapted and recieved high marks at several notable competitions such as:

• ARGUS University Challenge: Students tasked to create real-world investment strategies through informed decisions using ARGUS solutions, competing for a cash prizes totaling $14,000.
• The Impact Investing in Commercial Real Estate Competition: Teams tasked with identifying projects with the intention to generate measurable, beneficial, social or environmental impact alongside an appropriate financial return and presenting a plan to bring them to fruition.
• Kellogg Real Estate Conference and Venture Competition: Encouragement and exploration of entrepreneurial real estate ventures, serving as an opportunity to promote top student talent before prominent industry professionals.
• The CASE Competition: Teams of up to four students have six days to submit a development proposal that includes a brief concept narrative, a bid price and development program for the site, a description of the capital structure for the development venture, a fully functional Excel-based financial model, and a summary PowerPoint presentation.
• Developers’ Den: Canada’s longest-running and most prestigious real estate case competition presented by Schulich’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure and the Schulich Real Property Alumni Association. A two-part case competition where students showcase skills before a panel of industry leaders, investors, and executives.

Distinguished speaker series

Every week, every semester, the Cornell Real Estate Seminar Series attracts global industry leaders to campus to share insights and discuss important issues in the field. Built into the curriculum of the Baker program as a required course, the speakers engage students on current projects, tips for career advancement, and the paths that led them to success. Many students cite this exclusive opportunity to interact with recognizable figures from the industry as one of the most valuable aspects of the program.

Speakers include:

• Fund managers, developers, investors, bankers, and others who talk about their segments of the industry
• Experts on current topics ranging from changes in global capital markets to green city development, new investment opportunities, financing, and structuring strategies

Student groups

Cornell University Associate Real Estate Council (AREC)

Cornell AREC provides its members with access to real estate-centric events, career services, and workshops that enhance their professional development and broaden their industry knowledge. It also serves as a networking organization among real estate-focused graduate students across the Cornell community.

Cornell Real Estate Review (CRER)

The Cornell Real Estate Review is the only entirely student-managed scholarly real estate journal in the country. The editorial board consists of a second-year executive editor and three to four assistant editors, selected by the outgoing editorial board and the Baker Program director. Opportunities exist for current students to collaborate with a professor or practicing professional to write an article for submission;  and submit for annual prizes.

Association of Cornell Women in Real Estate (ACWIRE)

Association of Cornell Women in Real Estate (ACWIRE) is Cornell’s primary graduate and professional student organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of women in real estate. ACWIRE provides networking and mentorship opportunities with female industry leaders. By attracting more female real estate executives to come to Cornell, the Association of Cornell Women in Real Estate hopes to prepare members for their future in their work environment.

Design Connect

Design Connect is a student-run community-design organization that offers practical experience to students through partnering with local municipalities and nonprofit organizations that may not have the resources to hire professionals.

Treks

Each year, Baker students have a chance to apply their knowledge, extend their understanding of the global real estate business, and challenge their expectations in a trek. The treks include site visits with local developers, meetings with local alumni who are part of the industry, and in-depth tours of important real estate landmarks. The trips provide hands-on knowledge of a variety of market types and give students a chance to broaden their mastery of commercial real estate.

All students are expected to attend the treks. Cost will vary depending on your travel plans, but we advise students to budget for $3,000 in airfare. Once you arrive, most accommodations are covered. Previous trek destinations include:

• Domestic locations:
  • Miami, FL
  • Seattle, WA
  • Dallas, TX
  • San Francisco, CA
• International locations:
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Seol, South Korea
  • Vancouver, Canada

The Rubacha Department of Real Estate is a cross-college department jointly led by the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.