Thread: Advice for a college kid from Chicago!

[I put this in another part of the forum as well but thought it might help if its in my focus (Chicago) area as well. If thats not allowed feel free to delete or simply link this to my other one.]

Well to start this off I am a student currently studying Urban Planning at Arizona State University and looking for some advice. I am beginning to realize that Urban Planning is not exactly what I want to do with my life and I am much more interested in real estate and buying and selling properties.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and over this past summer working downtown grew very fond of the city. I have always been interested in real estate and the buying and selling and development of cities and even just towns. I have realized this is what I want to do and was hoping that some of you here at the four would be willing to give some guidance. This forum has been an inspiration to me and seeing so many successful people make something of themselves makes me want to do the same.

Currently I plan to change my major to something more geared towards real estate and development, although I have not figured out exactly what as ASU does not offer an undergraduate degree for real estate specifically.

So here it is: If anyone here has any advice as to what to focus my studies on, opportunities to pursue, things I can learn outside of school on my own, or any information or advice you feel could be relevant or helpful to me it would be greatly appreciated. I hope to graduate from ASU and pursue a Masters degree in real estate from a school back in Chicago.

Finally, I plan to send email’s to a few of the commercial real estate firms in Chicago this week to try and obtain an internship for when I return for summer so any advice as to what to include in that email ex. Wording, topics, important things to touch on, etc. That would also be greatly appreciated.

Come on guys help a college kid out so he can be on the right path to maybe be as successful as you one day! Haha

Sincerely,

Charlie

p.s. Sorry this is so long and as some incentive for your time and advice if anyone is downtown this summer give me a shout and I can get you on the speed boat tour I work on for free just shoot me a p.m. Got to take care of the fellow L4Pers.

learn to learn - don't worry about a major

- chuck

Originally Posted by carendt242

learn to learn - don't worry about a major

- chuck

I like that! Thanks

I agree with Chuck, don’t get caught up in the details. As an ASU alum and perspective grad student I can tell you that my major itself is not directly related to my current career. However, I learned many things in my undergrad that can be applied to business in general.

ASU does have a Realty Studies program (ASU's Polytechnic campus: Arizona Real Estate Center). How about perusing our real estate license while attending school? Good Luck.

Originally Posted by carendt242

learn to learn - don't worry about a major

- chuck

Yup. Unless you're pursuing a strictly technical major like engineering or science, your major doesn't matter. Urban planning may actually give you an interesting insight into the real estate business, might be cool to stick with it.

Chuck hit it on the head. I had at least 8 majors during undergrad and currently wishing that I would have gone a different route. Just learn everything you can with gen eds, then move onto a specialty that you would like. All else fails. . . business degree.

Nick