Outstanding Grads

Within your time at Virginia Tech, was there a professor or a class that had the largest impact on your professional or personal life? 

"I was a TA for Professor Everett and he got me more interested in real estate and the general aspect of what real estate is. He was just very, very helpful and personable so he was always willingly to talk and he was very helpful with the material. He was the first professor I went to office hours for and he made me realize office hours were actually really helpful." -Diego Sheng 

"I think the Finance for Real Estate projects class was probably one of my most challenging courses that I took in college, but it showed me that I enjoy the numbers side and financial perspectives too. I wouldn't have said that before, so I think that was very interesting to me because it opened up that whole side of my brain." -Sarah Warter 

"Our real estate studio senior year is the best opportunity to have while in college. It's a yearlong course led by Professor Everett where we do a development project from the ground up and we have the same group from August through May. It really was the best opportunity and all of the job interviewers I had loved hearing about it." -Dana Schaich 

"I took the Real Estate Finance and Market Analysis courses with Professor Everett and just hearing how analytical he is about the things in real estate is really inspiring. I always feel inspired here. All of the professors here are so knowledgeable and they've had a lot of practical experience. Everyone here is really family." -Madison Roach 

What advice would you give younger or incoming students?

"I would say my biggest piece of advice would be to get involved with your peers, your faculty, and the Industry Advisory Board as early on as you can because those relationships will follow you through your four years at Virginia Tech and through post-graduation. I think our department provides so many opportunities for students to get involved, so I think getting involved as early on as you can would be my biggest advice." -Sarah Warter

"Join as many clubs as you can take on because you'll be surprised at how much interest you can show in something. It's fun to put yourself out there. You'll meet so many people and you'll probably get some free food too!" -Madison Roach

"Real estate wise, definitely get to know your professors because it's such a tight-knit program so you're going to have repeated professors and advisors. Everyone knows each other so it's very personable and you'll have ties to other people in real estate. Outside of real estate, I would say be involved. Even if it's not your personality, do something to where you're remembered even if it's just one club, sports team, or organization. Do something to where you feel more inclined to be a part of VT other than just going to classes.

Coming from so far away, it helped to have people that wanted me to be there for whatever we were doing." -Diego Sheng

"Time management because school is easy if you learn to manage your time. I'd say the biggest thing is make a schedule, get a set routine, and follow your routine. Also, don't forget about your own health. Whatever it is, the gym, watching movies, personal time, whatever you have to do. On the opposite side of that, I'd say don't forget that college is also where you're learning how to interact with your peers. So, don't be scared and go out and meet people." -Weston Hoover

What opportunities within the Blackwood Department of Real Estate were you involved with?

"My main involvement with the department was being a TA for my entire senior year. I got very close to a lot of my professors and was even able to go to the real estate Industry Advisory Board meetings. I went to a meeting in Washington, D.C. and we were able to get a tour of the new Virginia Tech campus that is being built. It was really cool to be able to do that as a student and make connections with all of these amazing people in the industry." -Dana Schaich

"The biggest one would have to be the Mulroy Real Estate Challenge. The people and the connections were the most impactful thing that came out of that. We went to Philadelphia as a team and I had not known the other people at all, but we're all super close friends now." -Weston Hoover

Of the opportunities you took in the Real Estate program, what had the most impact on your personal or professional development? 

"I would say being a TA was really cool. I liked getting to meet with professors and learn from them without being their student, without having a grade on the line." -Diego Sheng 

"I worked as the Office Assistant during my senior year and that was such a great opportunity for me because I really got to network and form relationships with the different faculty and staff. It really opened up doors for me." -Sarah Warter 

"I would say definitely my experience as a TA within the real estate program because I got a lot of financial exposure. Even though I wasn't a finance major, it almost feels like I was. The professor I worked for will continue to be my mentor after college as well because he has given me a ton of career advice and helped me during my career search. I feel like our program is just so interconnected and all the professors work together to help us out." -Dana Schaich 

Did you receive any internship or career opportunities by having connections at Virginia Tech?

"I definitely used Virginia Tech resources to find my final job. I actually went to the construction career fair because the real estate school works really closely with the construction school, which is how I found out about it. But, the real estate career fairs great since they're all real estate focused companies, and not many majors in Pamplin have their own career fair. Real estate's kind of unique in that way!" -Dana Schaich

"I would say my biggest advice is to become close with all of the professors in real estate because the professors really want to connect with you. All of our professors are involved in the industry somehow, so they will connect you with whoever you need to. They want to connect with you and it'll open up so many doors for you." - Dana Schaich