Applying for the Wisconsin MBA in Real Estate: Tips from the Associate Director of Recruiting

The application season for Fall 2012 admission to the Wisconsin MBA is now underway. The first round deadline is November 4, 2011. We sat down with Sharon McCabe, Associate Director of Recruiting and Career Services for the Graaskamp Center, to talk about the admissions process and her suggestions for candidates for an MBA in Real Estate.

Is a business background required and how much work experience should a candidate have?

In general, our MBA students in real estate have 4-5 years of professional work experience; the Wisconsin MBA requires a minimum of two years. Some students come from real estate or finance related functions. But just as real estate is a multi-faceted industry, our students come from many backgrounds including economics, engineering and law, even politics.

What I think is more important than a specific type of past training, is life experience. We believe that the real-life experience that every student brings into the classroom is very important. Our students come to Wisconsin with strengths along different dimensions, and through our program round out their skill set in real estate.

What GMAT or GRE score is needed?

A Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score taken within the past five years is required. The GRE may be accepted, on a case by case basis, in lieu of the GMAT. The real estate program is very competitive with average GMAT scores in the upper 600s, but the range for individual students is broad. We look beyond test scores to a candidate's whole application when making our admissions decisions. However, we do give particular attention to the quantitative dimension of the score. Familiarity with quantitative concepts-business ratios and balance sheet basics-is a good foundation to have. While real estate may be a relationship driven business, it's a practical, numbers driven business too.

What else do you look for in a candidate?

I think, most of all, the thread that connects the most successful practitioners in real estate is passion for the craft. That passion can manifest itself in different ways. For some, it starts as an interest in construction, how things get built. For others, it's a consciousness of the built environment or an appreciation of how development can affect a neighborhood or community. For still others, it is the realization that real estate investment can be both tangible and profitable. I think it's important for MBA candidates to be aware of their own journey to this point and to be able to articulate their unique passion for real estate.

What career options are available for graduates with an MBA in real estate?

The Wisconsin MBA in Real Estate is designed to challenge our students to reach their potential as talented, passionate and socially responsible leaders in real estate. Through the exceptional breadth and depth of our curriculum, access to world-class faculty and practitioners, and our global alumni and industry connections, our students are uniquely prepared for their careers and to make their mark on the urban landscape. Graduates commonly follow five basic career paths: development, lending and financing, asset and portfolio management, advisory services, and economic development and public policy. They also have access to a wide variety of resources to support them during the job placement process.

I have seen an increasing number of opportunities available to our students, even as the challenges to the economy continue. Real estate is a fundamental part of the economy; everybody needs it. Trends in population growth indicate an expanding need for both residential and commercial space. Even if population growth stopped, buildings age and need replacing, technology changes and facilities need upgrading. Real estate as an industry is remarkably resilient.

What's the best way to find out more about the Wisconsin MBA in Real Estate?

Come to campus! We're available Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall semester to host prospective students. Sign up online for a day on our campus in Madison which includes a visit to a class, lunch with a current MBA student, and interviews with me and with the admissions office for the Wisconsin MBA. I think it's a fantastic opportunity to see our beautiful campus in person and to help us get to know our candidates better. But if coming to Madison isn't possible, I am happy to talk with prospective students over the phone or I can connect candidates with one of our real estate alumni in their area. We have some of the most active and engaged alumni in the industry who are amazing ambassadors for our program.

When should candidates apply?

We are taking applications now for the Fall 2012 intake. Wisconsin offers four application rounds; the first round deadline is November 4th. Candidates can visit the Wisconsin MBA Admission web page for dates and more information on the application process. While we look for the best candidates throughout the process, I would encourage candidates in real estate to apply in the first two rounds.


The decision to pursue an advanced degree in real estate is a personal one, and the reasons vary widely. What the Wisconsin MBA in Real Estate offers is this: the foundation in business of an MBA and the specialized focus of a master's degree in real estate. The innovative and top-ranked program at Wisconsin is an in-depth real estate graduate education experience you won't get anywhere else.


Contact us today:

Sharon McCabe
Associate Director of Recruiting and Career Services.
Phone: 608/890-2493
Email: smccabe@bus.wisc.edu


Sharon L. McCabe is an associate director within the Graaskamp Center for Real Estate and a faculty associate in the Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Department, both in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. Over the last ten years, Sharon has taught several different classes at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Sharon also is actively involved in the recruitment, retention and placement of the real estate MBAs in the program.

Sharon has spent over 20 years in the real estate industry as a market analyst, appraiser, assessor and instructor. She has experience valuing all types of commercial properties including shopping centers, hotels, office buildings and both market-rate and subsidized apartment buildings. As a commercial assessor for the city of Madison, she was responsible for valuing over 1,000 properties worth over $1 Billion dollars for ad valorem taxation purposes.

Sharon has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Urban Land Economics and a Master’s of Science degree in Real Estate Appraisal and Investment Analysis, both from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She is a real estate broker, certified general appraiser and a licensed real property assessor.

Real Estate and Badgers Football

Excitement on campus is high as the UW Badgers football team prepares for its 2011 appearance at the Rose Bowl. As the semester winds down, alumni, students and fans are busily making plans to watch the game. Tickets may be hard to come by, but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm. It's the seventh trip to Pasadena in school history, and the team's first time since 2000.

All the talk about Badgers football reminded us of Wisconsin Real Estate's football connection through real estate graduate and current Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas. Thomas graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics and was subsequently drafted by the Browns.

We looked back in our news archives to June 2007 for an interview we did with Thomas talking about his interest in real estate, what he got out of the program, and his strong work ethic. Here is an excerpt:

What did you like about real estate?

“I think real estate is more hands-on than a lot of other majors. You’re doing a lot more stuff in the field, not so much sitting in a cubicle or at a desk. And just about everybody is affected by it. Anybody who plans on owning a house, it’s such a big advantage to take a real estate class, and to be able to know about a mortgage, what your best options are when buying a house or looking for property.”

What real estate classes did you take, and were they challenging?

“I took Real Estate Process, with Sharon McCabe; Valuation and Appraisal, also with Sharon; Urban & Land Economics, with Morris Davis; Finance, with François Ortalo-Magné; and Residential Development, with Tom Landgraf.

“To me, the whole real estate program just makes sense. A lot of people who are really good at math say that it makes sense to them, and that’s kind of how real estate is to me. It's like a puzzle; everything fits together. It’s not just memorizing it, you just understand it.”

What else did you like about the real estate program?

“The networking and connections that you make. That’s part of the reason why this is the number 1 program in the country: you are involved with different groups, you do projects with each other, you form great friendships. The people you meet here are the people who are going to help you get a job down the line.”

To read the rest of the interview with Thomas, click through to our News Archive.

The Wisconsin Real Estate Program publishes a monthly newsletter with information on real estate events, activities and more. To receive your copy, add your email address to our mailing list at Constant Contact.

Well begun is half done: Pleasant surprises in Madison

The new school year has begun, and we are continuing a series that we started last year called Meet Our Current Students where we hear from current real estate MBA students about their experiences in the program. We kick things off in fall 2010 with a post from Class of 2012 MBA candidate Julia Xia:

This was my first trip to the U.S., and I had expected that adjusting to things would be more difficult for me. However, Madison has had this magic power to make me feel at home, and I fell in love with this city at first sight. In fact, it has never stopped giving me little pleasant surprises throughout my first month on campus.

The first surprise is the high quality of the students and the close-knit community. This year, the Graaskamp Center has recruited 3 international students to the real estate MBA program, all graduates from top colleges in their home countries. All first-year real estate MBA students have strong and diverse professional backgrounds in the real estate industry. They hail from private equity funds, development companies, and consulting firms. During the first week, the second-year real estate MBA students welcomed us with a party at a classmate’s home where I got a detailed introduction to school life. I felt that we were already closely connected, and I am glad to be studying along side these smart people.

The school year started with a nice orientation to help familiarize us with the campus, classmates, professors and resources. During the orientation, we had a great night at a welcome reception hosted by Graaskamp Center Assistant Director Sharon McCabe’s home, meeting and talking to the faculty of the Center. I was impressed by their insightful views about the real estate market not only in the U.S. but also in other emerging markets such as China. We have a small group of real estate MBAs which allows the Center to help me reevaluate my career path one-on-one and set the direction for future improvement.

The supportive alumni of the Wisconsin Real Estate Program also gave me a warm surprise. We had a nice welcome party with local alumni during the orientation week, and we connected with some other alumni after that. They took us to a football game; it was the first time I watched an American football game. It’s a great game and has helped me understand the tradition and culture of Wisconsin better. During the recent meeting of the Graaskamp Center Board of Advisors, I had the chance to talk with several leaders about their fruitful experience in the real estate industry. Again to my surprise, everyone was very patient and helpful and shared knowledge from their real estate practice, which I can’t learn anywhere else.

The class schedule is busy but very useful. In the first semester, we are taking general business courses plus one course within the real estate specialization. I feel that all the courses are designed with a purpose to guide us in the real business world and to help us to make effective decisions in our future careers. I especially like Real Estate Finance and Investment. Professor Abdullah Yavas is skilled at teaching the real world applications of our curriculum.

As we say in my country, “Well begun is half done!” I have had a good start, and I’m looking forward to the next two years of life studying here in Madison!

Julia Xia is a first-year MBA student in the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. Formerly a real estate consultant and asset manager in Beijing, Julia graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree in finance and banking.

Speed networking at the Fall Real Estate Alumni Biennial

Today is the last day to register online for the WREAA Fall Biennial Conference: New Foundations September 16-18th at UW-Madison. Be sure to check out the speed networking session coordinated by faculty member and alum Sharon McCabe. Visit wreaa.org today!

Graaskamp's research still relevant today

As the city of Madison considers the development of rail transportation, reporter Marc Eisen at the weekly Isthmus looked to the work of James A. Graaskamp, specifically to a study he did of the east and west rail corridors 27 years ago.

The legendary Jim Graaskamp, aka "The Chief," was a leader and innovator in real estate research, and his work is still relevant today. Thanks to the support of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA) and the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) and the tireless work of our faculty associate Sharon McCabe and others, Graaskamp's work has been preserved and made available online.

"James Graaskamp was a visionary in the real estate industry. His market research and valuation analysis were ahead of their time," said McCabe.

The Digital James A. Graaskamp Landmark Research Collection includes reports, appraisals, market and feasibilty studies as well as other types of research and analysis.

Click to visit the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections to learn more about the pioneering and timeless work of real estate icon James A. Graaskamp.

Unlock the Madison east rail corridor, (Isthmus), 05/06/2010

WREAA and Counselors of Real Estate Fund New Digital James Graaskamp Landmark Research Collection, (Graaskamp Center News Archives) Spring 2008