My girlfriend is set on being a real estate agent after high school. She has always said that she doesn't want to go to college because she doesn't want to go into debt when she doesn't need to. She thinks that you don't need a degree to be competitive as a real estate agent. Is this in correct? And if she would be better off with a degree, what should she major in? I thought Real Estate would be the obvious one, but it doesn't seem like it's a degree widely offered in schools that aren't giving it online. Would something like a degree in advertising be better?
Even if you do not need a degree to become a real estate agent it's best to have a degree in business or finance or real estate. It will be your edge and weapon against a great number of real estate competitors. You'll have a good foundation, knowledge as well as training that will offer you greater career opportunities in real estate.
You ask if she would need a degree to be competitive...I would say no (and I'm a college professor that understands the value of a degree). The top broker in my city decided he wanted to be in real estate in high school...he enrolled in all the courses online and then moved to a larger city for one year to work under a top broker and learn the business. Then, he returned here and started his own agency. In less than two years, he owned the top agency in the city and was a millionaire several times over before the age of 21! A degree can be an asset, but in my opinion, real estate is a game of experience, contacts, and a sales personality (natural salesmanship)...the first two you can learn on the job...and the last is something you either have or you don't. ...and no, a degree in advertising would be a waste of time unless she wants to work in advertising. A degree in marketing would be better (more versatile)...but if she already knows that she wants to work in real estate, then she needs to get a job in the field as soon as possible so she can start learning what it takes. She can always go to college in a few years...perhaps when she's making enough in real estate to avoid going in to debt!
Mose real estate agents get commission. Getting paid on commission usually does not require any qualifications at all (in this case you need a real estate license) because no one is taking any kind of risk employing you. Education is really only necessary to convince employers you will do well at a job where they pay you not on your direct sales, but on perhaps indirect stuff like calculating actuarial amortization tables such as an actuary does. Such jobs can have a huge Impact on a companies bottom line, which is why you need to be well qualified. But for direct sales - well you can get by with virtually no education - if you are good enough at it. However the number that are is not that great and most people I know don't like that type of work. Thanks Bill
