REFA Real Estate Alliance
The REFA Real Estate Alliance mentorship program works from a platform that leverages the strengths of the GW faculty and the resources of the F. David Fowler Career Center. It merges those strengths with a powerful alumni community. The initiative is a shared enterprise involving students, alumni, faculty, career management experts and donors. It is designed to provide students with a competitive advantage in securing top-tier employment and to help them skillfully transition from university life to the business world.
- What to Expect
REFA Real Estate Interview Instructions
Room 1: Behavioral Interview
Room Description:
This room will seek to learn more about the candidates, both personally and professionally. Through the series of introductory questions, which will be asked to every candidate, the interviewer will establish a baseline to compare across the pool of applicants. Once these questions are exhausted, the remainder of time is spent at the interviewers’ discretion. Please allow at least 5 minutes at the end of the interview for questions asked by the candidates.
Room Objective:
This room will ask several baseline questions to hold all candidates to the same standard. These baseline questions have been developed to allow the candidates to demonstrate outside involvement on campus and behavioral questions. Follow-up questions are encouraged, however please allot time evenly between all candidates.The interviewers of this room will be asked to provide their input about the candidate’s fit within the program (are they coachable?) and outside involvement on campus.
Baseline Questions:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Tell us about a time a member of your team was not pulling his/her weight? How did you deal with the situation?
- What are three strengths and weaknesses that you have and how do you use them to your advantage?
- Tell me about a time when you worked on multiple projects - how did you prioritize?
- Give an example of a goal you didn’t meet and how you handled it.
- Specific questions about resume/cover letter
- Are you involved in any student organizations? Tell us about those experiences.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Note: Personal relationships should not be taken into account
- Interview Presence
- Handshake, eye contact, body posture, professional attire)
- Answer Structure
- Did the candidate effectively convey his/her point concisely?
- Were the answers thought through, or simply made up on the spot?
- Personal Test
- Would you, based on this interview, want to work with this person/pass them along to your boss?
- What about this person makes them unique?
- Is this person coachable/would you be willing to mentor this individual?
Room 2: Real Estate Interest Interview
Room Description:
This room will help provide an insight into the candidates’ interest in Real Estate and their motivations into applying for internships in the Real Estate industry. Please allow at least 5-minutes at the end of the interview for questions asked by the candidates.
Room Objective:
The main purpose of the interviewer should be to determine the candidate’s genuine interest in the Real Estate industry through their knowledge and passion for the industry. Since there are various aspects to Commercial Real Estate, the interviewer should focus on the candidates’ interests and then ask related questions.
Baseline Questions:
- Tell us about yourself
- Why are you interested in Real Estate? How did you become interested in pursuing a career in Real Estate?
- Why are you applying to the REFA program?
- How will you contribute as a mentee/peer mentor in the program?
- If selected for the REFA Program, how will you keep us updated about your progress with the internship search and communications with your alumni mentors?
- Questions for us?
Evaluation Criteria:
- Note: Personal relationships should not be taken into account
- Interview Presence
- Handshake, eye contact, body posture, professional attire)
- Answer Structure
- Did the candidate effectively convey his/her point concisely?
- Were the answers thought through, or simply made up on the spot?
- Personal Test
- Would you, based on this interview, want to work with this person/pass them along to your boss?
- What about this person makes them unique?
- Is this person coachable/would you be willing to mentor this individual?
Room 3: Technical Interview
Room Description:
This room will mirror the technical questions that often get asked in any Real Estate interview processes. This interview will seek to determine to what level the candidates prepared for the interview process. Once these questions are exhausted, the remainder of time is spent at the interviewers’ discretion. Please allow at least 5-minutes at the end of the interview for questions asked by the candidates.
Room Objective:
This room will not attempt to stump candidates, but rather push them to the limits of their knowledge in financial topics and terminology. Most importantly, this room will not be a test of current deals, trends, or any other current events. Rather, candidates will be asked about the rationale behind deal making, investment allocation strategies, etc.
The interviewers in this room will be asked to provide color on each candidate’s basic technical background. This includes, but is not limited to: understanding of the three major sub-industries, testing their backgrounds in accounting and other financial terminology, understanding of investment allocation strategies, etc.
Baseline Questions:
- What are the different types of Real Estate asset types? Can you rank them in order from least to most risky and provide reasoning (focus on their reasoning for the order)?
- What is a Cap Rate, ie. what is the formula and what is it used for in the real estate world? What can influence a cap rate?
- If two buildings are right next to each other and are essentially the same in terms of structure, cash flows and amenities, why would they still have different valuations?
- What are your thoughts on the current rate environment? (Testing if they follow the news regarding Fed Rate increases) How do interest rates affect the real estate industry?
Evaluation Criteria:
- Note: Personal relationships should not be taken into account
- Interview Presence
- Handshake, eye contact, body posture, professional attire)
- Answer Structure
- Did the candidate effectively convey his/her point concisely?
- Were the answers thought through, or simply made up on the spot?
- Personal Test
- Would you, based on this interview, want to work with this person/pass them along to your boss?
- What about this person makes them unique?
- Is this person coachable/would you be willing to mentor this individual?
Room 4: Current Trends
Room Description:
This room will follow discussion of the current trends within the Real Estate industry. This interview will seek to determine to what extent the candidate is keeping up with current events and their understanding of the implications and importance in Real Estate. Once these questions are exhausted, the remainder of time is spent at the interviewers’ discretion. Please allow at least 5-minutes at the end of the interview for questions asked by the candidates.
Room Objective:
This room will work to discern the level of commitment and interest as well as drive to know more about what is currently happening in the industry. Most importantly, this room will be a test of current deals, trends, or any other current events. Rather, candidates will be asked about the rationale behind deal making, investment allocation strategies, etc. The interviewers in this room will be asked to provide color on each candidate’s basic drive to learn more about the industry.
Baseline Questions:
- Can you tell us about a trend you are currently following in the Real Estate market?
- Can you talk about the importance of Real Estate in our daily lives?
- How have recent events affected the real estate market? (COVID, interest rates, ESG)
- What are your thoughts on the current rate environment? (Testing if they follow the news regarding Fed Rate increases) How do interest rates affect the real estate industry?
- Tell us about a recent deal that you have read about and some of the important aspects that you found interesting.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Note: Personal relationships should not be taken into account
- Interview Presence
- Handshake, eye contact, body posture, professional attire)
- Answer Structure
- Did the candidate effectively convey his/her point concisely?
- Were the answers thought through, or simply made up on the spot?
- Personal Test
- Would you, based on this interview, want to work with this person/pass them along to your boss?
- What about this person makes them unique?
- Is this person coachable/would you be willing to mentor this individual?
- Meet the Class of 2027
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Vincent Brusco
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major/Concentration: Finance/Real Estate
On campus, I am an active member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and the REFA Real Estate Alliance. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern at a real estate investment firm, where I worked closely with the asset management, financing, and acquisitions teams. Looking ahead, I am eager to pursue a career in real estate private equity.
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Eric Dulin
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
Major/Concentration: Entrepreneurship/Real Estate
I first started my real estate career in commercial brokerage, earning my Maryland and DC real estate license as well as representing $2.8 million in Commercial Real Estate. Since coming to GW, I have joined REFA (Real Estate Alliance) and CREN (Commercial Real Estate Network), to further advance my real estate knowledge. This summer, I will be working at Walker and Dunlop as a Commercial Property Valuation Intern.
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Noah Hutschinson
Hometown: Roslyn, NY
Major/Concentration: International Business/Real Estate and Spanish
I credit credits my bike with sparking my interest in the built environment. I firmly believes that cycling unlocks creativity and makes you see things differently, so you’ll often find me studying real estate while on two wheels. I love building strong relationships, which drives my interest in pursuing a career in real estate brokerage or development.
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Layla Melton
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Major/Concentrations: International Business/Real Estate and Hospitality Management
My passion for real estate was sparked after becoming aware of the social inequities regarding the housing market, specifically, the lack of affordable housing within highly populated urban areas. I have since been concentrating on the intersectionality of commercial real estate development and affordable housing. Next summer, I will intern at Walker and Dunlop as an Apprise Valuation Intern, where I will deepen my knowledge of real estate and gain hands-on experience.
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Charles Rubin
Hometown: Naples, FL
Major: International Business
My passion for real estate began with my grandfather, a developer who showed me how the field blends geography, business, and a holistic approach to creating value. Inspired by that, I've gained hands-on experience through internships at Four Points, a real estate development firm, and Hollencrest Capital Management. At GW, I'm actively involved in the REFA Real Estate Alliance and TAMID, further fueling my interest in development and finance.
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Jonah Schwartz
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major/Concentration: International Business/History/Real Estate
My passion for real estate began in my hometown of Chicago, where I was inspired by architectural landmarks like the Tribune Tower and St. Regis. On campus, I have developed my leadership skills and expanded my technical knowledge through my involvement with the REFA Real Estate Alliance (REFA) and the Commercial Real Estate Network (CREN). Additionally, organizations like TAMID Group, Nexus LLC, and the Entrepreneurship Club have given me hands-on experience working with startups. Last summer, I worked as an Assistant Account Executive at a public relations firm, and I’m eager to gain further exposure to commercial real estate development, finance, and management.
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Amelia Shafer
Hometown: King of Prussia, PA
Major/Concentrations: Marketing/Real Estate and Finance
My passion for real estate was ignited during my two-summer internships at Compass Real Estate in Ardmore, PA. At GW, I serve as the Vice President of Marketing for the Commercial Real Estate Network and is a mentee in the REFA Real Estate Alliance program.
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Elijah Slarskey
Hometown: New York, NY
Major/Minor: Economics and Finance/Real Estate
Growing up in New York City, urban development and its intersection with economics has always been an interest of mine, as well as the role of finance in shaping decisions in both the public and private sectors. This past summer I worked for a commercial litigation firm in NYC conducting litigation funding analysis, where I refined my financial analysis skills through evaluating agreements, modeling company financials, and preparing comprehensive reports for investors and principals. I aim to combine my analytical finance skills with my passion for urban economics to pursue a career in real estate or a related field.
- View Requirements & Apply Today
All applicants must submit a comprehensive application and complete two rounds of interviews with a selection committee comprised of current REFA mentees, GW staff and leading alumni.
Once selected, students work closely with representatives of the Fowler Career Center, the Center for Real Estate Studies, and their mentors on resume/interview preparation and job prospecting. Each student will be assigned to former mentees and distinguished alumni for mentoring. They will be required to attend all REFA Real Estate Alliance mentorship program-sponsored events, participate in training sessions, engage in extensive interview prep, and work diligently to obtain a summer internship.
