Earning a master’s degree had been a lifelong goal for John Sommer, MS Real Estate Development ’24—he just wasn’t sure in which field. In exploring a range of graduate degrees, he searched for the program that would best accelerate his career forward. It was not until a social media post found its way into his feed that he began to research and discover how a master’s in real estate development could really benefit him.
Sommer ultimately chose the MS in Real Estate Development program at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University to strengthen his foundational understanding of commercial real estate, enabling him to ask more informed questions when working with clients and to begin transitioning his career from the residential side. Wanting to get the most out of his master’s, it was important for him to find a program that he could attend in person. “I need the in-person experience—not only from a learning perspective, but also from a networking perspective,” he says. “It’s important to meet fellow classmates and to engage.” He also appreciated how the course was one evening per week, making it easy on his already busy schedule.
Moving to the Washington, D.C., area in the ’90s with no job prospects and only what he could fit in his car, Sommer seized incredible career opportunities across industries spanning publishing, manufacturing, and real estate by working both hard and smart. His work ethic and mentality are partially why he found George Mason to be such a great fit. “What really impressed me is all the energy and the hustle,” he says.
“A lot of universities don’t offer that [a student-managed real estate investment fund]. They might offer a simulated fund, but they don’t offer the ability to work with real capital. And that has allowed me to look at different real estate opportunities from another perspective, specifically as an investor, and to learn to ask the hard questions and what to look for—that has just propelled me in my career.”
— John Sommer, MS Real Estate Development ’24
One of Sommer’s favorite experiences Costello was taking on the role of investment fund manager for the Patriot Fund, the student-managed real estate investment fund. “A lot of universities don’t offer that,” he says. “They might offer a simulated fund, but they don’t offer the ability to work with real capital. And that has allowed me to look at different real estate opportunities from another perspective, specifically as an investor, and to learn to ask the hard questions and what to look for—that has just propelled me in my career.” The impact on Sommer’s life and career was so great that he has continued to stay engaged with the program, returning as a guest speaker and mentor.
Sommer recommends the Costello MS in Real Estate Development program for anyone already involved in the industry and trying to advance their career through expanding their networks and knowledge, as well as anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit. “You can learn how to do it—how to form a business, how to write a business plan—all those fundamentals that’ll expose you to this amazing network of people and organizations,” he says. As a graduate of the program, he has significantly expanded his professional network and successfully transitioned his career into his current position as a vice president at Legat Commercial Real Estate.
Through his experience in the program, Sommer has not only achieved his goal of earning a master’s degree but has also leveraged the program’s accessible and convenient structure to position himself for continued growth and success in the real estate industry.
“This is just a hardworking school and university full of hustle,” says Sommer.