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The application program will be available again in April, 2021. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

PREA Scholarship Program
Application status: Closed

In keeping with our educational mission, the Pension Real Estate Association awards scholarships on an annual basis to promising students studying real estate at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The scholarships, awarded by PREA since 1994, are offered each year for full-time study in real estate at an accredited institution of the student’s choice. Financial need will be considered in determining the amount of each award. Potential recipients who demonstrate no need will be eligible to receive the minimum award.

This scholarship program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin.

Applicants to the PREA Scholarship Program must be:

  • Current college sophomores, juniors or seniors and graduate level students who are already enrolled or planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited four-year college, university, or graduate school for the upcoming academic year.
  • Majoring or concentrating in a real estate field of study.

Award Information:

  • If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $500 to $5,000.
  • $15,000 is designated for awards to graduate students, and
  • $5,000 is designated for awards to undergraduate students.

Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study and are one time only.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in July. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students not receiving a scholarship may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of PREA. The payment is made in one installment in August.

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • The written essay*
  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Honors
  • Work experience
  • Statement of career and educational goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Once scholarship recipients are selected, financial data is reviewed to determine the amount of each award, ranging from $500 to $5,000. Potential recipients who demonstrate no need will be eligible to receive an award at the minimum amount.

Applicant essays will be evaluated by a PREA committee with results submitted to Scholarship America. Final selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. All applicants agree to accept the decisions of PREA and Scholarship America as final.

*Essay Topic

In 500 words or less, state 1) Why you have decided to pursue a career in the commercial real estate industry (less than 100 words) and, 2) Why do institutional investors such as pension funds invest in real estate as part of a mixed or multi-asset portfolio? Discuss what you feel are the opportunities, risks, and challenges that investors may find in the real estate investment markets.

As part of your application, you must upload the following document:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
  • Copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040 or T1 General Form used for the Financial Information Page (required for U.S. and Canada applicants).

Also as part of your application, one online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf by 3:00 p.m.
Central Time on June 2, 2020.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically through the Scholarship America Student Hub.

The Pension Real Estate Association has partnered with Scholarship America. Select the button below to be directed to the Scholarship America Student Hub!