Mortgage Mastery Program – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(MTSU + Mortgage Bankers Association Job-Readiness & Placement Program)

1. What exactly is this program?

The Mortgage Mastery Program is a spring job-readiness and placement program created in partnership with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
It provides students with:

  • A comprehensive overview of how real estate finance and housing-related companies operate

  • Exposure to executives, hiring managers, and industry leaders

  • Training in professional skills, communication, and workflow management

  • A nationally recognized Certificate of Completion from the MBA

  • Scholarship support that reduces the cost to $250 total

It is designed for students from all majors — not just finance or real estate.

2. Who is eligible?

The program is open to:

  • Current MTSU students (all majors)

  • Graduating seniors

  • Students who work full-time or part-time

  • Nontraditional students and adult learners

  • Occasionally MTSU professional staff with academic backgrounds

Students do not need prior experience in real estate, finance, or business.

3. Can graduating seniors participate?

Yes.
Graduation does not affect eligibility.
Many students take the program during their final semester specifically to prepare for the job market.

4. Do I have to be a current student?

The program is primarily for MTSU students, but some exceptions may be made for MTSU-affiliated participants depending on the cohort and available space.

5. What is the total cost?

The program normally costs $3,000, but students typically receive:

  • $2,000 industry scholarship, and

  • $750 MTSU Real Estate/Finance scholarship

This reduces the cost to $250 total, paid only after all scholarships are confirmed.
There is no cost upfront and no risk if a scholarship is not awarded.

6. Is placement guaranteed?

No — but the program is designed to put you in the room with the right people.

Students receive:

  • Direct access to executives from hiring companies

  • Training in skills that companies actively want

  • Guidance on how to communicate professionally

  • Support for networking, LinkedIn presence, and outreach

  • An environment where motivated students often stand out

Placement depends on the student’s effort, professionalism, and initiative — just like in the real world.

7. What types of roles do students typically move into?

Graduates of the program have obtained roles in:

Core roles the program prepares you for

  • Loan origination

  • Loan processing

  • Consumer qualification

  • Operations

  • Compliance

  • Risk management

  • Customer communication

  • Workflow and pipeline management

  • IT and data systems

  • Secondary market operations

  • Loan servicing

Additional pathways students have pursued

  • Real estate investment

  • Corporate and commercial lending

  • Banking/financial services

  • Business operations and management

  • Data analysis and risk modeling

  • Development and construction finance

  • Sales and marketing roles at financial firms

8. Is the program only for real estate or finance majors?

No.
The industry draws people from a huge range of majors, including:

  • Aerospace (pro pilots often pursue real estate investing careers later)

  • Marketing

  • Construction management

  • Information systems

  • Data science

  • Management & Leadership

  • Hospitality and tourism

  • Human resources

  • Event planning

  • Criminal justice

  • Psychology

  • Integrated studies

Nearly all executives teaching the course did NOT major in real estate.

9. What is the weekly schedule?

The schedule is built for busy students and working adults:

  • Tuesday and Thursday evenings

  • 6:00–9:00 PM

  • January 20 through mid-April

  • Mostly in-person, with a few remote sessions

  • Tests are online and can be completed on your own time

10. Where are sessions held?

At the Miller Education Center (MEC) — part of MTSU, with easy parking.

Address:
The Miller Education Center
503 E. Bell Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130

It sits between the MTSU football stadium and downtown.
Parking is directly next to the building and free.

11. What is the time commitment outside of class?

Outside work is minimal:

  • Reading and preparation (optional but helpful)

  • Online quizzes after each module

  • No papers, projects, or homework

  • No group assignments

  • No exams other than the quizzes

Students with tight schedules — jobs, flight labs, athletics, internships — can still participate.

12. How long do the online quizzes take?

Quizzes vary but may take up to an hour, depending on your pace.
They can be completed any time within the window.

13. Is attendance required?

Yes, because meeting industry leaders is part of the learning experience.
Missing a few sessions for work, athletics, or life events is fine — but consistent participation is important.

14. Are international students eligible?

Yes.
International students regularly participate.

CPT/OPT Considerations

  • The program itself does not require work authorization.

  • Some employer roles may qualify for CPT or OPT, depending on the position.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to work with MTSU’s international office to determine eligibility.

The program does not require an internship or employment commitment.

15. Is the program remote, hybrid, or in-person?

  • Mostly in-person

  • A handful of sessions are virtual when guest speakers join from other states

  • Tests are online

16. How does the scholarship nomination process work?

  1. A faculty member (usually Dr. Seagraves) nominates you.

  2. Your information is sent to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

  3. Scholarships are typically approved.

  4. You receive official registration instructions.

  5. Then — and only then — do you pay the $250 portion.

17. When is the deadline to decide?

Students can request nomination up until class begins, but:

  • Seats have filled up the last two years

  • The first round of nominations is the best chance for early approval

  • Early confirmation helps ensure a spot in the cohort

If you want to be included in the first group, you should respond as soon as possible.

18. Can I participate if I work full-time?

Yes — the schedule was intentionally built for working adults.

The program includes:

  • Evening sessions only

  • Minimal outside work

  • Online quizzes

  • Clear expectations

  • Support for balancing school, work, and life

Many participants are full-time employees at companies across the region (DHS, Nissan, retail, aviation, healthcare, etc.).

19. Is the program useful if I don't want a job in mortgage banking?

Absolutely.

Students often participate because the program strengthens:

  • High-level business understanding

  • Leadership and communication skills

  • Knowledge of credit, risk, and consumer finance

  • Skills that translate across industries

  • Readiness to invest in real estate later in life

  • Resume credibility with a national certificate

Pilots, entrepreneurs, construction managers, and data-science students all benefit — even if they never enter mortgage banking.

20. How competitive is the program?

Interest has grown each year.
The past two cohorts filled quickly, and demand for the upcoming year is already strong even before campus-wide emails have gone out.

Seats are limited, so early confirmation helps secure a spot.

21. What does the certificate do for me?

You receive a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion from the Mortgage Bankers Association that carries weight across:

  • Financial services

  • Banking

  • Real estate finance

  • Operations and corporate leadership

  • Lending and credit analysis

  • Risk and compliance roles

It is valuable on résumés, LinkedIn, and job applications.

22. What companies participate?

Speakers and executives come from firms involved in:

  • Mortgage lending

  • Banking and financial services

  • Loan servicing

  • Secondary market trading

  • Real estate technology (PropTech)

  • Compliance and regulatory systems

  • Development and construction finance

  • Credit and underwriting operations

Many are the same companies that attend the MTSU Career Fair and recruit directly from MTSU.

23. Why do pilots and aerospace students take this program?

Because:

  • Pilots often have long stretches of downtime

  • Many develop second careers or side businesses

  • Real estate investment is common among airline professionals

  • Understanding finance provides long-term income stability

  • Several former pilots in the program have moved into investing or mortgage-side careers

  • Some airline captains previously completed real-estate–related training at MTSU

24. Why do construction management students take it?

Because construction intersects directly with:

  • Development

  • Financing projects

  • Underwriting property

  • Understanding how lenders evaluate risk

  • Real estate operations and investment

Many future developers start with a construction background and later realize the money is in financing and ownership, not just building.

25. What are the next steps if I want to join?

Simply email back and say:

“Yes, please include me in the scholarship nomination.”

After that:

  1. You’re added to the nomination list.

  2. Scholarships are reviewed.

  3. You receive registration instructions.

  4. Only then do you pay the $250.

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