I have a masters degree, I am a veteran, and my cousin is a general contractor who owns his own stone business that does 1 million in revenue in Orlando.

Like getting your masters degree, or making partner at a firm, or any number of other personal accomplishments.I think the beef some are having is these are not really 'real estate INVESTMENT/INVESTOR successes.   

I think the dreamers are those working low level service jobs that they hate and wish for a quick way out that doesnt involve getting an expensive degree or years of experience.

There is also something to be said for having a hedge, some degree of diversification, as @Tara Wright has noted.I think you can find 5 or 6 really super proven flippers, right here in Houston or wherever you live, and go in with them as private lenders and probably outperform average returns from any mutual fund you might own. 

I have been studying very hard for about 5 years, full time, while being bedridden and I have about 30 years of construction management experience as well as having as real estate broker license for about 30 years and a college degree in business that emphasized real estate with honors and being born and raised in Dallas, Texas.I think all of that background qualifies this 62 year old to be listened to and believed fairly qualified when it comes to real estate and all of what I've said is just a part of my experience qualities. 

I'm currently finishing my degree in Supply Chain Management and I am considering double majoring and adding Commercial Real Estate. 

With 20% down, the rate will go up a bit, but not to that degree I feel. 

I got my undergraduate degree from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, after which I moved to Denver for a couple of years.

I have undergrad degrees in History and Finance, so I have an unusual skill set.

If I were you, I would hold off on trying to invest right now, graduate as soon as you can, find a job within my degree field and save up as much as I possible can while I work.