Both require some education and financial investment.

I also don't believe that it is reasonable to ask for a full year's rent up front as the graduate students often are older and have been working professionally for awhile and don't have a wealthy family back home financing their education abroad like an undergraduate may have - but tell me if you think otherwise. 

Coincidentally, I’m gathering that there a lot of similarities between pursuit of education and pursuit of real estate investing.

Education. 

It's based on refinery work, which pays exceptionally well for not requiring a real education(think at least 100k starting.) 

Hi...I am just starting to educate myself on real estate investing and this is my first post so excuse me if my question is stupid. 

That difference is also something we should consider.They say your first deal is the hardest and I'm enjoying the hard work of educating myself with all this new knowledge.  

Don't Skip the Educational Step12. 

Forums have never been my favorite form of education, but I will be checking in here often, and I am setting up the alerts for locals :).Cheers,kyle

No offense, but I fear you will make many BIG mistakes because of lack of educating yourself.