I finished a PhD in Finance two years ago from a descent Canadian university. I ended up in a teaching school for several reasons including a very bad year and not being from a top school. I’m seriously thinking of enrolling into a PhD program in Financial Accounting in a top US school. I always loved accounting, and a major part of my research overlaps with some of the hottest topic in financial accounting (actually I have published in CAR, one of top 5 accounting journal). My biggest problem is that I’m 38 years old and with virtually no practical experience in accounting!! I’m really worried that top schools will not take me seriously.
What are my chances considering that:
- I hold a PhD in Finance from a Canadian school (AACSB & EQUIS accreditation, # 1 MBA in Canada and # 1 MBA outside the US, etc…).
- I’m very research active: Over 15 journal publications, some of them in top ranked journals: Contemporary Accounting Research (now is a top FT 45), Journal of Business Ethics (a FT 45 journal), Financial Management (a top 10 finance journal), etc…
- I held the best and most lucrative scholarships offered by my former university and also by the Canadian governance. Now my research is funded by grants from the Canadian government.
- I was a visiting scholar at NYU, and visiting research at INSEAD.
- My ultimate goal is to become an accounting faculty in a top ranked BS school and to remain very research active (i.e. publication in top journals).
I’m very persistent and hard working person. However, I feel that my age can hamper my goal to get into a top ranked PhD program in the U.S. Am I right? Do you know of any top school that accepts “old” candidate? What should I work on to improve my chances?
Thanks a million.