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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
I'm at a top 50 ranked school...but not anything amazing >_<

I have three years of science undergraduate research, and I will most probably publish something (again, in science) before I graduate.

Thanks for the reply :)

Originally posted by aikomidori on 31 Dec 2010, 07:53.
Last edited by aikomidori on 08 Jan 2011, 19:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
I think it depends on which specialisation you choose. The finance programs are the toughest to get into.
But your stats looks really good. Gmat 700 , really high gpa. Neither your gmat nor your gpa will hurt you in most programs . Therefore you will definitely have a chance to get into a top 20 program. My advice is to apply to as many schools as possible. Another way to improve your chances is to write your thesis with a good professor who has an extensive research experience. Afterwards you can ask him for a letter of recommendation :wink: .
Wish you all the best for your further studies :-D
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Thank you so much for the advice supereco87 :D:D:D
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
If I were you, I would retake the GMAT. 700 is a great score in a vacuum, but I believe the average top-20 PhD applicant is way over 700. PhD admissions percentages are very low, and you have plenty of time to execute a 750+ score, so that would be my advice!

Good luck!
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
@ method - I was actually hoping that the other parts of my application would more than make for my gmat score. I am the following:

[removed for privacy]

So I am really hoping that I wouldn't have to retake the GMAT - do you still think so?

Originally posted by aikomidori on 08 Jan 2011, 07:52.
Last edited by aikomidori on 08 Jan 2011, 19:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Do you really think that the rest of your profile is a distinct advantage against the top-20 Business PhD pool? I'm not saying you shouldn't be proud of what you've accomplished, but I would guess that what you've done is not head and shoulders above other applicants.

And you're doing a MBA, which is a professional degree, without any real work experience or industry aspirations. From my understanding, you would seem more attractive with a double major in economics instead.

Given that you're just a junior at the moment, what is the downside to taking the GMAT again? Then compare that to the upside.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
The problem with taking the gmat again is that I won't have enough time to dedicate to re-studying for it. I'm spending the summer at Goldman Sachs. I will consider it though..
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
You have a great profile. However if you're only interested in attending the Top 20 schools (i.e. if you weren't admitted into those schools then you would not do a PhD) then perhaps you are not serious enough to weather the 4+ years of PhD work.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Hmm actually I would be willing to go to a school outside of top 20, but I already think I have a chance in those places.

I do not know if I have a chance at a top 20 school, that's why I asked specifically if I have a chance at a top 20 school.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Thank you so much for the reply risys82! :D After the comments here, I plan on applying to a few outside the top 50, a few between 20 to 50 and a few in the top 20.

I had posted this before, but removed it due to privacy. I do have some finance work experience. By the time I graduate, I will have worked 1.5 years in the state insurance department as a finance intern and I have worked in a financial role for 4 years in a local consulting company. I don't know if that helps at all for work experience, but just thought I would mention that.

I am not worried about the amount of quantitative subjects I have taken since the science degree and the MBA will take care of that.

Also, I'm not just applying to a finance PhD, I am also applying for a corporate strategy PhD.

Thanks a lot!
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Yes, it would be wise to apply to several programs in each category of reach, target, and safety (although in PhD admissions sometimes there no such thing).

For a finance PhD, I am not certain how valuable your work experience will be, since I do not know a great deal about finance, but I do know that the people who you will be competing with for spots for at the top schools will generally have superb work experience, GMAT scores, grades, LORs. You could probably judge the value of your work experience better than I can. The important thing regarding your work experience as it pertains to PhD admissions is that it is relevant to your research interests (i.e. how did it contribute to your research interests and what kind of insights did you gain from it that will help you with your research?). I would make sure to thoroughly address this in your SOP if you plan on mentioning your work experience at all. Otherwise, don't waste more than a few sentences in your SOP on your finance work experience. As I mentioned, leadership and work experience probably take a backseat to other things, but for the top schools, everything generally needs to be excellent.

I assumed the same regarding your quantitative background. But just to be sure, at a minimum you should have calc 1-3, statistics and probability, linear algebra. If you can take some econometrics at the PhD level that would look good on your profile.

Also regarding applying to both finance and corporate strategy PhDs. I think there are schools out there that only allow you to apply to one program. Also, I'm not sure about this, but I think applying to more than 1 PhD program may not be looked upon favorably by adcoms, since it indicates lack of focus. You might want to ask some professors what they think about that just to make sure. Even if you will be applying to different schools, your LOR writers might wonder as well. Again, I'm not sure whether it's a big deal or not, so you might want to check with some other sources just to make sure. Also since we're on the topic of LORs, make sure all of these come from academics, not from industry, unless the person that you worked with in industry also holds a PhD.

Anyway, I am sure you are already aware of most of these things, but just thought I'd mention them just in case they are helpful to you or someone else.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
Thank you so much for the advice! I never thought of it that way (that my LORs will wonder why I have a lack of focus), I think when I apply I will only apply for corporate strategy after taking what you said into account.

Thank you so much risys82, your advice was very helpful :D
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
I may be a little late in this discussion. I am actually currently in a finance phd program and went through the process of applying last year. I also had a 3.9 gpa as an undergrad and I scored 710 on the gmat. However, my degree was in finance, which is a terrible degree to enter a phd in finance with ironically. YOur biochemistry is probably much better because I am sure you have had to take advanced calculus and hopefully linear algebra. I also went to a much worse school than you (far from top 50).

Unfortunately, your mba classes probably won't be very helpful at first because generally the first year is all theoretical economics and econometrics which has little to do with mba style classes. My point is your mba may not help as much as you are hoping for admittance, a masters in math, stats, or economics is best. As far as work experience the programs actually don't care at all. Work experience doesn't really help them tell if someone can make it through the academic rigor of the first and second year classes.

I am sure you can get into a good program. I believe top 20 is lofty I would suggest applying to tier 2 and 3 schools as well. Also make sure to apply to several schools. I applied to 12 and only got in 1. Your resume is much better than mine from the looks of it, so you should have considerably more success just remember to apply to lots of schools and highlight your quantitative ability in your applications.

Best wishes

Oh and being a girl will help you out, there are few women in finance. If you are a white girl or at least american born you will have an even bigger edge. This may sound politically incorrect, but it is just the way it is. Ask a professor you are close to and they will tell you the same thing.
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Re: Am I good enough for a top PhD program? [#permalink]
aikomidori wrote:
Hey everyone,

I am currently an undergraduate junior and I took the GMAT last winter break (12/09) and got a 700. I joined the MBA program at my school and so I will graduate with a BS in biochemistry and a MBA at the same time. My undergrad GPA is a 3.87 and my grad gpa is a 4.0. I have lots of leaderships and 2 internships. I am also female (if that helps at all :? ) and I want to join a PhD program if I get into a top 20 program - do I think I should try? Is app good enough?


You seem very appropriate. Just add some research flavor to your application pack. Be a RA or coauthor or author a piece of paper. Be a TA as well

Also, though 700 can take you even to HBS and stanforsd, but retaking it to take a few tens higher pushes you higher than the risk line
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