Do I Have a Shot at Oxford or a Similar Program??
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18 Jan 2010, 22:05
What I mean by similar program is: one of similar prestige, or at least in the ballpark (e.g. LBS, HBS, Wharton, etc.)
I am especially interested in the Oxford Said Dhil in Management Research (concentration in either Finance or Strategic Management). It is a 3 year program that allows those with an MSc to essentially go right into the doctoral work.
In terms of my background, the big issue is my undergrad gpa. I graduated 8 years ago with an undergrad in business - marketing major with a stinkin 2.4. I was working full time and not really putting in much effort, and basically young and immature. This was at a top 20 US undergrad business school
Since then, I got an MBA from another top 20 school, completed it in 1 year, and earned a 3.51, and was awarded a merit scholarship... Currently, I am pursuing an MSc on a correspondence study basis with the University of London External Program. It's very rigorous. I am about half way through and am over 70%, which means first class honours. I will be finishing the degree with a research methods course, followed by original research and a 10k word dissertation. I am hopeful that this level of performance, and demonstrated dedication to research will offset my undergrad gpa.
Additionally, I have 10 years of professional experience, including as a corporate strategy consultant for a Fortune 50 company. I have also conducted primary research and analysis for professional purposes for years, including survey design, statistical/econometric modeling, data mining, etc., and have also led teams that have provided such insights for senior executives.
My GMAT score is 750... I think that any reasonable person looking at my profile, and speaking to me, would understand that I have the aptitude and desire to do this type of dedicated work and succeed as a professor. However, given that I have never applied to a doctoral program, I really don't know how the academics would look at my profile. I'd love some feedback on whether the low undergrad GPA can be overcome at all.
If not Oxford, can anyone suggest what might be the most prestigious group of schools that I can realistically look at? .... I'll still go for it, but it doesn't hurt to plan contingencies.