Aspiring Applicant

Question

Hello,

I am starting to explore Marketing and Management PhD programs as my research interests are closely related to the Employee Experience. I am hoping to get feedback on my applicant profile as well as opinions on my likelihood to get admission to certain programs. My goal is to target programs where I have the best chance at admission and where there are at least two faculty members that are conducting research that interests me.

I am an older applicant (40) and am completing a third masters degree in Communication (specialization in Marketing and Communication Technology). For my most recent two masters degrees, I have maintained a GPA above a 3.75. However, my GPAs from undergraduate (2.6) and my first masters (3.1) are not strong and do not make me an "ideal" admissions candidate. My undergraduate degree and my two recent masters are from large, public, research 1 universities in the US. I do not have any publications but, I do have a few manuscripts from IRB-approved research that I have conducted and invited presentations. I am scheduled to take the GMAT in September and aiming for a 700+. However, for now, let's assume my score is 630.

Some of the programs that I've been looking at include:
- Drexel University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Louisiana State University
- Rutgers University
- University of Alabama
- University of Arkansas
- University of California Irvine
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Texas
- University of Texas at Arlington
- University of Washington

Looking forward to your feedback.

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

Hi!

Your most recent GPA will have more weightage. Clarity & motivation in SOP will also help. You will have to answer the question "Why do you want to do a Ph.D. at the age of 40?"

Have you attended any seminar courses? Have you written a master's thesis?

Do you have any RA experience? If not, try to help faculty in their research project.

Who will give you recommendations from faculty; .e. is their anyone who is publishing in top journals in the area you want to do research,

How are your programming skills?

GMAT score of 700 is going to help a lot; 630 is on a lower side.

All the best!

jaek860 · Answer

Thanks for the insight,  CAMANISHPARMAR  
I am happy to hear that more weight will likely be given to my graduate GPA. I feel that this is a better indicator of my capabilities than undergrad.

To answer your questions:

As far as the SOP is concerned, I do not plan to mention my age and current life circumstances but, I will certainly speak to my goals and motivation for pursuing a PhD. If I finish my PhD at the age of 45, there will still be many years until I am ready to retire and lots of opportunity for me to make meaningful contributions to the field.

I have taken several seminar classes as part of my current graduate program. I actually started the program as a part-time PhD student but realized, by the end of my first semester, that my interests were not aligned with the faculty in the department. Though the university offers the #1 program in the region, I chose it primarily for convenience and did not consider faculty interests, mentorship, and other factors prior to applying. I was going to try to “find my fit” but, conversations at academic conferences caused me to reconsider and move in a different direction. Additionally, the seminar classes led me to realize that I enjoyed academic work and conversations more than my professional work, and that I would rather pursue the PhD full-time. Fortunately, by the time I decided not to stay in the program, I had satisfied half of the courses for the masters and was able to take some electives that would be more applicable to a Business PhD.

Because I work full-time in addition to being a student, I do not have any RA experience. However, I am currently volunteering to support a (non-business) professor with his research. This has been somewhat stunted given the COVID-19 pandemic and the university moving towards online classes. Some of the research I have done in Communication is business adjacent and I am hoping those experiences will help me present as someone who is ready to be a business researcher.

In terms of recommendations, I anticipate that only one of my recommendations will come from a professor (emeritus) in business. I will also include one professional reference who is a PhD and currently serves as a Vice President at another University.

Can you tell me what you mean by "programming skills"?
What are your thoughts on the institutions that I mentioned previously?

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

Hi  jaek860

Nice to hear from you again.

I agree you should not mention your age in the SOP. What I meant was your motivation should come across strongly in your SOP. Your aforesaid reply gives me a feeling that you are very much interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Good to hear that you have already taken several seminar classes.

I was impressed when you had mentioned in your first message,  "My goal is to target programs where I have the best chance at admission and where there are at least two faculty members that are conducting research that interests me."  Now I understand better as to why you have listed the aforesaid programs and searched whether your research interests align with faculty members or not. Was your part-time Ph.D. in marketing? Which program was it?

If the faculty members are publishing in top journals and your research interests align with them then that is a better-suited program for you then a renowned program where your research interests don't align with faculty members. So your approach towards Ph.D. admissions is right and you are the best judge of whether the program is good for you or not? Having said that you might have to give importance to how much living stipend is the program giving to students? as five years is a long commitment. There are other factors like location, ambition, etc but again you will have to take a final decision.

You said, " I am currently volunteering to support a (non-business) professor with his research ". What kind of research is this professor doing? How will it help you in a marketing Ph.D.? Why don't you try to help a professor who is doing the kind of work you like. Maybe this will get you a LOR from him as well. Your one LOR from a professor (emeritus) in business will really help you. Did he teach you? How do you know him? Your other recommendation from a professional reference who is a Ph.D. and currently serves as a Vice President at another University will also help.

I don't know what kind of research you want to do? If quantitative then R, Python, STATA would help. Feel free to get in touch whenever you want to discuss or have further queries!

All the best!

Aspiring Applicant

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