Choosing a PhD program
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05 Jan 2007, 22:57
As an accounting PhD student, how do other departments at a university contribute to the program? My interests are international accounting and accounting in transition economies. I am looking at schools now based upon the faculty research in these areas, but what about other departments that have things to offer in terms of sociology, political science, etc. How will this play into the PhD program, if at all? I know Wisc-Madison has a minor program as part of the PhD that focuses on psych, sociology, etc. Given my research interests and the interesting accounting problems (among other thing) that eastern europe faces today, like the slavic studies center at Madison because of opportunity to learn more about the social and political forces that shape the region. Am I doing the right thing to look at what the university offers outside the accounting department?
Secondly, I have a lower GPA (3.2-3.3). I start my grad coursework (MAcct) this spring. I have been told that my GMAT score (750) will erase some of those grades, and that working during the semester is a distraction to me that schools will take into consideration. I would like to know if I have a realistic shot at Wisc-Madison, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and comparable universities, or if I should select schools with less competative standards. I noticed that Madison, for example, extends offers to less than 5% of its applicants My professors seem to think that I have a shot at these schools but I am very concerned because admission rates seem really low...
edit:
I should probably add that my Quant was 86th or 88th percentile. This was from the unofficial scores, I know my overall went up from 98-99 when the official scores came out by I don't have those in front of me at the moment. My AW was 5.5/6 IIRC. Madison says on their webpage they are looking for 90th percentile or above, so I'm worried the quant will come back to bite me at least at Madison.