For all Fall 2005 PhD applicants: I was hoping we could use this thread to begin a discussion of everyoneâ€™s experience with the application process. I think we could all benefit from an on-line support group to help us through the turbulence of the next few months. Hopefully we will be able to compile some information that will make the process simpler for future applicants. On a personal note, I am applying to PhD programs in Quantitative Marketing. Iâ€™ve made application to 9 schools (Duke, UNC, Ohio State, Chicago, Northwestern, UT Dallas, Penn, U of Mich., & Yale). Iâ€™ll be shipping off the last of my application materials later today. My background is as follows: Bachelors Degree in Economics MBA Masters Degree in Statistics 720 GMAT 2+ years work experience as a senior analyst for a national CPG firm Thus far, I have found the Application process to be incredibly time consuming. I was surprised by how long it took to write my personal statement (a 2 page essay shouldnâ€™t be that difficult). Although I am relieved to have my applications finished, the prospect of having to wait three months to find out where (if anywhere) I will be heading is extremely stressful. I look forward to hearing how this process has progressed for the rest of you

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Fall 2005 Applicants

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wakaba

Joined: 11 Jan 2005

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

Posts: 13

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08 Feb 2005, 13:38

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roy1000

wakaba

HBS has had it's finance interviews.

As far as I know, HBS have a Business Economics Department - they do not have a Finance Department.

Has anyone received a Finance Interview?

My bad. That's what I meant.

roy1000

Joined: 23 Oct 2004

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

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08 Feb 2005, 13:57

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Have you heard of anyone receving an interview from HBS Business Economics Doctoral Program? If so, when was that?

I contacted one of the professors there and was informed that they usually do not conduct interviews.

wakaba

Joined: 11 Jan 2005

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

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08 Feb 2005, 14:09

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roy1000

I believe this is currently going on - I know someone who has been interviewed. But I do know some candidates have been admitted without interviews in the past - so, don't worry about it.

promothesh

Joined: 17 May 2004

Last visit: 08 Jan 2006

Posts: 51

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Location: India

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08 Feb 2005, 22:14

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Hey Soulution and rest of the guys,

Great news ! ATleast you have " a bird in hand". When you get the formal letter please let us all know about the school!

Congratulations!

jantarmantar

Joined: 31 Dec 2004

Last visit: 05 Mar 2005

Posts: 14

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08 Feb 2005, 22:32

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Hi Roy,
The part that is worrying me is that today I had an interview with a Finance-PhD program and which is not a top school.
I did not have any information and the call came when I was deep asleep ( am in different part of the world).
But this only has contributed to my worry- as I have not listened ANYTHING from the other programs, does that mean.....??

For this interview, they have asked me to come to the campus, which being an international, I do not know whether I will be able to make it( as the visa procedure may take time).
the strange thing is that, finance even after being the most crowded field, uncannily is having the least number of active forum participants ( Decision Sc. excluded of course).

roy1000

Joined: 23 Oct 2004

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

Posts: 33

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09 Feb 2005, 05:50

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I can't really tell you much. I have been in contact well some faculty members at some of the schools I've applied for and none of them have mentioned that interviews were a part of the admission process. Furthermore, I know that most schools have just begun the process and are just commencing their preliminary filtering. MIT and Carnegie, for example, have not even finished sorting the application materials.

I applied only to Top 20 schools, so I don't know anything about lower rated schools, but, here's what I know regarding the application process at NYU as explained in the open house they conducted:

1. In the first stage, the head of the finance admissions filters the applications down from 350 to 50.
2. In the second stage, he asks four different faculty member to rate each application - thus narrowing down the amount to around 20.
3. Final decisions are made in coordination with the head of the PHD program and eventually 9-10 students are offered admission and around 5-6 are enrolled.

As far as I know, top schools do NOT offer admission on a "rolling basis", that means that all admission decisions are made all at one time.

I believe that most schools are only now in the preliminary stage of filtering the applications. I assume that the process is different in lower rated schools who receive much less applications.

wakaba

Joined: 11 Jan 2005

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

Posts: 13

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09 Feb 2005, 16:40

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As far as I know - of the top finance programs, only HBS (Biz Ec) and Stanford GSB conduct interviews. And they tend to be the soft sort, meant to get to know you rather than rip you apart. HBS has been conducting interviews, but I haven't heard anything about Stanford.

Sameer

Joined: 25 Apr 2003

Last visit: 18 Mar 2010

Posts: 207

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15 Feb 2005, 08:37

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Any final offers ? By this time last year Cornell, Insead, Harvard and Duke had started ! The process keeps on going till March 20-25. Most schools will only start by last week of Feb, so everyone - do not panic !

sleek

Joined: 15 Feb 2005

Last visit: 08 Mar 2005

Posts: 13

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15 Feb 2005, 08:41

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Anupag,

No final offers yet.

Duke has already contacted some of the candidates. I am not sure about the others. Does Cornell interview the candidates?

Thanks.

Sleek

sleek

Joined: 15 Feb 2005

Last visit: 08 Mar 2005

Posts: 13

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15 Feb 2005, 08:52

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Hey Solutions,

Great Job!

How are things going?

Sleek

soulutions

Joined: 04 Oct 2004

Last visit: 28 Jan 2009

Posts: 53

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23 Feb 2005, 09:06

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Any news from the marketing applicants?

I've received official letters from the two schools that have accepted me, but nothing from the rest of the group.

becoolja

Joined: 16 May 2004

Last visit: 25 Feb 2005

Posts: 81

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Location: Thailand

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24 Feb 2005, 11:57

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I am an international student and apply for PhD in Finance. My selected schools range from 1st tier to 3nd tier. On the last 2 week, I got a postal mail from Southern Illinois University to let me know that I am denied by this and that. I also check from university web site of University of Kentucky and again, I am rejected. I wonder why it does not send postal mail to rejected applicant before showing the decision in web site. Is it politically correct to act like this? Anyway, I am still waiting for official postal mail. Moreover, I also wonder these two universities can make decision so quickly, just only 1 week after date line. Till now, I do not get any news from 1 st tier universities. On last week, my reccommenders called me and let me knows that some universities are now contacting with them to verify my recommendation letters.

This's all for my updated status. Maybe, I am the first person here to get denial :-(

So saddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

roy1000

Joined: 23 Oct 2004

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

Posts: 33

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24 Feb 2005, 13:09

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Just got an offer from DUKE Finance.

Definitely not my first choice, but it's good to have a Finance offer too.
Still waiting for the rest...

For all of you other Finance guys - please update the forum, so everybody will know where's they're standing.

sleek

Joined: 15 Feb 2005

Last visit: 08 Mar 2005

Posts: 13

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24 Feb 2005, 15:03

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Roy,

That's great!! Congratz!!

Did you have an interview? Also, can you let us know how you were notified?

Thanks.

Sleek

roy1000

Joined: 23 Oct 2004

Last visit: 06 Mar 2005

Posts: 33

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24 Feb 2005, 15:14

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I was just notified by email.
No interview.

All of you other finance guys, please let the rest of us know of offers you receive, so we can get a sense of where the application process is.

BumbleBee

Joined: 30 May 2004

Last visit: 06 Apr 2005

Posts: 14

Location: GA

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24 Feb 2005, 20:13

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Today, I got the first of my bad news. I have been rejected by UChicago. I am confused and feel bad at the same time. I am hoping that I was rejected for the fit issue rather than a weak application issue.

Best luck to all, going forward.

BumbleBee

Joined: 30 May 2004

Last visit: 06 Apr 2005

Posts: 14

Location: GA

Posts: 14

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24 Feb 2005, 20:13

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chez_gmat

Joined: 25 Feb 2005

Last visit: 21 Mar 2005

Posts: 4

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25 Feb 2005, 13:02

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Hi ,
Just discovered this great forum , goodwork everybody

I am an international applicant for Fall 2005 in Marketing. I have applied to schools in Texas because of a location constraint. Still waiting for any news.
GMAT 700+, GRE 1410(V+Q)
MS in Engr from a top 20 US school , GPA 3.5 , RA and TA exp , couple of journal and conference publications.
Offered a fellowship at a top 10 European business school , working and studying there for over a year . TA for MBA courses and RA on mktg project. Just finished a working paper and submission to a journal. Reccos from 2 b-school professors.

Keeping my fingers crossed

soulutions

Joined: 04 Oct 2004

Last visit: 28 Jan 2009

Posts: 53

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03 Mar 2005, 15:03

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Just wanted to let everyone know that I have accepted and offer from Ohio State's marketing department. I'll be withdrawing my applications from the rest of the schools I applied to.

How is the process going for everyone else?

BumbleBee

Joined: 30 May 2004

Last visit: 06 Apr 2005

Posts: 14

Location: GA

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04 Mar 2005, 19:22

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Solutions:

Congrats and best wishes to you my friend. It's not been a good admission session for me at all. Based on my background, my recommenders (who are senior marketing faculty) had thought that I will do well. One of my recommenders actually expressed surprise at my lower-than-expected showing. Hoping for some good news.

Best luck
BB

soulutions