Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 13:28 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 13:28
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
tkkoh
avatar
Joined: 05 Oct 2005
Last visit: 23 Nov 2009
Posts: 412
Own Kudos:
23
Posts: 412
Kudos: 23
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 24 Jun 2008, 06:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
deeps
Hmm.. A close friend who is doing PHD in operations management in one of the top universities, keeps telling me he does not have time for me, due to this "comprehensive exam" coming up soon. Well, we are almost dating, but looks like this exam is a big deal to him. Is it that hard that he does not have any time for me or anything else?
Show more

I'm doing my comps year Jan, so I can only tell you how I think the situation will be like for me. I've a wife and daughter, so I will not neglect them just for my comps (not that I can do that even if I want to....) Having said that, my wife understands how important the comps is for us - a make or break... Also, I'm not sure if this is a case for your friend but I would still be doing some other coursework in the semester leading up to the comps.

So given the significance of the exams, and the resources available nearing the exams, I would need to be very focused. I would try to have dinner together, go to church on Sunday, and maybe spend a few hours on Sat to go out etc. But other than that, most of the time would be to prepare for the exams.

Anyway, in short, yes, the comp is a big deal for most PhD students (although the research is even a bigger deal....)
avatar
deeps
avatar
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Last visit: 01 May 2011
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
1
Location: USA
Posts: 19
Kudos: 1
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 13 Aug 2008, 19:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hi tkkoh,
thanks again for the clarification. Actually, I am a bit remorseful for my initial frustration with my guy on the comprehensive exam. He is now supposed to re-take one of the exams and now I am scared about his success. He is not telling me everything lest I worry, but I am definitely now anxious to know what this means and is re-taking a standard thing that happens and people get through? I just don't want him to lose out on his dreams. Maybe someone can shed some light on this. It is in the Operations and Strategic Management area.

Deepti
User avatar
Sameer
User avatar
Joined: 25 Apr 2003
Last visit: 18 Mar 2010
Posts: 207
Own Kudos:
843
Posts: 207
Kudos: 843
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 13 Aug 2008, 20:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear Deepti,

Thanks for your PM, which brought me again to GMATclub. Just joined a BigShot University, and finding my way through the academic maze after PhD completion.

Retaking happens in about 50% of the cases of people who attempt the comprehensives - that is just my opinion, based on loosely collated info from friends.

If your friend is retaking an exam, it just means he has been given a chance to complete the PhD, the department thinks highly of him (to allow re-exam and not just flunk him), and he should be well on his way.

Operations AND strategic management? Have not heard that combination before... but if it is anything to do with operations, it probably is a math-based exam (which is to be retaken). Yes, it can be stressful. Just be patient, it should all be fine.

Best Wishes,
User avatar
saeedt
User avatar
Joined: 06 Feb 2011
Last visit: 28 Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Own Kudos:
47
Given Kudos: 57
Affiliations: University of Tehran
Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Grad GPA: 4
Concentration: Marketing
Schools: BU
GMAT 1: 680 Q45 V38
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Retail: E-commerce)
Schools: BU
GMAT 1: 680 Q45 V38
Posts: 170
Kudos: 47
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 20 Feb 2011, 12:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most schools (almost all) declare a sentence more or less like "all students are granted with funds upon admission". Unlike undergraduate or MBA admission, there's less room to worry about funding in PhD. Reason include (1) you get to PhD level, you prove you are set in your way, so deserve a grant (2) you work as a TA in return
avatar
mandelawillson
avatar
Joined: 05 Oct 2012
Last visit: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 08 Oct 2012, 23:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Beautiful points by Praet..
Thanks for share these points really helpful for me.
avatar
vinash
avatar
Joined: 06 Dec 2012
Last visit: 18 Dec 2012
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
9
Status:student
Location: India
vinash: kumar
Posts: 15
Kudos: 9
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 12 Dec 2012, 03:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Very Fine
Quote:
"Praetorian"
Show more
thanks for sharing...
avatar
sajidtoor
avatar
Joined: 16 Nov 2012
Last visit: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 5
Posts: 5
Kudos: 0
Information on Phd lifestyles...? 23 Jan 2013, 01:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The rewards are not immediate. Academic research sounds easy. Define the problem, show how your paper contributes to current literature and show that you indeed made those contributions by using models and experiments. However, a typical student fails at the first 2 attempts in writing a paper. A student belongs to one of these three categories.

Not good at math, not good at discovering interesting research questions and not good at writing either. This is unlikely, but it does happen. As you can imagine, such students do not stay long in the program.

Good at math, not good at discovering interesting research questions, but good at writing. This is probably the average student.

Good at math, good at discovering interesting research questions, and good at writing, but the student cannot convert the research question and intended contribution into a model that adequately incorporates the richness of the problem without oversimplifying it. This is probably the standard for a student attempting research for the first time.
   1   2 
Moderator:
said.tojiboev
PhD Forum Moderator
65 posts