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redalertmba
Joined: 31 Jul 2015
Last visit: 17 Nov 2018
Posts: 55
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 12
Location: Korea, Republic of
Schools: Ross '20 (WA) Kellogg '20 (D)
GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V42
GRE 1: Q165 V166
31 May 2017, 10:33
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My question is not so much whether one is better than the other, but what types of people should be doing what?
I'm not the most socially adept person out there, although it doesn't mean I have an Asperger's syndrome or something. I live in my head, and everyday I think about issues, of concepts, of first principles of people in general. In this sense I'm a sort of amateur wannabe psychologist interested in businesses and cultures and organizational dynamics.
On the flip side I'm not good at higher level maths nor am I a strictly logically oriented mathematician type of guy; I like the humanities much more than hard research, and I like solving everyday or practical problems, but not theoretical or very narrow problems that seem to be the focus of PhD programs.
So I'm trying a masters in economics out first, but it's really draining my energy; I don't see the point of going through all this extreme rigor to reach a conclusion that most people will not be interested in or will not make much of a difference.
I'm really lost although if I am accepted I will be going to the 1 year MBA program next year.
I'm not the most socially adept person out there, although it doesn't mean I have an Asperger's syndrome or something. I live in my head, and everyday I think about issues, of concepts, of first principles of people in general. In this sense I'm a sort of amateur wannabe psychologist interested in businesses and cultures and organizational dynamics.
On the flip side I'm not good at higher level maths nor am I a strictly logically oriented mathematician type of guy; I like the humanities much more than hard research, and I like solving everyday or practical problems, but not theoretical or very narrow problems that seem to be the focus of PhD programs.
So I'm trying a masters in economics out first, but it's really draining my energy; I don't see the point of going through all this extreme rigor to reach a conclusion that most people will not be interested in or will not make much of a difference.
I'm really lost although if I am accepted I will be going to the 1 year MBA program next year.
01 Jun 2017, 01:52
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redalertmba
My question is not so much whether one is better than the other, but what types of people should be doing what?
I'm not the most socially adept person out there, although it doesn't mean I have an Asperger's syndrome or something. I live in my head, and everyday I think about issues, of concepts, of first principles of people in general. In this sense I'm a sort of amateur wannabe psychologist interested in businesses and cultures and organizational dynamics.
On the flip side I'm not good at higher level maths nor am I a strictly logically oriented mathematician type of guy; I like the humanities much more than hard research, and I like solving everyday or practical problems, but not theoretical or very narrow problems that seem to be the focus of PhD programs.
So I'm trying a masters in economics out first, but it's really draining my energy; I don't see the point of going through all this extreme rigor to reach a conclusion that most people will not be interested in or will not make much of a difference.
I'm really lost although if I am accepted I will be going to the 1 year MBA program next year.
I'm not the most socially adept person out there, although it doesn't mean I have an Asperger's syndrome or something. I live in my head, and everyday I think about issues, of concepts, of first principles of people in general. In this sense I'm a sort of amateur wannabe psychologist interested in businesses and cultures and organizational dynamics.
On the flip side I'm not good at higher level maths nor am I a strictly logically oriented mathematician type of guy; I like the humanities much more than hard research, and I like solving everyday or practical problems, but not theoretical or very narrow problems that seem to be the focus of PhD programs.
So I'm trying a masters in economics out first, but it's really draining my energy; I don't see the point of going through all this extreme rigor to reach a conclusion that most people will not be interested in or will not make much of a difference.
I'm really lost although if I am accepted I will be going to the 1 year MBA program next year.
Hi,
Take a reading here
https://www.forbes.com/sites/fridapolli ... c9b72c6bc3
https://www.cityam.com/240546/mba-vs-phd ... alary-more
https://oureverydaylife.com/main-differe ... 31003.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/guides-and-r ... 66271.html
Hope this helps
04 Jun 2017, 11:58
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Well, it sure doesn't seem like a PhD in business is for you. PhD is about becoming a researcher. And you don't seem to like it at all.
I agree that most people will not be interested in a research conclusion. Most people really aren't interested even in extremely important scientific issues, like evolution or relativity. You shouldn't do research because people are interested in it, but because YOU are interested in it.
I also don't see much of a point in doing research which will not make much a difference. So, I plan to conduct research about something I believe that WILL make a difference.
If you're doing research about something that no one cares about and will not make any difference, then I think you chose a poor research problem. Because research should be of interest for a few selected and important people. But that kind of research may take a lifetime, the PhD is just the beginning of it.
I'm about to start my PhD, and really I don't expect to deal only with pure theory only. I will work with real databases, from real companies, which faces real challenges. It's narrow? Maybe. But, then, nothing will prepare you to solve all the problems of the world, you gotta narrow it down. Be it an MBA or a PhD. PhD is narrower, but then you're expected to become one of the most knowledgeable persons of a given subject. It would be really impossible to be the most knowledgeable person of the world about a wide variety of subjects.
Social skills may not be the primary requirement for a PhD student, but it sure helps to be sucessful. Because working in collaboration may be important, maintaining good relationship with your advisor may be important, growing your network may be important, being able to present your work to an audience may be important. And it will be hard to do any of that without social skills.
I don't know what you call "higher level maths", but math is an important aspect of research in business. Even those concentrations related to psychology, for example, require a good math knowledge.
If a masters is already draining you out, a PhD is going to be much worse.
So, a PhD does not seem the right choice for you. But that doesn't mean an MBA is the right choice. You want to be a great executive, leader, manager, or something like that? If you don't, then MBA can also be a waste of time.
I agree that most people will not be interested in a research conclusion. Most people really aren't interested even in extremely important scientific issues, like evolution or relativity. You shouldn't do research because people are interested in it, but because YOU are interested in it.
I also don't see much of a point in doing research which will not make much a difference. So, I plan to conduct research about something I believe that WILL make a difference.
If you're doing research about something that no one cares about and will not make any difference, then I think you chose a poor research problem. Because research should be of interest for a few selected and important people. But that kind of research may take a lifetime, the PhD is just the beginning of it.
I'm about to start my PhD, and really I don't expect to deal only with pure theory only. I will work with real databases, from real companies, which faces real challenges. It's narrow? Maybe. But, then, nothing will prepare you to solve all the problems of the world, you gotta narrow it down. Be it an MBA or a PhD. PhD is narrower, but then you're expected to become one of the most knowledgeable persons of a given subject. It would be really impossible to be the most knowledgeable person of the world about a wide variety of subjects.
Social skills may not be the primary requirement for a PhD student, but it sure helps to be sucessful. Because working in collaboration may be important, maintaining good relationship with your advisor may be important, growing your network may be important, being able to present your work to an audience may be important. And it will be hard to do any of that without social skills.
I don't know what you call "higher level maths", but math is an important aspect of research in business. Even those concentrations related to psychology, for example, require a good math knowledge.
If a masters is already draining you out, a PhD is going to be much worse.
So, a PhD does not seem the right choice for you. But that doesn't mean an MBA is the right choice. You want to be a great executive, leader, manager, or something like that? If you don't, then MBA can also be a waste of time.
