PhD in Accounting Advice

Hi Yall,

Hoping for some quick Advice involving Ph.D. Profile Application Development.

Quick information about my stats

GMAT: 620 (Q44/V32) - I know I am going to have to retake the GMAT and hopefully get a 680+ score
Domestic US Student - Dual Citizenship between Spain (EU) and the USA.
Undergraduate Degree/GPA - Accountancy - Minor in Spanish: 3.8 GPA Overall 3.7- Accounting - University of South Florida
Masters Degree - Accountancy - Specialization in Audit Systems -3.6 GPA - University of South Florida
CPA Licensure: Passed all 4 sections - Currently in process of completing work requirement

Work Experience:
Graduate Teacher's Assistant - 1 year -during my Master's Program (taught review sessions, substituted for Professors when they were unavailable, graded and tutor a visually impaired student).
Tax Intern - Small local firm, focused on Pass-through Entities - 5 months, decided I wanted to work on large business and not do tax
Audit Associate - RSM - 7 months, focused on middle-market companies, left after busy season - hated public accounting, needed time to focus on some issues at home
Adjunct Instructor- I'm currently an Adjunct Instructor at a local community college teaching Financial Accounting - I am on my 7th month now
Starting - I just interviewed and will be starting a position as a Business Analyst at a local Publically Traded company - I will be using SAS and SQL to do analysis and different forms of reconciliations.

A friend that is currently in a Ph.D. program recommended I take Econometric courses and take some Math Courses to prove my quantitative capacity. Therefore I took two non-degree-seeking courses this semester (as I was teaching 3).
Intro to Econometrics - A
Calculus I with Analytical Geometry - B (very tedious course with a difficult professor and didn't have the time to devote to get an A)
I also took Applied Calculus during my undergraduate degree - A.

I have been offered an RA position with Department Chair at the Institution that I am teaching at, however, I haven't started it because I am overwhelmed with work that I need to process. When I finally get started on it, it will be the use of Predictive Analytics in Attestation Services- Reviews.

My interest areas current are Archival research in Capital Markets (Financial) - However, I am just in the beginning of my journey, so I am open to other areas.
Several Professors active in research already said they would be happy to write me a Letter of Recommendation.

My friend recommended I take math courses and I am in line to take Calculus II with Analytic Geometry starting January, two nights a week - I will also be teaching two nights a week, along with working full time. When I spoke to one of my Professors recently, he told me that I will never use Calculus in my research, unless I go the Analytical route, and that it's a very small section of research. He recommended I take Statistics courses because those will be applicable, and make my first year easier. While I understand the material in Calculus, when I'm in there I feel like it's a bit of a waste of my time because I'll never be using it, and I don't have any interest in the Analytical nor Engineering track.

However, I do enjoy Statistics, but the community college doesn't teach Statistics courses, and the local University teaches only in the day, and doesn't offer it online.


Now time for my questions


Is the Calculus courses worth it?

I know on some Universities it states that they want the Calculus series complete, but I talk to some Ph.D. Coordinators, and I've gotten mix responses that Applied Calculus will suffice, and I can take makeup courses the semester prior.

I would like to take Statistics courses if I don't end up finish the Calculus Series, does anyone have any good recommendations for online Statistic Courses that will be respected?


Currently, I am retaking the GMAT January 25th, hoping to get a 680+ score and apply to programs in Europe (IE, ERASMUS, TILBURG) by the January 30th application deadline date. I lived in Europe for some time, and have met many professors that have had good placement, that still graduated from these programs.

There is a good chance I still won't get into the program. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to Develop my program and insight on these Tedious math courses?

Thanks!