Please review my profile, what should I improve?

Question

Hi,
I'm new in this PhD forum. I'm thinking in applying to a Finance or Business Economics doctoral program in a top US school . I know that these programs are very competitive, so I would like your suggestions abot what strategy I should follow to improve my profile.
This is my profile:
- I'm from Peru, male, 30 years old.
- Bachelor in Business Economics Sciences (2003)
- First in the academic ranking of my class. There is not GPA in my country, but I suppose it is 4.0 based on the fact I was the first in the ranking.
- To get my Licenciatura (a special degree in my country) I made a research about how business networks improve the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This research received the highest grade: recommendation for publication (even it appeared in a local newspaper!)
- Also, I was in the top positions of other academic programs (specialization courses).
- Work experience:
a) Research assistant in one of the most important think tanks in South America. (1 year)
b) Executive in an important bank of my country. (3 years)
c) Officer of the government (4 years). There, I have designed financial programs to facilitate the access to credits for SMEs.
- Teacher assistant of my boss, who teaches in diverse schools in my country.
- Fields of interest: a) Interactions between the private sector and government: best practices, b) Financial programs and regulations to facilitate the access to credist for poor people.
GMAT: I will take it on July. I'm studying so hard; my objective is 730+.

Next steps:
- Should I apply to a master degree program before applying to a doctoral program? I was thinking in a MBA, a Master in Finance (MIT or Princeton), or Master in Development (Oxford).

Please, what additional steps should I follow?

bryantmichaels · Answer

You sound like you are well on your way to a successful academic career. You might consider applying directly to the PhD programs, since it is not required to have a Master's degree, although you will likely earn one in the process. If you can achieve the 730 you seek on the GMAT you will be yet one step closer. As you likely know, one of the keys to being accepted at a top PhD program is whether or not your area of research interest resonates with the faculty. Do some more homework on your target schools, particularly the faculty behind the research and see if you come accross anyone who has similar interests. You could contact faculty in your field of interest and conduct exploratory interviews either on the phone or in person to see if there might be a match of the minds, so to speak. It would be better to go to a school where your interests are aligned, but might be lower on the prestige scale rather than to go to a better named school where your academic path is misaligned with their focus.

metallicafan · Answer

Thanks Bryant!, Kudos for you 8-)

Carcass · Answer

i agree with you bryantmichaels

What do you think about GWU BS and in particular its PhD in business admistration ??? I threw the eye at the management department and seems good, instead the department of Information Systems & Technology Management not so good....... do you have some information ???

saeedt · Answer

For PhD GMAT, Research and Fit are the most important. If we take your research experience enough for elite schools (which I'm a little doubtful since you said "recommendation for publication" not publication), you just need to focus on GMAT and finding a fit school I think

GD

GD

Please review my profile, what should I improve?

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