Quote:
Originally Posted by mjefferson
My profile:
Undergrad degree: Journalism from second-tier school
UG GPA: 2.98, strong upward trend, was more concerned about school paper than classes
Was laid off 3x as journalism industry is in crisis. Decided to go back to school for accounting. Found a full-time job using my EMT certification that I'd used to volunteer previously.
Took around 50 undergrad credits as non-degree full-time student (pre-reqs for accounting masters program and a few other courses). 3.95 GPA in these. As in all accounting classes. A- in both stats and calc II.
Currently in first semester of accounting masters program that doesn't have any programs or courses for research, though I'm trying to create my own opportunity. Will have 3.9+ GPA in program.
GMAT: 730 (verbal was better than quant)
Age: 28
My interest in getting a Ph.D. in accounting - though this won't go in my statement of purpose - is based on lifestyle and desire to teach. I don't know much about accounting research, which is something I obviously must rectify.
Qs:
1. With my mixed academic record and lack of accounting experience, do I have a shot at some second-tier programs? How do I identify these? I found this list of school placement by program and can make guesses based on school prestige.
2. Some research areas seem to require work experience in that area; others don't. Which don't? If anyone else entered a program without work experience, how did you narrow your research interests? Just perusing the current academic journals?
3. My classes this summer are all taught by working accountants with grad degrees and professional certifications. When I've told a couple that I'm interested in pursuing a Ph.D., they both disparaged most accounting research as too obscure and theoretical to provide any real-world benefit. Is there any interesting research going on in accounting?
4. If one does end up at a non-top program and eventually lands a position at Directional State U. or an obscure private school, is there a huge salary dropoff from the $100k-plus figures I've seen?
Thanks for any replies. |
As an accounting Ph.D. student who is finishing up his dissertation soon and is currently on the job market - I hope I can provide some useful insight.
1 - With your GMAT scores and accounting GPA, I would see no reason you would not get multiple offers. Your list is relatively good (Hasselback handbook is very popular), but Ph.D. programs have gone under a shift in recent years. Up until about 5-10 years ago there were generally two types of programs - those whose focus was on research (the "top" programs) and those whose focus was on teaching. Today, very few programs still focus on teaching - almost all are geared towards research and will expect you to have at least one paper in addition to your dissertation. Still, it depends on what you want to do though - if you want to make 150K plus when you are finished, you should look into programs who have placed well. Some schools - UT-Austin, UNC, Duke, all Big 10 schools, and all Pac 10 schools. Those programs can be hyper-competitive though. If your focus is more on teaching or a "balance" of the two check into the Big East, SEC, or ACC schools.
2 - Work experience would be more valuable if your research focus is audit, tax, governmental, or managerial. Most schools will probably want you to focus on financial accounting research though - so work experience isn't quite as key.
3 - Your clinical professors are right and wrong. Accounting research is what you make of it - if you find it interesting, then you will be happy. If you are looking to change the world with your research, I would try to find another career. We do not cure cancer. However, if you have the Ph.D. (and are doing some research) you can easily earn 50 to 75% more than your professors with just their licenses that you have spoken too.
4 - I cannot see a school ever offering a Ph.D. less than 100K (unless the degree is from a very "bad" school) at this point. I will say the salaries are not nearly as inflated as they were a couple of years ago. Part of that is the current economy (a non-issue for you since I would hope we will be out of it 4 to 5 years from now when you are out on the market). The second issue, is most schools offered those huge salaries with huge research expectations. A lot of people didn't make it, so schools are now trying to find better ideas to improve research other than through huge starting amounts.
A few other points:
- As for the post that discusses making 125K without any research requirements - I would be stunned (and I mean STUNNED) if that were true. I have never heard of a school imposing zero research requirements. I interviewed at a school that the accounting department was not even accredited and they still wanted 2 publications in 5 years. Now what is accepted as research can vary from school to school though. Even for pure teaching schools that have very low research requirements, 125,000 is awfully high and that is certainly not the norm. Of course, salary is somewhat dependent on the location - a school in New York City or Boston will probably have a slightly higher salary than a school in Missouri would just do to cost-of-living differences.
- Getting into a Ph.D. program might be a little more competitive given the job market right now. Generally, when the market is bad - people head back to school. Something to watch out for.