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datadigger · 2009 July 5th, 10:33 PM

Hi all,

I came across this site by accident today, and I really like the information provided here by the members.. thanks.

I'm interested in pursuing a PhD in Data mining/modeling/analysis, and Statistics. Data is my passion, and i have been working on this field for more than 5 years now (for a large manufacturing company..Supply Chain). I have a masters in MIS with 3.8 GPA from a US university.

Does anyone know any school offers such program in USA? or may be close to?
I'm not interested in pure statistics nor economics.
May be a blend of data mining/statistics/OM... can someone point out some of the top schools? also some of the T2 schools as well?

While I do have a desire to teach after completing the PhD program, I'm equally interested in continuing working for corporate America.. having said that, is it possible to pursue (at least the first 2 years of the program) while working full time? (or am I dreaming?)

Thanks.

possible_phd · 2009 July 6th, 02:29 AM

You're dreaming -- you cannot work at the same time. And you're also dreaming if you plan to go back to industry, because schools will not admit you.

As far as I know, the business fields most relevant to data mining would be quant marketing, finance, and accounting. Others, please correct me or add to this list.

joetheplumber · 2009 July 6th, 05:12 AM

I agree...between not having a specific interest beyond "data" and your desire to go back to industry it doesnt really sound like a PhD is for you.

datadigger · 2009 July 6th, 05:35 AM

Thank you both: Possible Phd, and Joetheplumber for your feedback. I will research the Q.Mktng and other tracks... I don't think I will be interested in Accounting.
I'm really very interested in obtaining my PhD. If I quit my job, I will lose more than 80% of my income, that's why I'm wondering if I can juggle the two at least until I finish with the course loads. Actually we have over a 100 PhD holders who work in my company's HQ office! from Finance, IE, OR,OM,Math, SC&Logistics, to Food Scientists.

Not sure what you mean by specific interest beyond 'Data'? I think data modeling/analysis/mining is a very popular field (at least in my industry)... when large companies deal with terabytes of data, that needs to be transformed into information/knowledge and business intelligence to help make big business decisions in an optimized and fast manner.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joetheplumber

I agree...between not having a specific interest beyond "data" and your desire to go back to industry it doesnt really sound like a PhD is for you.

taxPhD · 2009 July 6th, 06:13 AM

I would certainly not rule out MIS PhD programs. I know several of the students in the program at Arizona and I believe the research they are working on would excite anyone one who is interested in data and text mining/analytics.

unitroot · 2009 July 6th, 06:17 AM

A lot of statistics PhD programs could fit your interests. A lot of people in statistics PhD programs work in analysis of massive data sets, including data mining, issues in some very specific ares of application, etc. A statistics thesis does not have to be a work in theoretical/mathematical statistics, but you certainly have to take a certain number of core statistics courses (and tests) to ensure a certain level of statistical maturity.

PhDCPA · 2009 July 6th, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datadigger

If I quit my job, I will lose more than 80% of my income

Welcome to the club! I think you described just about everyone on this forum. Getting a PhD is a full time job. Don't even think about working more than a handful of hours per week - particularly during the first two years, when you'll be busiest with coursework, studying for comps, working as a RA or TA, and getting your own research off the ground. After that, your time will be less structured, but I still can't imagine that you'd be able to work full time in addition to writing your dissertation.

I'm not as anti-industry as the others; but don't tell schools that this is what you want to do, as schools want to train academics.

possible_phd · 2009 July 6th, 08:33 AM

Keep in mind that some schools do not allow you to work, which is why they pay you a stipend.

datadigger · 2009 July 7th, 01:30 AM

PhdCPA, unitroot, taxPhD, and possible_Phd.. thank you all for your great feedback. It looks like I need to fully commit to the PhD program and just quit my job when I get acceptance. A local school in my area said they 'might' let me enroll as a part-time student (with exceptions... no details yet), but I have to pay for the program myself (which's still more feasible than quitting the job).
Could you recommend some T1 and T2 schools for MIS/Statistics?

Thanks.

[quote=PhDCPA;781933]Welcome to the club! I think you described just about everyone on this forum. Getting a PhD is a full time job. Don't even think about working more than a handful of hours per week - particularly during the first two years, when you'll be busiest with coursework, studying for comps, working as a RA or TA, and getting your own research off the ground. After that, your time will be less structured, but I still can't imagine that you'd be able to work full time in addition to writing your dissertation.

I'm not as anti-industry as the others; but don't tell schools that this is what you want to do, as schools want to train academics.[/quote]

2009 July 5th, 10:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
datadigger Data is Everything! Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Phd in Data modeling/analysis and statistics Hi all, I came across this site by accident today, and I really like the information provided here by the members.. thanks. I'm interested in pursuing a PhD in Data mining/modeling/analysis, and Statistics. Data is my passion, and i have been working on this field for more than 5 years now (for a large manufacturing company..Supply Chain). I have a masters in MIS with 3.8 GPA from a US university. Does anyone know any school offers such program in USA? or may be close to? I'm not interested in pure statistics nor economics. May be a blend of data mining/statistics/OM... can someone point out some of the top schools? also some of the T2 schools as well? While I do have a desire to teach after completing the PhD program, I'm equally interested in continuing working for corporate America.. having said that, is it possible to pursue (at least the first 2 years of the program) while working full time? (or am I dreaming?) Thanks.

2009 July 6th, 02:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
possible_phd Can't believe it Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 739	You're dreaming -- you cannot work at the same time. And you're also dreaming if you plan to go back to industry, because schools will not admit you. As far as I know, the business fields most relevant to data mining would be quant marketing, finance, and accounting. Others, please correct me or add to this list. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

2009 July 6th, 08:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
possible_phd Can't believe it Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 739	Keep in mind that some schools do not allow you to work, which is why they pay you a stipend. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

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2009 July 6th, 05:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
joetheplumber Eager! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 72	I agree...between not having a specific interest beyond "data" and your desire to go back to industry it doesnt really sound like a PhD is for you.

2009 July 6th, 06:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
taxPhD Eager! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 88	I would certainly not rule out MIS PhD programs. I know several of the students in the program at Arizona and I believe the research they are working on would excite anyone one who is interested in data and text mining/analytics.

2009 July 6th, 06:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
unitroot Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 456	A lot of statistics PhD programs could fit your interests. A lot of people in statistics PhD programs work in analysis of massive data sets, including data mining, issues in some very specific ares of application, etc. A statistics thesis does not have to be a work in theoretical/mathematical statistics, but you certainly have to take a certain number of core statistics courses (and tests) to ensure a certain level of statistical maturity.

2009 July 7th, 01:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
datadigger Data is Everything! Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	PhdCPA, unitroot, taxPhD, and possible_Phd.. thank you all for your great feedback. It looks like I need to fully commit to the PhD program and just quit my job when I get acceptance. A local school in my area said they 'might' let me enroll as a part-time student (with exceptions... no details yet), but I have to pay for the program myself (which's still more feasible than quitting the job). Could you recommend some T1 and T2 schools for MIS/Statistics? Thanks. [quote=PhDCPA;781933]Welcome to the club! I think you described just about everyone on this forum. Getting a PhD is a full time job. Don't even think about working more than a handful of hours per week - particularly during the first two years, when you'll be busiest with coursework, studying for comps, working as a RA or TA, and getting your own research off the ground. After that, your time will be less structured, but I still can't imagine that you'd be able to work full time in addition to writing your dissertation. I'm not as anti-industry as the others; but don't tell schools that this is what you want to do, as schools want to train academics.[/quote]

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