phd in marketing... how should i play this?

[anxiousphd]

1) 25 years old, male, USA

2) graduated from top liberal arts college in the US with BA in Political Economy and Asian Studies, GPA 3.49/4.0, GMAT 740 (97%) Q 51, GRE V740 Q800
I also did an Associate's Degree at Parsons (the fashion school) in Fashion Marketing GPA 3.77/4.0

3) I did interns at a well-known men's suit company and a contemporary male couture company, and currently began working at a venture start-up (online marketing firm), but almost straight out of college..

4) manager for varsity basketball team, asian american association, and school government...

5) would very much like to do research in brand management and brand equity research

6) it may be a lofty goal but would like to go to top tiers.... Yale, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UMinnesota, UMichigan, Haas, Anderson, and USC


I was hoping my background in fashion could make me stand out more or less.. hopefully?

[possible_phd]

It will be unique, but I don't know if it'll matter at all when it comes time for admissions. What will help is having stellar LORs and better-defined research interests. Your numbers look alright for the top tier schools, but it takes more than numbers to get in. Just round out the other bits, and you'll be set!

[anxiousphd]

yeah,, i am still struggling to define my research interest..
reading up on some of the papers already written on the bits that i m interested..
I am getting two LORs from my undergraduate profs and one from my associate's degree prof.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for a stellar letter of recommendation, but I have enough faith that they will be all pretty well written.. :P

any more advices on how i should play this?

[elsenot]

I don't think that your background will be your key strength in admissions. However, your academic scores sound good and they will be.

If you want to go to a top school identify (tenure-track) professors who have done research in fashion and branding and make sure to mention their work. Also be clear in your own mind whether you are in interested in CB or quant work.

[socialpsych]

yeah,, i am still struggling to define my research interest..
reading up on some of the papers already written on the bits that i m interested..

This is key IMO. No applicant can get an offer without interesting, well-defined research interests, or at the very least an ability to talk about research topics as an insider would. Do not underestimate the importance of having a coherent and compelling story about what you want to do. PhD admissions, at least at the top tier, are about much more than scores and credentials.

[phdhope]

I don't think I see top tier as being viable for your application. Your test scores do stand out, but the rest of background doesn't. Your test scores won't be that unusual for most business school phd programs. While I certainly encourage to apply to some of the top programs (I mean it really isn't going to hurt), I don't think you should only apply to top programs because I don't know how competitive your application will be. I would agree to the advice above and also compare your stats against all other marketing applicants posts on the forum to give you some idea of where you might stand in relation to the total applicant pool.

[princejolly]

I think This Will be Unique Thing.There are So many Few People Who Thinks To Do the Unique then the other But i have one Doubt Regarding this.First of all are You Interested in the marketing?.Have You any Experience of the Marketing Field?.You Do the Inquiry in The University this is Possible of not Because You are From The Arts Background and the Topic is From the Business Stream.So May Be University Doesn't allow You.