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madhatter11 · 2009 October 12th, 03:59 AM

Hey Everyone,

I am currently a junior undergrad, and I am planning on applying to Finance PhD programs after I graduate. I know I don't have a complete profile yet, but I was hoping you could offer your thoughts/recommendations on what I have done so far...

Undergrad: Current GPA of 3.64 with a Finance major and math minor at a very good, but not particularly well known, private school. Let's assume I finish with a GPA between 3.65 and 3.7.

Finance and Econ Classes: I have taken Investments, Multinational Finance, and Money and Financial Institutions so far. I will be taking Financial Management I and II, Equity Fund Management and Fixed-Income Fund Management (both of these classes are part of a nationally recognized student-run portfolio). As for Economics classes, I have taken Macro, Micro, and International Econ.

Math Classes: By the time I graduate, I plan to have taken Calc I-III, Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, and one or two others. I got a late start on the math classes, so I don't have the time to take many. I have also had two semesters of Statistics.

GMAT: I haven't taken it yet, but let's be optimistic and say I score in the 90th percentile.

LORs: I should be able to get some pretty strong LORs, though given the nature of my school, my professors are oriented towards teaching than research. Currently, my LORs would come from my Calc professor (PhD from Vanderbilt), a finance professor (PhD from Indiana), and a sociology professor (PhD from Wisconsin - Madison. This is the result of an elective I took - a class on community-based research).

Research: I don't have any research experience at the moment. As I just mentioned, my school is a "teaching" school, so research opportunities are not easy to come by. However, I may have the opportunity to work on a paper with a family member, who is a well published professor in MIS.

Work Experience: If all goes well, I will have an internship this summer. Aside from that, I was a camp counselor for one summer, and worked retail during high school.

Other: President of a student organization and Captain of a D1 athletic team. I am not sure these will count for anything... Maybe make my application a little more unique?

At this point, I am trying to get a feel of what schools I should be looking at, as well as what I can do over the next three semesters to improve my profile. Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

longshot · 2009 October 12th, 04:56 AM

You look good, make sure you do well on the GMAT and see if you can work on that MIS paper. It may not be finance, but a little exposure to business research goes a long way in the eyes of admissions committees.

Any specific areas/schools/region that you prefer?

phdhope · 2009 October 12th, 05:15 AM

I am not a finance phd so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I say that it looks like you are headed in the right direction. Just be sure to follow through with all of your plans, and you should be good.

madhatter11 · 2009 October 12th, 12:38 PM

Thanks guys, it is always good to get some outside verification that I am headed in the right direction.

Longshot, I don't really have any preferences towards schools yet. I am willing to go wherever... I just want to get into the best school possible. That being said, I have been looking at WashU in St. Louis, Cornell, Wisconsin, and a smattering of others. Right now I am just trying to figure out what schools would be my reach/competitive/safety schools.

madhatter11 · 2009 October 13th, 02:44 AM

Does anyone have any suggestions on what schools I should be considering given my profile?

longshot · 2009 October 13th, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madhatter11

Does anyone have any suggestions on what schools I should be considering given my profile?

What are you interested in?

Corporate finance, asset pricing, risk management, real estate, behavioral finance...

madhatter11 · 2009 October 13th, 12:45 PM

I'm not entirely sure at the moment, however I would have to say risk management and behavioral finance are at the top of my list right now. I am also interested in real estate, but I don't think it is something I would want to specialize in - its more something I would rather invest in on the side.

2009 October 12th, 03:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
madhatter11 I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8	Finance Profile Evaluation for Fall '11 Admission Hey Everyone, I am currently a junior undergrad, and I am planning on applying to Finance PhD programs after I graduate. I know I don't have a complete profile yet, but I was hoping you could offer your thoughts/recommendations on what I have done so far... Undergrad: Current GPA of 3.64 with a Finance major and math minor at a very good, but not particularly well known, private school. Let's assume I finish with a GPA between 3.65 and 3.7. Finance and Econ Classes: I have taken Investments, Multinational Finance, and Money and Financial Institutions so far. I will be taking Financial Management I and II, Equity Fund Management and Fixed-Income Fund Management (both of these classes are part of a nationally recognized student-run portfolio). As for Economics classes, I have taken Macro, Micro, and International Econ. Math Classes: By the time I graduate, I plan to have taken Calc I-III, Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, and one or two others. I got a late start on the math classes, so I don't have the time to take many. I have also had two semesters of Statistics. GMAT: I haven't taken it yet, but let's be optimistic and say I score in the 90th percentile. LORs: I should be able to get some pretty strong LORs, though given the nature of my school, my professors are oriented towards teaching than research. Currently, my LORs would come from my Calc professor (PhD from Vanderbilt), a finance professor (PhD from Indiana), and a sociology professor (PhD from Wisconsin - Madison. This is the result of an elective I took - a class on community-based research). Research: I don't have any research experience at the moment. As I just mentioned, my school is a "teaching" school, so research opportunities are not easy to come by. However, I may have the opportunity to work on a paper with a family member, who is a well published professor in MIS. Work Experience: If all goes well, I will have an internship this summer. Aside from that, I was a camp counselor for one summer, and worked retail during high school. Other: President of a student organization and Captain of a D1 athletic team. I am not sure these will count for anything... Maybe make my application a little more unique? At this point, I am trying to get a feel of what schools I should be looking at, as well as what I can do over the next three semesters to improve my profile. Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

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2009 October 12th, 04:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
longshot Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 250	You look good, make sure you do well on the GMAT and see if you can work on that MIS paper. It may not be finance, but a little exposure to business research goes a long way in the eyes of admissions committees. Any specific areas/schools/region that you prefer?

2009 October 12th, 05:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
phdhope Eager! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 99	I am not a finance phd so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I say that it looks like you are headed in the right direction. Just be sure to follow through with all of your plans, and you should be good.

2009 October 12th, 12:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
madhatter11 I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8	Thanks guys, it is always good to get some outside verification that I am headed in the right direction. Longshot, I don't really have any preferences towards schools yet. I am willing to go wherever... I just want to get into the best school possible. That being said, I have been looking at WashU in St. Louis, Cornell, Wisconsin, and a smattering of others. Right now I am just trying to figure out what schools would be my reach/competitive/safety schools.

2009 October 13th, 02:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
madhatter11 I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8	Does anyone have any suggestions on what schools I should be considering given my profile?

2009 October 13th, 12:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
madhatter11 I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8	I'm not entirely sure at the moment, however I would have to say risk management and behavioral finance are at the top of my list right now. I am also interested in real estate, but I don't think it is something I would want to specialize in - its more something I would rather invest in on the side.

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