Profile Evaluation-Phd Strategy, Thanks guys.;-)

[maybealways]

Profile
Undergrad: B.S. in Biology, Top Univ in East Asia
Undergrad gpa: 82/100
Grad 1: M.S. Operations Research, Ivy League Univ, Gpa: 3.8/4.0
Grad 2: Just withdrew from my current phd program in a top U.S. engineering school with a master degree in strategy related area. Gpa: 3.55/4.0
(Withdrew due to shifts in research interests. Although I've finished my first paper+defense and passed the qualifier exams.)
GMAT: 760 (Q51, V42), AWA 6.0
Recommendations:
1. Current phd adviser, who I've been working with on my research for 2 years. By the way, he's very supportive.
2. Professor for phd course in advanced quantitative research method (advanced econometrics). Very strong recommendation, as I almost scored 100% in his class.
3. Undergraduate Math Professor, very strong recommendation as well. We've known each other for 6 years.
Research experience: Tons, with one big paper as written sample in application (my phd qualifier paper), although not published.
Current research interest: very clear, I have a specific research proposal, although I'm not sure whether i should be this specific.;-(

Target Schools: NYU Stern, Columbia GSB, Berkeley Hass, UCLA Anderson, Stanford (as a dream;-))

Thanks guys. Any comments would be helpful.;-)

[maybealways]

Anyone?? Thanks.;-)

[Bloomsbury]

it might help if you say why you left your current program

[tkkoh]

Good profile. I wouldn't worry too much about why you left your current program. But as with all and any applicant, you need to explain convincingly why you want to do a strategy phd.

Do consider applying to more schools.

[phdhope]

So was your phd in engineering or in operations or strategy? That was confusing. The only one concern that I have is that transferring schools usually isn't done and might be looked as a negative by schools. By changing schools, you have to reform faculty/ student relationships and adjust to their way of doing things. It might also be seen as a lack of commitment or a lack of planning in the application process. There could be other ideas surrounding this, but I think you are going to have to address this question. If you werent a strategy phd before, this becomes even more problematic becuase it means that your research, LORs, and coursework need to be adjusted. Additionally, it signals a much more distressing change than changing schools, the change of disciplines entirely. While your profile is good, I do think the issue of previous phd and reasons for leaving are going to be looked at extremely closely.

[maybealways]

Guys, thank you so much for your advice. To clarify the confusions, my current phd focuses on technological change and innovation, and I've been doing research on the globalization in R&D and issues related to patent quality. The reason to withdraw from current program is complex, but mainly due to the shifts in my research interests. As I've described in my profile, I'm very interested in a certain research area but was not able to pursue it in the current program. And I strongly feel that I need more solid trainning in that area in order to be better prepared for further research. Honestly, I do feel that my background is not so balanced, as I'm quantitatively very strong, but lack adequate theoretical trainnings in both economics and management. I actually talked with my current adviser about my ideas, and he is the one that encourages to consider the option of changing to another program.
And the reason to choose strategy program in most schools is because most of the professors doing research in my intended area are in the strategy department. The only exception is stanford gsb, which I will apply for the program in economic analysis and policy.
Thanks again.;-)