DBA/Phd in Marketing Profile Evaluation + Areas for Improvement

[Cappy]

Hello all - I'm glad to have found this forum. I apologize in advance for hte long post. I originally started a similar thread in the PhD in Economics forum (http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...i-too-old.html (Profile Evaluation & Am I Too Old?)) but realized from the great feedback there that my profile would not hold up in the Econ PhD admissions process. I was advised, however that it would hold up applying to DBA or PhD in Marketing programs. Being that I could still do the research I am interested in within a DBA or PhD in Marketing program, I decided to look more closely at this route and come here with my questions.

I recently finished an MBA at a top 25 business school in the spring. As soon as I entered the program, I felt envigorated with all the new material I was learning. I was an engineer as an undergrad and never felt that way then, so I was a little upset with myself for waiting so long before discovering all of these subjects I was passionate about. I found myself immersed in economics, game theory, finance, marketing, quantitative modeling, and many other subjects. I loved the academic environment and began having strong feelings towards deciding to pursue a DBA or a PhD in marketing and enter academia as a professor. I thought about applying to start this fall, but decided not to for three main reasons:

1. I originally pursued an MBA to reenter industry in a strategic role. I at least wanted to give this a chance. I figured that putting off a PhD for 1-2 years would not hurt me much.
2. I have a good amount of debt in the form of student loans. Working for a couple years would allow me to pay off a sizable chunk of my debt.
3. This is probably the most important reason in my mind - my fiance just started her MBA part time. While she has told me that she would quit to move with me if this is what I decided, I wouldn't want to make her stop her MBA and miss out on that at my expense. I also would never even consider moving anywhere without her.

I started working in industry and have been in my job for 5 months, yet these feelings are as strong as ever. I at least want to go down the route of exploring my options for a PhD. But due to reason #3 above, I will be waiting to apply until Fall 2013 to enter a program in Fall 2014.

Here is my profile below. I guess my questions would be:

1. Are there any glaring weaknesses on my profile? I know I don't have any research experience so I'm a little concerned about this.
2. I am not applying for 2 years and would not be trying to go until 2014. So in the next 2-3 years, is there anything I can do to strengthen my profile?
3. What level schools should I be applying to?

Thanks in advance!
Cappy

PROFILE:

Undergrad: Top 20 US Chemical Engineering Program
Undergrad GPA: 3.51/4.00
Graduate: MBA, Top 25 US Program
Grad GPA: 4.00/4.00
GRE: Will take in 2012
GMAT: 750 (98th percentile overall, 99th percentile quantitative section)

Undergrad Math Courses: Calc 1/2 (AP), Calc 3 (A), Differential Equations (A), Statistics (A) - I majored in Chemical Engineering as an undergrad, so I didn't take any other specific math courses, but I took lots of engineering courses that were heavily quantitative
Undergrad Econ Courses: Microeconomics (A)

Graduate Econ Courses: Microeconomics (A+), Macroeconomics (A), Game Theory (A), International Economics (A)
Graduate Quantitative Courses: Data Models & Statistics (A+), Introduction to Finance (A), Valuation (A), Data Driven Marketing Analysis (A+), Market Analytics (A)

Extracurricular Graduate Activities - I was president of our MBA class which involved managing many of the MBA activities and the MBA student budgets, as well as representing the class in many school functions.

Letters of Recommendation: I had great relationships with lots of the professors in my business school program. I could get several glowing recommendations. The top 4 I was thinking about of were:

- Professor in Data Models class (PhD in Business Administration from Michigan). I scored the highest for the entire MBA class in his data models and stats class and he thinks highly of me.
- Professor in Macroeconomics class (PhD in Economics from Berkeley). Him and I have a great relationship and would gladly refer me.
- Professor in Microeconomics class (PhD in Business Administration from Michigan). I scored the highest for the entire MBA class in her economics class. Although she doesn't know me as well personally.
- Professor in Marketing Analysis class (PhD in Marketing from MIT). Great relationship with him.

Research Experience: None - I really am worried about this but this wasn't something I really thought about until a year ago. Is there a way I can shore this up? Is this really bad that I don't have?

Teaching Experience: TA work in school, Taught GMAT prep courses for Kaplan, Led review sessions for economics & statistics exams for MBA courses

Work Experience: 5 years IT consulting experience, 2.5 years (at the time of application) business development strategy experience for major hotel company (I also have been looking to get into the revenue management group which does more sophisticated modeling work)

Research Interests: Game Theory, Sports Economics & Markets, Market Organization & Structure, Modeling

SOP: I haven't really started this yet obviously - It'd be something I started early in 2013

Concerns: The lack of research is a big thing I'm worried about.

I'd love to go to the best school I could get into. If I blanketed the top schools, would I have a good shot at getting in any of them? What steps can I take over the next couple years while I'm working to improve my profile? Again, I really appreciate any feedback.

[rsaylors]

Just apply to places that match your research interest; do so widely.

Some say that applying to 20 schools is too many; I personally feel that applying to the best 15-20 that fit within the top 50 or so schools is a good idea. This is dependent upon how much time you have, though. You should read the CVs of those faculty you will be working with in your program.

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