tm_associate Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Welcome to the 2018 Ph.D. in business concentrations' sweat thread! This is a thread for applicants (hopefully!) starting their PhD program in 2018! Use this is vent, discuss any frustrations, or random musings that you would like others to weigh in on! Best of luck to this years applicants! For those of you just starting to browse this website, check out this thread for information that has been helpful in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Thank you very much for starting this thread. I am in the process of writing my SOP in preparation for my application package and one of the questions I have is how important is it to elaborate the data collection and study methodology in terms of a timeline to convey a well thought out intent. And if that is important, then it will be helpful if veterans can provide some inputs as to how current students gather data if their interests pertain to Industrial Management strategies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm_associate Posted September 25, 2017 Author Share Posted September 25, 2017 Thank you very much for starting this thread. I am in the process of writing my SOP in preparation for my application package and one of the questions I have is how important is it to elaborate the data collection and study methodology in terms of a timeline to convey a well thought out intent. And if that is important, then it will be helpful if veterans can provide some inputs as to how current students gather data if their interests pertain to Industrial Management strategies? Hi PhDAspirant, Thanks for being the first to post on the thread for the current application cycle. Based on your comment, I am guessing that you have an ongoing data collection project? My thoughts for your SOP is that it is not the place to be expanding on these types of details. the focus of the SOP is to communicate why you believe you are a good fit for the program, opposed to using the space to elaborate on a data collection. I highly doubt any program expects you to come in being an expert on data collection of study methodology. If you want to mention it, I would keep it broad and brief, simply mentioning that you have some experience with research designs and data collection (you can be more specific if it's lab, field, experimental scenarios, etc.). Hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granps Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 This process is tiring. Why - why isn't there some kind of consolidation between faculties? With Law school there is LSAC - put in your information once, and send it away to multiple schools.. One school wants the transcripts in color, another in grey-scale, with the backs, without, different size limitations. Adding each course I took manually - for many schools.. This is a silly inefficient grind. Rant over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaSvoboden Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 This process is tiring. Why - why isn't there some kind of consolidation between faculties? With Law school there is LSAC - put in your information once, and send it away to multiple schools.. One school wants the transcripts in color, another in grey-scale, with the backs, without, different size limitations. Adding each course I took manually - for many schools.. This is a silly inefficient grind. Rant over. Barriers to entry. It's how business schools keep supply low and salaries high. You will be grateful later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Hope that helps! It sure does, thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Dear Urch veterans, I need a clarification on the contents of the "resume" that is asked for in almost every PhD application. While I understand the difference between a CV and resume, I wanted to understand if the AdComs look for the professional experience or academic aspects or both in the "resume"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaSvoboden Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Dear Urch veterans, I need a clarification on the contents of the "resume" that is asked for in almost every PhD application. While I understand the difference between a CV and resume, I wanted to understand if the AdComs look for the professional experience or academic aspects or both in the "resume"? Put both on there but highlight the academic stuff first and give more space to it. If you look at professors resumes their professional experience is almost always after academic info and academic positions. They usually just list a job and years, unlike A professional resume that has bullet points with a few highlights and action words for each position. A brief research statement isn't uncommon on younger professors CVs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Thanks YaS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Dear All, Through my applications halfway now, I see that some Schools as for a 'Study Plan'. What should be conveyed through the study plan and what do the ideal contents looks look like? TPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanthusARES Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 I have never heard of a study plan. It seems strange that they would ask for one without providing you with specifics. Maybe someone else can jump in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrategicMGMT Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Some European schools ask for a research plan (since they are 3-4 year programs so you have to start research almost immediately). I've seen people use Gantt charts for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PobleNou Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Yes, I do remember sending couple of research plans with Gantt charts. Not sure about the study plan though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhDAspirant Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 I have never heard of a study plan. It seems strange that they would ask for one without providing you with specifics. All the more so because the schools asking for these have a text box and not a doc upload facility so can't upload charts or purpose document. Will wait for a few more insights here. -TPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granps Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 Hi guys, I am really having trouble fitting everything I want to say to a 1,000 word frame. Three research assistanships, each taught me something relevant to my research interests, An MA thesis, a personal anecdote relating to my research and how I got interested in it, my actual specific research interests and school/scholar fit.. How is this done? Everything seems relevant, and I have ~1,400 words.. Any tips? :) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrategicMGMT Posted November 1, 2017 Share Posted November 1, 2017 Hi guys, I am really having trouble fitting everything I want to say to a 1,000 word frame. Three research assistanships, each taught me something relevant to my research interests, An MA thesis, a personal anecdote relating to my research and how I got interested in it, my actual specific research interests and school/scholar fit.. How is this done? Everything seems relevant, and I have ~1,400 words.. Any tips? :) Thanks! You need to demonstrate how it is all tied together. Otherwise you risk being seen as too spread out. What is the common theme?? The theme is what you write about and your RA's, thesis and interests are your supporting evidence of past accomplishments and why you have the skills to become a productive researcher in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanthusARES Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Hi guys, I am really having trouble fitting everything I want to say to a 1,000 word frame. Three research assistanships, each taught me something relevant to my research interests, An MA thesis, a personal anecdote relating to my research and how I got interested in it, my actual specific research interests and school/scholar fit.. What strategy said is really good. Try to find a common theme and build off of that. I'm going to advise you to completely cut the personal anecdote section of why you are interested in research. Or rather cut it down to a sentence or two if you have to include it. What would be better is if you could combine it with a specific previous research experience. Something like, "I was interested in academic research while at (undergrad school name), so I started working with Professor 6928 on a project. During this experience I got hands on experience with data collection and designed one of the experiments. That research is ongoing and we have submitted it to Journal of Awesome Awesomeness, where we received a revise and resubmit." That gives the facts that you are interested in research, provides exactly what you did, shows future potential, and shows that you understand the research process to a certain degree. On top of that it's only ~60 words. You can add to this by talking specifically about the research and discussing your specific contributions to the paper. 60 words can easily become 150, which is a reasonable amount of space for someone like you who has 3 RA's (450), an MA thesis (~250) and School/scholar fit (~300). That's my advice and from someone who has been on the other side of the table, that is what I think is most impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granps Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 ...You can add to this by talking specifically about the research and discussing your specific contributions to the paper. 60 words can easily become 150, which is a reasonable amount of space for someone like you who has 3 RA's (450), an MA thesis (~250) and School/scholar fit (~300). That's my advice and from someone who has been on the other side of the table, that is what I think is most impressive. And talk about my plans and actual research interests and proposal ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanthusARES Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 And talk about my plans and actual research interests and proposal ;) I would include your plans and research interest in with previous experience. For example, "I worked on a project looking at sales from Holiday marketing as it relates to overall firm performance. I created a model to better understand the impact of seasonality on purchase decision using MCMC. Moving forward, I'm interested in continuing this work and looking at seasonality in terms of price promotions and a PhD from University X will provide me with the necessary tools to do so." That's about 70 words and still leaves you with a ton of space. Try to connect and combine. Everything should point to why school X and why area Y. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granps Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 1st deadline coming up :dejected: It seems deserted here compared to last year.. Maybe they will be forced to accept me as there are no contenders *evil laugh* Anyway, I heard a former dean say that the application process to the PhD was one of the worst periods of her life. So hang in there, baby :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cilantrophy Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I'm surprised as well! I've been following this forum religiously for 2-3 years now, and now it's finally time for me to apply as well. :) Good luck Granps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granps Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I'm surprised as well! I've been following this forum religiously for 2-3 years now, and now it's finally time for me to apply as well. :) Good luck Granps! Thanks, you too :) OB for the win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanthusARES Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Things will pick up I'm sure. I did hear that applications were down last year and expected to be down again this year. So there may just be less people applying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC7182 Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Things will pick up I'm sure. I did hear that applications were down last year and expected to be down again this year. So there may just be less people applying. I bet the US especially will see a decrease in applications. A decrease in US students because of the strong economy and a tax bill that is going through congress right now that would make grad students pay much more in taxes and not be able to deduct interest on student loans. Across all college programs , the US saw a decrease in international students for the first time in decades. I've heard the growing strength of international schools as well as the anti-immigrant sentimant by the current administration as the reasons why. As a matter of fact an increasing number of US students are applying to international universities. Canadian universities post large gains in international applications Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babykk Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 The topic I searched for recently and it's right here, it's great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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