Profile Evaluation_Fall 2019_Finance

[jeeku]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to apply for PhD in Finance starting in 2019 Fall. Can someone please give me some advice on the range of schools that I should apply and about my chances? My stats are:

Test Scores (GMAT): Total-710 (90%),Q-50(85%), V-36(80%), AWA-5(53%), IR-8(92%)
Undegrad GPA: 7.43/10 (Indian CGPA); if converted to US GPA, it translates to 4.0 as advised by WES; B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Enginnering from a Tier 1 Enginnering school in India
Graduate GPA: 3.97/4.00; MBA, Concentration in Global Finance from Arizona State University (Thunderbird School of Global Management)
Research Experience: One of my Finance Professors named me as his assistant for one of his papers used in classroom discussion (I wrote a paper on the same topic in one of his previous classes as part of my coursework)
Teaching Experience: Teaching Assistant for Masters level Finance course for a full semester for the same Professor mentioned above
Work Experience: Pre-MBA - overall more than four years of work experience in the Manufacturing & Not-for-profit sector + Post MBA - more than one year of work experience as a business analyst in Financial services sector + Passed all 3 levels of CFA charter and 1 level of CAIA charter

Concentration Applying to: Finance
Number of programs planned to apply to: 10-15 schools from Top 25-Top 75
Dream Schools:


Other Questions:

What made you want to pursue a PhD? The industry experience limits one's exposure to intellectual challenges. My coursework during my CFA exams exposed me to the concept of behavioral finance, which is still in theoretical concept and it is my belief that a lot of research is still to be undertaken in this area.

Questions or concerns you have about your profile? I know that my GMAT score is on the low side of the spectrum of all the candidates applying for the PhD program but will it hurt very much during my applications. I have already connected with three of my Professors during my MBA course who have agreed to write the recommendations for my applications. I am still waiting for a fourth Professor to say yes and I believe he will come around. Out of the four Professors, three have PhDs and have more than decades of teaching and research experience. The fourth Professor does not have a PhD but she has a lot of industry experience and later a lot of teaching experience.

Any additional specific questions you may have: I have already crossed the top 25 schools which I am sure I won't get into. Is Top 25-Top 50 too high for my profile? Any other advice that anybody can think of will be really helpful.

[StrategicMGMT]

Your recommenders should ideally be well known in your research field. Non-PhD/teaching track faculty will not be able to vouch for your potential as a researcher, which is what schools will look for. I think those type of recs can mitigate a lower GMAT, although 710 is not really that low if you are looking outside the top 25.

[ted23]

Having just started a T10 Finance program, I think your stats look competitive. Your GMAT score will clear the filtering hurdle at most T10-T25 schools so I would focus more on your letters of recommendation and your personal statement. Finance programs are more interested in students with a clear delineated research agenda that matches faculty interests. No matter how good you are if you are looking to do asset pricing at a school known for corporate finance, you won't make the cut regardless of your stats.

[jeeku]

Having just started a T10 Finance program, I think your stats look competitive. Your GMAT score will clear the filtering hurdle at most T10-T25 schools so I would focus more on your letters of recommendation and your personal statement. Finance programs are more interested in students with a clear delineated research agenda that matches faculty interests. No matter how good you are if you are looking to do asset pricing at a school known for corporate finance, you won't make the cut regardless of your stats.

Your post is an encouragement me to second-look T10-T25 schools. I was going to overlook them completely but I guess I can be a little hopeful if I can write a strong SOP, I guess.