Please help me to evaluate my profile

[steven030402]

I am studying in PhD program of Electrical engineering right now. However, I don’t like my current major very much and I am seeking for the opportunity to transfer to a finance PhD (or PhD in related area). I know the difficulty to apply such a program, but I still want to try my luck this year. Actually I have already sent my application but I know my chance is slim, so I just want to know if I am really interested in finance PhD how can I improve myself in order to succeed next year.


My basic background is:
*BS: Peking University, School of Physics. GPA 3.80, a journal paper in physics (physical letters A) and a conference paper in finance, but it was just a trivial one-2007 China conference in finance. Also my undergraduate thesis was about asset pricing but it’s not published.
*Graduate study: University of Maryland, EE. I have only stayed here for one semester so I think maybe it’s not long enough. I got A's for all the courses I took this semester.
*Test scores: GRE 620+800+5.0; GMAT 710+5.5. I plan to take TOEFL IBT in January.
*Recommendation: Two Chinese faculty members in mathematic finance department who co-advised my undergraduate thesis. One US professor who taught me partial differential equation this semester.
*Course study: I took some math, economics and finance courses both in China and in US: calculus, linear algebra, some complex analysis and partial differential equation, probability and statistics, macro and micro economics, econometrics, financial mathematics and derivative securities. Also I took partial differential equation at graduate level here in Maryland. I did quite well (more than 90/100) for nearly all of them.

I know maybe it will be better for me to apply after getting a Master’s degree. However, my current program is quite reluctant to give PhD students Master (I can only receive it after passing the proposal exam, which usually takes four years). So most probably I will apply without graduate degree no matter when I apply. I want to know whether this hurts me badly in application. Or should I apply for a master first? If so, which major is most proper for me to prepare for finance PhD?


I really appreciate any kind of suggestion.

[shootermcgavin7]

You have a good profile, and if your recommendation letters speak well to your ability to perform academic research....then you should get into a good school.

[asa_sl]

you dont need to have graduate degree to apply finance program.and your profile is great. I think you have great chance since you have coverd all the relevent maths as well.