Adviced needed for PhD Finance - Thanks!

[phdfinance]

Hi I am really keen to pursue a PhD in Finance and later an academic career after working in industry for a while, and would like to seek for your advice on my preparation of next steps... Thanks in advance!

My educational background:
B.Econ. from one of the top 2 universities in China in 2001 (overall GPA 3.8/4.0, ranked 2/80)
Master degree in management from Oxbridge in England in 2002 (graduating First Class equivalent)

Maths courses taken:
Undergraduate: Calculus 1 (screwed my first semester and only got C...); Calculus 2 (A); Linear Algebra (A); Probability and Mathematical Statistics (A), Statistis (A)
Graduate: Quantitative Research Methods (very simple course - even simpler than what I took as an undergradute)

Testing: GMAT 770 (99%)

My work experience:
By Fall 2008, I will have worked for 6 years - 1 year in consulting and 5 years in financial industry (Mergers & Acquisitions) both in China and overseas

Research interests - I only have these knowledge from my work experience...
corporate finance, financial institutions

I have applied for several Top PhD Finance programs in the States but understand that I may be wasting my money this time. I have also applied for LSE MSc Finance and Economics (one year course) as a backup. Or other Master program I should consider as well?

I'd greatly appreciate it if you guys can help me assess my backgrounds and my chances, and also assuming the worst this time what I should do to prepare myself better for an application for PhD in Finance?

Thanks so much for your advice here!!!

[phdfinance]

Hi I am really keen to pursue a PhD in Finance and later an academic career after working in industry for a while, and would like to seek for your advice on my preparation of next steps... Thanks in advance!

My educational background:
B.Econ. from one of the top 2 universities in China in 2001 (overall GPA 3.8/4.0, ranked 2/80)
Master degree in management from Oxbridge in England in 2002 (graduating First Class equivalent)

Maths courses taken:
Undergraduate: Calculus 1 (screwed my first semester and only got C...); Calculus 2 (A); Linear Algebra (A); Probability and Mathematical Statistics (A), Statistis (A)
Graduate: Quantitative Research Methods (very simple course - even simpler than what I took as an undergradute)

Testing: GMAT 770 (99%)

My work experience:
By Fall 2008, I will have worked for 6 years - 1 year in consulting and 5 years in financial industry (Mergers & Acquisitions) both in China and overseas

Research interests - I only have these knowledge from my work experience...
corporate finance, financial institutions

I have applied for several Top PhD Finance programs in the States but understand that I may be wasting my money this time. I have also applied for LSE MSc Finance and Economics (one year course) as a backup. Or other Master program I should consider as well?

I'd greatly appreciate it if you guys can help me assess my backgrounds and my chances, and also assuming the worst this time what I should do to prepare myself better for an application for PhD in Finance?

Thanks so much for your advice here!!!

[tkkoh]

Your profile doesn't look too bad. But finance is competitive - so it really depends on where you have applied to.

[serbia]

I agree with tkkoh, your profile is fairly strong, but it really depends on where you have applied.

To better prepare yourself, you may want to 1) take more advanced math courses, 2) develop coherent research interests, and 3) perhaps get a publication if you can.

[phdfinance]

Thanks tkkoh and serbia.

I applied for Chicago, Stern, Kellogg, and Cornell this year just to test water. Also I applied for MSc in Finance and Economics at LSE.

Could I ask further advice from you, and other gurus on this board -

1. Is my work experience going to be a big problem in my PhD application - given that I have been out of school for quite a while? How would the admissions committee view my real-world experience?

2. What master's program should I look at - I only have LSE MSc Finance and Economics in mind, but no ideas about other good ones. Any advice could be highly appreciated.

3. Say I will have to do a Masters to improve my chances, but how could I get good LOR from one-year course like LSE - it is still too short anyway... when I think of these, I get very frustrated...

Many thanks for your advice and help!