Profile Evaluation -- PhD in Marketing

[nas-83]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to the forum, so I figure I'll jump right in...

I want to get a PhD in Marketing with a focus on consumer behavior. Where should I be applying?

Undergrad School - Large State School in Southeast US, Top 25 Engineering
Undergrad Majors - Mechanical Engineer (BS) and Political Science (BA)
Undergrad GPA - 3.95
GMAT Score - 780
Courses - one grad level psych course, intro statistics, calculus (to multivariable), hope to take micro econ in fall 2008

I'm hoping to apply for Fall 2009. Is there anything I should be doing to improve my application? How important is research experience?

Thanks for everyones time. I look forward to participating!

[Darth_Vader]

looks like a good profile. i think you'd have a good chance at a top 15 program. the most important thing you can work on is to write a stellar SOP and to take related psych/econ/marketing classes (and get good grades in them) - cog psych, social psych, microecon, math econ, behavioral econ, econometrics, marketing, consumer behavior

[desimba]

I would say-
1) Put some thought into writing your SOP and articulating why you want to do a PhD in Marketing. Your background doesn't scream PhD in Marketing to me and maybe also to some members of the adcoms.

2) Cultivate your recommenders. Make a game plan of who those would be and invest in those relationships.

Rest looks like a fairly good profile. Nevertheless given the competitive nature of the process, make sure to apply to at least 1 or 2 schools that are ranked outside of the top 10-15 in case things don't quite work out.

[nas-83]

Thanks guys!

Are there any good resources out there for writing good SOPs? I have a good idea what I should write about, but it would be nice to see a few that were successful...

[nas-83]

I agree that my background doesn't scream PhD in marketing. I am hoping to spend the next year trying to change that (at least a little!). Which do you think would be better on an application:

1) Fall Semester Classes (undergrad at a very good, small, private school, likely without grades because of application time frame) -- Micro Econ and Social Psych

2) Research experience -- possibly informal and without pay

Only 8 months until applications are due!

[desimba]

I would go with the research. Even if it is informal, it should help you establish connections with at least one/ two faculty members from whom you can take recommendations and besides you will have a better sense of what you are going in for.