Econ Ph.D. vs. Business School Ph.D.

[pdesmmhh]

I was just wondering (or wandering??) how many of you applied to Ph.D. programs at both the Business School and the Econ Dept. at the same University in the same year? For example applying at both Kellogg and the Northwestern Econ Department in the same year. Could doing this sort of thing cause potential problems? Thanks in advance.

[AstralTraveller]

Originally Posted by pdesmmhh

I was just wondering (or wandering??) how many of you applied to Ph.D. programs at both the Business School and the Econ Dept. at the same University in the same year? For example applying at both Kellogg and the Northwestern Econ Department in the same year. Could doing this sort of thing cause potential problems? Thanks in advance.

Well, I am among those (7 business school PhD programs, 7 economics). I was going to apply to both Northwestern Economics and Kellogg's MEcS until I found out (at Northwestern's grad school site) that it was forbidden to apply to more than one grad program the same year. So I decided to make up my mind, and ended up applying to Economics only (which was probably a better fit for me than the MEcS program).

However, at some other places there is no problem applying to both programs separately. Take Chicago Econ and Chicago GSB, for instance. I think it might have to do with the fact that the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the GSB applications are managed independently. I know a fellow TMer who applied to both.

At Duke they welcome up to two graduate school applications for different programs, given that you pay separate fees, but I found it rather confusing, so I decided against it (the website said something along the lines of "we will accept both applications but we do not encourage this").

On the other side, at NYU Stern they suggested the possibility of choosing a second concentration area (i.e., another program) within the business school.

So, in the end.....if the grad school says specifically not to apply to more than one program (like Northwestern does), I thought it would be a good idea just to pick one program.

[NeFall]

what is the difference between an economics degree from Harvard and a Business Econ degree from Harvard?

[Andronicus]

From HBS Business Econ PhD website (Business Economics - Degree Programs - HBS Doctoral Programs):

"The program is distinguished from the Harvard PhD in Economics by its greater emphasis on business fields and its focus on the use of economic analysis and statistical methods in dealing effectively with management problems in these applied business fields. At the same time, it is distinguished from the Doctor of Business Administration degree by its greater emphasis on economic theory and econometric analysis."

[Golden Rule]

Originally Posted by Andronicus

From HBS Business Econ PhD website (Business Economics - Degree Programs - HBS Doctoral Programs):

"The program is distinguished from the Harvard PhD in Economics by its greater emphasis on business fields and its focus on the use of economic analysis and statistical methods in dealing effectively with management problems in these applied business fields. At the same time, it is distinguished from the Doctor of Business Administration degree by its greater emphasis on economic theory and econometric analysis."

By that, they mean unlike the DBAs, the Bus Ec PhDs all take the same Econ core 1st/2nd year as the Econ PhDs. The other main difference is they have to take a certain number of business school classes their third year. And the program is smaller, more selective and better funded.

[JackMA]

I am worried about that if you apply two program at the same time, will the school think you are not so love this program compared to those applicant who only apply one?

[econphilomath]

I applied to both Chicago Econ and GSB. The rest are all Econ programs. The other GSB programs I was considering were Stern, Harvard and Stanford but opted out for different reasons. The main reason I liked some GSB programs is because some of them are closely linked to the econ department.

[AstralTraveller]

Originally Posted by econphilomath

I applied to both Chicago Econ and GSB. The rest are all Econ programs. The other GSB programs I was considering were Stern, Harvard and Stanford but opted out for different reasons. The main reason I liked some GSB programs is because some of them are closely linked to the econ department.

The same happened to me for all my B-schools applications. One such program (UCLA Anderson - Policy PhD) has its coursework in common with the First Year sequence in Econ, just like most top Business Economics Programs. Even the master's degree they award en route to the PhD is an MA in Economics.

The program in Business Econ at HBS is a joint degree, so it's not exactly a Business School program, except for the funding

I tend to regard Economics programs at top-schools (i.e., Economics at NYU Stern, Economic Analysis & Policy at Stanford GSB, Economics at Chicago GSB, Applied Economics at Wharton, Managerial Economics and Strategy at Kellogg, and maybe less so Global Econ at UCLA Anderson) similarly to their Econ Department counterparts, referring to prestige and/or placement. What do you people think? Be as honest and sincere as you can

[buckykatt]

[delete]

[VGC]

I am applying to both economics and business programs too. I applied to more than one program in several schools. I think that if it is not forbiden then it is ok. Moreover, a hear of some students being accepted both at Sloan and the department of economics at MIT.

Adding to what AstralTraveller posted, I think that some econ related programs at Business Schools have a placement even better than the one of the economics department, for example, consider the economic analysis and policy program at Stanford (although, I am not sure if the it is a fair comparison given the size of the GSB program).