Strategy PhD Profile Evaluation (school suggestions needed)

[Brandon1]

Test Scores: GMAT & GRE had very similar scores. 95+% on verbal and 50% on quantitative..Undegrad GPA: 3.65 (FINANCE)

Graduate GPA: 3.25 (MBA)

Research Experience: ~6months, strategy.

Teaching Experience: None.

Work Experience: 1 year in Finance

 

Concentration Applying to: Strategy, Strategic Management

Number of programs planned to apply to: 20

Dream Schools: Anything top 50

 

 

Other Questions:

Any resources to hunt down programs that are in the rank 50-100 range that might be more applicable to my situation? Full-time only.

 

What made you want to pursue a PhD?

For my entire life, academia has always been a passion for me. Due to one circumstance or another, I've never been able to fully focus my efforts on my studies. While doing my Undergrad & Masters degrees I've needed to work ~50 hours a week in order to avoid overwhelming debt. The idea of being able to dedicate the entirety of my time to research & a PhD program sounds like an absolute dream for me.

 

 

Questions or concerns you have about your profile?

I don't feel competitive as an applicant, I'd like to know if I have a shot at a top 100 program. I want it to be clear that I'm not aiming for top 20.

 

Additional comments:

5 glowing letters of rec. from previous professors, 1 is from my current research advisor.

Age: 23

[BrazilianPhD]

To me, it seems that the only thing keeping you from being competitive is the quant score. It's a very low score and a very strange one from an applicant with an undergrad in Finance. If you are from Finance and you are really passionate about doing a PhD, why can't you get at least a better quant score? You don't need a perfect score, but 50% seems pretty bad to me. Did you really do the best you could?

 

I'm not from Strategy, so it's hard to say if that's a big problem. But if Strategy is similar to what I see in Marketing, I'd think that someone with a score of 50% probably will not be able to keep up with the math we need for a PhD. Even the students from the consumer behavior side take classes with math that is a lot more advanced than a 50% quant score.

 

So, the quant score seems too low and doesn't seem to make sense to me given your background. You have to think how you will explain that, or compensate in some way. If your score was higher, I think you'd be pretty competitive for a top 50 you are dreaming.

[doingfine]

Fix your quant score.