please advice! Which PhD program to attend?

[zhurch]

Hi! I am accepted into 3 PhD programs in business and need your advice on which to attend.

 

 

1. Lousiana State U ( OB/strategic management, you can choose either of them according to your interest)

 

 

2. U of Houston ( you can choose the Micro/Macro OB/strategic management), requirement: independent research project that starts from year 1, preliminary exam in year 1, qualification exam in year 2

 

 

3. Oklahoma State U , you are required to finish 1st and 2nd year papers by working with the faculty on their projects. students' responsibility is to write the papers. Concerns: 1. I am not sure if I am able to write the papers, since I don't even know how to do the research without the training. 2. even if you are the co-author, I dont think you would be the 1st author, so it actually doesn't matter a lot? And it doesn't necessarily mean the paper could be published? 3. it might take up too much of your time for study and coursework should be the first priority?

 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

[IDSC]

Criteria like exams and first year/second year papers shouldn't really make a difference. The PhD is really hard, wherever you go. You'll rise to the occasion wherever you are.

 

More important are 1) research and faculty fit 2) campus/city (you should live someplace that you like).

[BrazilianPhD]

I agree with IDSC.

 

Other than that, I'm at UH, and my experience so far has been great, with a very supportive and friendly environment. But I'm not into OB, I don't know much about that department. Also, I don't know enough about the other universities to compare them.

[BCB]

Hi! I am accepted into 3 PhD programs in business and need your advice on which to attend.

 

 

1. Lousiana State U ( OB/strategic management, you can choose either of them according to your interest)

 

 

2. U of Houston ( you can choose the Micro/Macro OB/strategic management), requirement: independent research project that starts from year 1, preliminary exam in year 1, qualification exam in year 2

 

 

3. Oklahoma State U , you are required to finish 1st and 2nd year papers by working with the faculty on their projects. students' responsibility is to write the papers. Concerns: 1. I am not sure if I am able to write the papers, since I don't even know how to do the research without the training. 2. even if you are the co-author, I dont think you would be the 1st author, so it actually doesn't matter a lot? And it doesn't necessarily mean the paper could be published? 3. it might take up too much of your time for study and coursework should be the first priority?

 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

 

What are your specific research interests? That will strongly determine which program is best for you. What are the attrition rates? It appears that you might be a little concerned about the comps process based upon the info you've provided above. I think that the paper model employed by OSU is much more effective than the prelim/qualifying exams used by the University of Houston. Term papers leave you with material that is ready to submit to conferences/advance your pipeline whereas qualifying exams don't really do that. I don't necessarily agree that study and coursework should be the priority here - your publication record will be the strongest factor in getting a job so that is probably where you should prioritize your time. Co-authorship absolutely matters too. It's nice to have first-author or solo authored papers, but being second or third author is still fine with most universities.