WallStGolfer31

I'm looking to go to an Economics MA program Fall 08' after I graduate that spring and then onto a Finance Ph.D program after that. Below is a link to my CV, please give me your input on what sort of program I should be looking at thus far in regards to both graduate pursuits. No test scores as of yet (GRE, GMAT, and such). Click here for my CV. Thanks in advance guys.

OK, so I just finished up watching "Thank You For Smoking" the movie, and yes, it's a damn good movie I recommend you watch it. I'm always entertaining ideas about the possible pathways I could venture down after my PhD in finance. I want an academic research career, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't mind doing something oddly novel for a few years, hence the subject of my thread. After finishing the movie, it had me wondering. I'm asking you, would this something you would consider doing after you get your PhD?

I say do the MA in econ as well!

Personally, I'd rather teach as few classes as possible, to maximize my time for research. It seems to me PhD programs themselves could care little if at all about work exp, but what about placement afterwards? Is that a factor they look at? By the way, thanks for the fast replies guys.

I'm at a regional academic conference as an undergrad, presented a pedagogical paper I was co-author of, it went well. When I told a a few professors here I want to be a finance professor , and planned on going into a phd program, they both said I should get work exp. first for I know how the theory is applied. Personally, I would rather do pure theory and never look at empirical data for something other than testing of personally developed theories. Has anyone else had this told to them? I thought it was weird advice, I had never heard it before.

Well for starters, you should have started studying about 4 months ago for the GMAT.

I'm looking to do a PhD in Finance Holding all else constant, how much will graduate work (let's say a masters in economics) add to the competitiveness of my finance phd application?

Your background looks very good. With a 770 GMAT and your GPA alone, I would say that's enough to get you into a top program. Just make sure you get good letters of reccomendation. :tup:

I can't name specific schools, as I don't know them by name, but the easier programs based on admission usually don't quote the average profile statistics of the entrants on their web site. Hope that helps!

Congrats man!!!

From what I've seen on the subject, it sounds like good exp. My reasoning is based upon the assumption research exp., professional or academic, any area, would be a boost to your application. That's what a PhD is all about anyways, research! I'd go for it!

I ask because thus far I have completed one undergraduate research project for a student research forum (not for a class), and plan on doing another one this year (also, not for class). I am also presenting a paper I co-authored with a professor at a conference on the contingency of acceptance. The conference will publish the papers in the proceedings of their journal. How much will undergraduate research contribute towards my chances for admission in a Finance PhD program? Will the presentation at the conference and being published in the journal proceedings be a big boost for my application? Personally I think they will be, because that's what a PhD is all about, research! I wanted to see what you guys thought before I get too pumped about it though. Thanks.

No school I have seen requires higher test scores from non-US citizens. You might have been misinformed.

From what I have heard about the comparisons of the two tests, they are supposed to be fairly similar. The difference I've been informed about is the difference in relative difficulty of GMAT math section compared to the GRE math section. I have also heard that the GRE verbal is quite a bit harder than the GMAT verbal section as well. Does anyone have any other differences they'd like to discuss? I'd be very interested, because I will be taking both.

One more question guys, Do you think a top 40 or top 50 program would still be good or a waste of time? The reason I ask is because I have an offer for a tutition free, 15 -20k stipend. I'm tempeted to do it even though I know I could get in somewhere better. What would you guys do?

I've been thinking recently about applying to a masters program first, more specifically a Masters of Financial Mathematics or Masters of Statistics program. My rationale behind this is along the lines of acquiring skills in one of these programs to enhance the depth of my research. Any opinions? Is anyone else doing the same?

51 views and no replies!?!?!

I'm a junior right now. I'm majoring in Finance and Economics, and will have taken calc 1-3, differential equations, and linear algebra before I have graduated. My GPA right now is about 3.45 I will be taking the GMAT late this summer (after studying for it mid Dec. through June). I'm currently president of the Washburn Finance Society and I will be a member of Math Club this spring. Without the GMAT score, how does it look so far? Thanks guys!