possible_phd

Don't most schools in NYC have subsidized housing for students? Might want to consider that.

Yup. Different schools value different things.

Evolutionary adaptations that inappropriately influence decisions in the modern world such that they lower expected utility is pretty much the definition of "error," in the economic sense of rationality. By the by, I have a paper in the works (7+ studies all worked almost right away) that provides an explanation -- or at least a partial explanation -- for loss aversion.

As for the OP's question: you often pick up a masters degree along the way, so that could be helpful. This is especially true at schools like Chicago, where you're allowed to pick up an MBA during your PhD, not just a regular ol' masters of marketing or finance or whatever. A Booth MBA can go a long way, and I know two people who left the PhD program there with MBAs.

Say what? No, not necessarily. Completing coursework and defending your proposal is all you need for ABD. You defend a proposal when you have SOME data but not ALL the data; you're PROPOSING an idea that you want to pursue. Getting from that point to a completed dissertation -- which may or may not deviate drastically from what was proposed, depending on how the data work out -- is not just writing a few chapters. We propose at the end of third year now, and I can tell you I was nowhere near ready to slap together a dissertation.

He is Sabotagebot, designed 15 years hence by an applicant rejected from all programs and sent back in time to sabotage all competition.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6792[/ATTACH] womp womp...

And for the sake of your career prospects. The job market for CCT folks just hasn't been very strong in the last decade or so.

I guess that depends on what you mean by "tie-over," but as I already stated, I don't really think this program would prep you for a PhD in marketing. I don't think there's any overlap whatsoever, aside from the fact that "marketing" is in the name of both degrees. Just read through the program description; that should make it pretty clear whether or not it's relevant to academic research.

I know someone who went through that program, and I don't see how it would prepare a person for CCT at all. It's also not very good prep for any PhD-level marketing program, because as far as I can tell, it's essentially a data-heavy market research/analytics program. This is the type of program that would prepare someone to do market research in industry, not in academia. The only benefit in terms of PhD prep would be if it helped you familiarize yourself with data and analysis, but I don't think that's worth the two years. It would also be good prep for when you'll have to teach market research to MBAs one day.

Nope. Don't care.

Hate to be a downer, but nothing about your profile seems very competitive to me. Your GMAT is way too low at under 600, and your GPAs are too low given the caliber of your pedigree (not saying they're bad schools at all, just that you're more likely to get a pass on so-so grades if you went to elite schools or studied a really tough major, regardless of whether or not that's fair). I don't think you really have a clear idea of your competition. There are plenty of applicants with incredibly high GMAT scores and top notch grades from top notch schools -- especially for PhD programs at schools like Duke, where I see you applied! I'm not seeing anything in your profile that would give somebody a reason to give you a chance over those other people. Do you have research experience? Letters of recommendation from well-known researchers? Personal connections? Anything? Because you certainly aren't going to win on the numbers. In the absence of these others factors, you're going to have to do two, possibly three things to be successful: 1) up that GMAT score a LOT; 2) develop realistic expectations regarding the caliber of school where you'll be competitive; and 3) maybe go for a research-heavy masters at the best school you can. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but blunt truth is better than nice platitudes if your goal is to be successful rather than to feel better about yourself. And trust me, if you start a career as a researcher, you better get used to feeling bad about yourself! :-P

Anthropology / sociology is to CCT what psychology is to CB and what economics is to quant.

YouTube contains untold knowledge. Seek "how to tie a bow tie" and ye shall find!

It depends on the personal prejudices of whoever sees it. I wouldn't hold it against you at all. That being said, I might hold it against you if you weren't aware enough to realize that covering it up is the smart thing to do. Don't make an issue out of it, and it won't be an issue.