Hi everyone,
I plan to apply for Finance PhD beginning from Fall 2012. Here is my profile:
Undergrad: BBA Marketing (GPA: 3.53) from small Oklahoma university Coursework: Calculus I©, College Algebra(A)
Grad: MBA from small Oklahoman university (GPA:4.0) Coursework: Advanced Financial Management (mostly Corporate topics), Managerial Economics, Business Statistics
MS in Quantitative Financial Economics from top 50 school (GPA:4.0)
Coursework: Numerical Analysis(A), Linear Algebra(A), Math Stats(A), Probability(A), Mathematical Economics(A), Intro to Econometrics(A), Fixed-Income(A), Derivatives(A), Risk Management(A)
Worked under 2 professors as Research Analyst but without many meaningful assignments.
Competed in Tulane Trading Competition and Rotman International Trading Competition but without much success.
Enrolled in CFA (level 1) but failed this June. Planning to write again next June. Also considering the PRM since it's more closely aligned with my goals.
Work Experience: 1 summer with Citigroup in New York + 3-year internship with business development office helping firms develop business and marketing plans, business evaluations, SBA loan assistance
GRE: 790(Q)/690(V)/5.0(W)
Research Interests: I'm looking to refine this more but so far I'm interested in risk management, asset pricing and market regulation. I would like to consider working in the industry after PhD so want to make these as practical as possible.
Recommendations: one from adviser (will be good), one from research professor (good) and possibly one from math econ. prof (should be decent)
I realize a lack of math background will limit my choices of University but I only have a single semester to go until graduation and 1 free class to choose so not much I can do about it now. Do you have any opinion on research areas? Are these reasonable for my level.
I'm looking at: University of Rochester, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Florida and University of Texas-San Antonio. Looking to add about 5 more to this list.
-Thanks