jambajim50

If they have fewer good options available to them then their opportunity cost is lower. Maybe that doesn't make sense to everyone, but having talked to a lot of international students, I believe that is a big reason that many programs are full of international students. I'm sure there are a lot of other reasons as well. I know certain cultures value education more etc. but I think a big part of it is the lower opportunity cost.

I was in a similar position a few months ago. I had just finished a master's in finance after my undergraduate in econ and felt like I could really enjoy a career as a professor in economics or finance. However, I also wasn't receiving any job offers so the thought of taking four more years for a Phd with the potential of a six figure income at the end of it didn't seem like such a sacrifice. In the end I decided I needed to experience the "real" world and now have a job that I enjoy. I haven't completely ruled out the Phd, but I agree with the idea of not deciding something just because it seems interesting. You really need to get a taste of whatever you are considering doing so you can make an informed decision. Also, fidinho, I hope this isn't offensive, but it's pretty clear that you are an international student. My experience with international students in my program is that your opportunity cost is significantly lower than that of US citizens. If you don't find a good job with someone who will sponsor you, your options are to go home or continue in school. That's what many of the students in my program did, some just getting another master's degree. If you can get a Phd program to pay you a decent stipend then you are right, you don't really have much to lose. But many of the other people on this forum face a lot higher opportunity cost.

Thanks everyone for your advice. TomRod you were especially helpful. I have been doing a ton of research but I have decided to postpone the Phd for now. I just feel like I am comfortable in a school setting and I am confident that I would enjoy life as a professor, but I want to have some other experiences to really see if there is something else that I could enjoy even more. Thanks again everyone. I'd still love to hear people's stories if anyone else would like to post.

You guys are correct. There are a few opportunities there and a ton of competition from BYU MBA's for the good positions. Anyway, I'm really interested in hearing about how people knew the Phd was right for them.

Thanks for the insights. I have planned to do what people are saying, obviously I have a year off so I will be working and if I decide I love it then I can obviously put off the Phd. And yes TomRod, I did my undergraduate at BYU. I am actually not from Utah though, and have no problem relocating, but I did a master's in finance at the University of Utah and almost no financial services firms recruit there. Obviously a dumb choice on my part, but the faculty there was pretty good. Also, I have talked to professors and students and read journal articles. There are a lot of reasons why I think I would love being a professor. I'm just wondering if people have these aha moments when they know that's what they want to do. Has anyone else gone on to a Phd who hasn't worked as an RA or had a lot of research experience and enjoyed it that can share?

Lots of views, no replies...:) Anyone have any insights? Anyone else struggled with this decision, whether you've been recently accepted to a Phd program or already a professor? All are welcome to share!

So I've been doing a lot of research and talking to professors at my school, but I'm having a really hard time deciding if a Phd is for me or not. Here are my reasons for doing it: I love teaching. I've tutored before and spent some volunteer work where I did a lot of teaching for two years. I really enjoy helping people understand new things. I have a creative mind. I'm constantly questioning the things I read and learn and trying to look at them in different ways. Professors told me this is essential to do research. I have always excelled in school and am confident that I could succeed in a Phd program. I also love to learn and love the idea of continue to study a field I love rather than sit in a cubicle and push papers around at some corporation. On the other hand, I am concerned that: I don't have much research experience. I wrote a short paper in an econometrics class in my undergraduate. But I've never worked as an RA, though I may have the opportunity with a former professor this summer. Has anyone out there gone on to a Phd program without much research experience that can give some advice here? I didn't really consider a Phd until I couldn't find a job after my undergraduate. I enrolled in a MS Finance program and really enjoyed it and started investigating. I don't want to take a job in sales or something like that, but I live in Utah and there aren't a lot of analyst jobs. I don't want to feel like I'm doing the Phd just because I can't find the ideal job. Any tips on what I can do to help me decide or thoughts on the issues above would be greatly appreciated.

So I have a BA in Economics and an MS in Finance. I am considering a Phd and really enjoy both subjects. I have been leaning toward finance just because graduates seem to make so much more. My question is, why? I have asked this to professors and no one seems to be able to give me a good answer. It seems to me that finance is a subset of economics. I mean an economics professor could easily research financial topics. And economists are sought after not only by banks but also by government etc. So why do finance professors make so much more? Ideally I could go to an economics program and have the freedom to research financial topics as well as economic ones. Also econ programs admit a lot more students to their programs. Anyone no the answer here?

So I've been doing a lot of research and talking to professors at my school, but I'm having a really hard time deciding if a Phd in Finance is for me or not. Here are my reasons for doing it: I love teaching. I've tutored before and spent some volunteer work where I did a lot of teaching for two years. I really enjoy helping people understand new things. I have a creative mind. I'm constantly questioning the things I read and learn and trying to look at them in different ways. Professors told me this is essential to do research. I have always excelled in school and am confident that I could succeed in a Phd program. On the other hand, I am concerned that: I don't have much research experience. I wrote a short paper in an econometrics class in my undergraduate. But I've never worked as an RA, though I may have the opportunity with a former professor this summer. Has anyone out there gone on to a Phd program without much research experience that can give some advice here? I didn't really consider a Phd until I couldn't find a job after my undergraduate. I enrolled in a MS Finance program and really enjoyed it and started investigating. I don't want to take a job in sales or something like that, but I live in Utah and there aren't a lot of analyst jobs. I don't want to feel like I'm doing the Phd just because I can't find the ideal job. Any tips on what I can do to help me decide or thoughts on the issues above would be greatly appreciated.

Good to know. I also had a hard time finding a lot of info about class profiles to see how mine matches up. Seems like a long shot, but I thought I would get some opinions on it.

I believe you will have a better chance getting into a Phd accounting program given that I know some of them really like you to have experience in the field, whereas for most Finance programs they don't care much about work experience. (I know ASU's accounting program in particular likes you to have work experience, as an example) I also would think it would require less math, but I'm not sure. In the end the most important thing should be what you are interested in. I know accounting Phd's do research on things like how accounting standards affect economic outcomes, or how you could change them to better reflect economic realities. That's just from speaking with one of my accounting professors a few months ago. I would go talk to some of the professors at your school and do your research to decide what interests you. Also, I would post this on the Phd in Business forum and you will probably get more responses. Good luck!

I am planning on applying for Finance Phd programs this fall. I will be retaking the GMAT and taking a few math courses this summer, but am kind of wondering what to do with the next year after I apply. I recently discovered that the LSE accepts applicants to their masters programs on a rolling basis and is still accepting applications for its Msc in Finance and Economics program. Does anyone know anything about these? Is it still reasonable to assume I could get in assuming I had the right credentials? Is it worth doing? Would it be good prep for a Phd and/or look good on an application?

Thanks so much everyone for your insights. Sounds like the consensus is I should definitely retake the GMAT. finphdhopeful: I only had one calculus class in my undergraduate, which I got an A in. However, it was a business calculus class, not the tradition calculus series that most people take. I know that is definitely a weakness and I plan to take at least Calc 1 & 2 and linear algebra this summer. Also, I have spoken with some professors about doing research, but they all say they either don't have a need for one at the moment or they do, but they are using Phd students as RA's. Any advice on how to get a research position besides persistence?

This is my first post on this site. I've read a bunch of other posts, but was hoping someone could speak to my specific situation. I am hoping to get into a decent (top 50) finance Phd program. However, my undergraduate GPA is not very good. Here is what my profile looks like Undergraduate in Economics from BYU, 3.14 GPA MS Finance from University of Utah, 3.86 GPA GMAT: 750, but quant was only 48. I am sure I could do better (only studied about 20 hours the week leading up to the test) Assuming I could get good LOR, etc, do I have a chance at a decent school or will my application get thrown out as soon as they seen my undergrad GPA? Also, do people think it is worth studying a bunch for the GMAT to get a 50 on the quant section? Thanks so much for any feedback.

Can anybody offer any insights?

This is my first post on this site. I've read a bunch of other posts, but was hoping someone could speak to my specific situation. I am hoping to get into a decent (top 50) finance Phd program. However, my undergraduate GPA is not very good. Here is what my profile looks like Undergraduate in Economics from BYU, 3.14 GPA MS Finance from University of Utah, 3.86 GPA GMAT: 750, but quant was only 48. I am sure I could do better (only studied about 20 hours the week leading up to the test) Assuming I could get good LOR, etc, do I have a chance at a decent school or will my application get thrown out as soon as they seen my undergrad GPA? Also, do people think it is worth studying a bunch for the GMAT to get a 50 on the quant section? Thanks so much for any feedback.

I'm not sure how this thing works. I'm wanting to get some feedback about Phd applications. Anyway, we'll see how this goes.