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OK thank you very much. I'm not very familiar with US rankings and institutions, CB is not my original discipline (or one of them), I am still discovering this field - that's why I opened this thread in fact. Your contribution is definitely helpful. :) That's clearly a good question. However, my master's thesis was definitely longer (40,000 words, for what it's worth) and took me probably more time than a senior thesis, and was in fact closer to an M.A thesis. I'm not boasting myself, it's just the standard practice here, especially in research-oriented institution like mine. And if a Dauphine research master's (which is half-taught/half research) qualifies for research experience, so does my MPhil... However, I have no marketing-related research experience - it's obviously a big flaw. Moreover, I have some idea of what is CB research. Although I still have a lot to learn, I attended conferences at some of the European business schools I mentioned in my first post, spoke with their professors, attended lectures in consumer/experimental psychology, and I am more or less familiar with the field's top journals. But it is true that I completely lack knowledge about each school's requirements and reputation. My "personal ranking" is biased, in favor of Ivies/huge brand names and reflects too much MBAs and OB/strategy rankings. Academia. According to the ETS GMAT-GRE comparator, my GRE is in the 700-710 range - I had very little (1 week) time to prepare it and I should definitely retake it. But I'm still a bit skeptical about publication-based rankings. It includes very few journals (the top marketing ones, but no high-rank psych journal), it is skewed toward large deparments... When you compare the placement record of USC (6th) with Stanford GSB (12th), INSEAD (18th) and even HBS (26th), the result is... confusing. But USC seems to have (much) larger PhD cohorts.

INSEAD seems to have a better placement record than McComb or Rotman. Anyway, I hardly have a sense of the ranking of marketing PhD - I don't know how much it differs from consensual MBA rankings. OK, thank you very much :) But is it really foolish to apply to CB PhDs? Would my profile be really stronger if I applied to, say, OB programs?

Thank you very much four your answer. Yes, it's my 5th degree. It is comparable to a dual degree, a dual bachelor and a dual master's. Without going into obscure details, I had to follow that path to keep my funding. Yes, it is stupidly complicated... Why a Marketing PhD ? - because it was my specialization last year, and I really enjoyed it. Apart from the Cambridge MPhil, my most advanced degree is a business master's. - because what I find really exciting in Sociology (cognition, emotions, for instance) is just too close to psychology. I think that psychology has simply more to offer on these topics. - because the job market is much better in business than in arts & sciences. My stat background corresponds to a good Econ undergrad level - could be better, I know. Another question: would my profile look more attractive if I applied to more soc-related PhDs ? OB or strategy, for instance? How risky is my current focus on CB? I'm quite lost: people with comparable profiles (same kind of French schools, same background in Business) have been accepted at T20 programs (Cornell, INSEAD). Example here: Anne-Sophie Chaxel | Desautels - McGill University (from what I have heard, she had no related work experience).

Hi, I'm a French applicant, 24 yo, currently studying sociology in the UK. My research interests have gradually shifted from macro OB and sociology to social/cognitive psychology and consumer behavior... Therefore my current interests are especially emotional decision-making, numerical cognition, categorization. I should apply this year to a few elite business schools, before applying more widely for the 2015 intake. Reaches: Kellogg's, Booth, INSEAD, Ross, Stern Targets: Rotman, USC, Yale SOM, HEC, Texas-McCombs, RSM Rotterdam, Tillburg, maybe UBC. Safety: ESSEC, some T50 US schools (Arizona State-Carey, U.Florida...). Education: - French Ecole normale supérieure de Cachan (one of the very top research school in France). Admitted after competitive entrance exam, 4th nation-wide. B.A equivalent in Economics and Business, 13/20, middle of the pack. M.A in Business Economics, specialization in marketing, actually a prep course to the "Agrégation", the highest French teaching certificate (high-school/college level) in Economics and Business, 4th nation-wide (one more time!). 12,7/20 but big grade deflation. Actually, 1/3 of the program was about marketing... Full fellowship + stipend for 4 years of undergrad and graduate studies. - in the meantime, Bachelor and 1st year of master in Law, University of Rennes. Bachelor: 11/20 ; Maitrise: 13/20 (top 10 or 15%) - currently, MPhil in Sociology, U. of Cambridge (still funded by the Ecole normale supérieure). Test scores: - GRE: 164Q, 162V, 4.0AW. Taken with very little preparation, to be retaken, aiming at 167Q/164V. - TOEFL (if this requirement is not waived): 105. Research experience: - close to nonexistent. Master's thesis during my masters in Law (but supervised at the Ecole normale supérieure de Cachan), dealing with Antitrust Law and Economics. Grade equivalent to A+. MPhil disseration to be completed this year. No relevant work experience LORs: - reasonably strong letters from professors in my previous schools, including one marketing professor. However they are relatively unknown people, with little experience in writing US-style LORs. It is still too early for me to be recommended by my Cambridge professors for this year's applications - I just arrived one month ago. To sum up: Pros: academic background + grades. Cons: recommendations (unknown people), poor research experience, sociology MPhil somewhat inconsistent with my current interests. Neutral: GRE. Do I have a decent shot at T10 programs? US T20 ? Where should I apply? Thank you very much!