strategerist

Sure. The main thing is to learn that you never talk about teaching, regardless of whether or not you are looking forward to teaching. Focus on your research interests. Also, one thing I have done that has impressed all the schools I have spoken with is to come up with my own ranking methodology based on any available data on publications (UTD, A&M, etc.) and then share that in the interview. This helps them see that you follow a rational process of research in anything you do. Lastly, volunteer for research experience with faculty at your alma mater just to gain experience (and then list this on your resume). Have those faculty member write your letters of recommendation so that they can comment on your research abilities. Oh, and apply broadly and don't give up!

Just wanted to say thanks to people here who have helped me with advice in the past. After two years of getting rejected (after only applying to 1-2 schools per year), so far I have 2 official offers 2 more in person interviews and 2 skype interviews. 6 out of 15 so far, and 2 of the 6 were in my top 3. Just going to go through in person interviews to help decide between programs based on fit with faculty. I was ready to give up after two years of rejections, but the encouragement I got on this forum after reviewing my profile helped me try again. Thanks again and don't give up, just keep learning and improving!

Excellent response - very helpful. Thanks! Any other opinions? If I remember correctly from my MBA, I need n=30 to start to get to a statistically valid sample size, but not sure I will get that many responses :)

I was recently rejected from the two schools that I applied to for the Fall 2016 program (I know, 2 is not enough, but a personal family tragedy occurred right before applying and made me focus on only local schools this year). Both were top 15 schools, so I am not too disappointed. However, when sharing the news with a friend and discussing how I am just going to apply broadly next year (15-20 schools this time), he challenged me that perhaps life as a PhD isn't all that I had it cracked up to be. He is a financial advisor and has a couple of clients that are recent grads from some good schools, and two of them are debating quitting the whole thing and taking an 'industry' job. They feel overworked, stressed all the time and want to do something else. The thought of taking 5 years where I make 25K to 30K a year just to hate my life after graduating sounds rediculous. So, I would like to hear more from anyone that is currently 'living the dream' (even if it has turned out to be a nightmare) for a reality check about what life is like after graduating. Do you enjoy your job? Are you glad you pursued the PhD? Did you have to move somewhere 'less than ideal'? What is your day to day really like? Do you take summers off? Are you tenure track or non-tenure track? Are you still in academia? For more background on me, you can see this post from the 2016 evaluation thread: http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-business/155280-seeking-profile-evaluation-fall-2016-entry-please-post-here-4.html#post995660 What is funny is that I mentioned in this post how I was concerned about my lack of research experience and that my letters of recommendation were from professors who weren't really publishing anymore. After I was rejected from Duke, I asked for some feedback and reading between the lines, it seems that these two factors were what killed my chances. I then volunteered to be a free research gopher (RA), but no response. I am just trying to see whether making such a sacrifice to go back to school for 5 years and have my family living at or below the poverty line is really worth it. I know that what I have envisioned life to be after graduation sounds amazing, but I want to see what it is really like.

So far, every school I have researched takes the GMAT, so I think I am OK there. Thanks for the book / article recommendations - I will be sure to read them. Thanks for the evaluation! Very encouraging.

Hi all - new member here, so thanks for the help! Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): GMAT - 730 (96%), Q48, V41 Undegrad GPA: 3.99 BBA - Management of Information Systems (Summa Cum Laude, top grad in major), 50-100 ranked 4 year university Graduate GPA: 3.98 MBA - Finance concentration (top graduate), 40-60 ranked MBA program Research Experience: Minimal - 1 semester as RA in MBA program with marketing PhD Teaching Experience: None Work Experience: 9 years in financial services and healthcare doing business analysis and project management (the most recent 4 years of which as an independent consultant performing data analysis for large scale system implementations). I also had a 1 year internship with a Venture Capital firm during my MBA program. Concentration Applying to: Strategy Number of programs planned to apply to: 5 top 20, 3 top 40, 8 total (my hybrid ranking system used 50% Texas A&M weight after OB / Psych journals taken out, 50% UTD rankings) Dream Schools: UNC, Duke, USC, Arizona State What made you want to pursue a PhD: Realizing that I want to do something that I love for the rest of my life. I love analyzing data and I love teaching, so I thought being a research professor is a good fit. I am an independent person by nature, so the idea of collaborating with other intelligent professionals while mostly pursuing my own research sounds perfect. Also, I never felt like I was really making a difference with my life being a consultant. I feel like by researching how to increase innovation and improve strategic decision making, I will be promoting economic development and innovation (which I think leads to a better life for all). Concerns you have about your profile: My letters of recommendation are from my alma mater, which is not a research university. The faculty loved me, but they are not heavily published researchers. Also, I have such minimal research experience and no published papers. Any additional specific questions you may have: I am going to try to apply in the earliest wave (October for most schools), but I am also going to try to volunteer to be a research assistant with the aforementioned professors over the next couple of months to gain more RA experience. I realize that it would be ideal to volunteer with more respected faculty, but I don't have relationships with anyone at a top university. Is this a good idea? Is there anything else I can/should do over the next 4 months to help my chances? Also, when I took the GMAT the first time I scored a 760, but I had to retake it since it was over 5 years old. Since I have listed that score on my resume, will that help me at all?