Jump to content
Urch Forums

WeirdApplicant

Members
  • Posts

    1
  • Joined

Converted

  • My Tests
    No

WeirdApplicant's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

1

Reputation

  1. Hello! Am new to the forum. Looking at a PhD application for 2020. I have read all the advice about getting academic not professional LORs, but I am a real outlier case and trying to work out what to do for the best. Advice welcome! For context the PhD will not be in economics but a more general management field. Options: 1. My undergrad economics professor. Well published in his field. Really, really liked me and we have stayed loosely in touch even though it was 15 years ago (!). I graduated top of my (large) class from an Ivy-type school so I think this one should work (though it will be very, very old!) 2. My graduate tutor in asset pricing. This was over ten years ago. It was a MSc in Economics from a top school. Problem is he would have absolutely no idea who I am. We never spoke beyond maybe my asking a couple of questions in class (all the actual teaching was done by PhD students). I could send him my masters thesis on asset pricing and my transcript (I was #1 in the year in all my papers so the grades are great). But he would be writing it totally and utterly blind. He is a published person in some good Econ journals but not super “eminent”. My worry is this reference would add basically nothing to my transcript which they would have anyway. 3. A professional reference. I have a successful 10+ year career in a global “name” company that is related to my field but obviously isn’t actually in research. I would have a large choice of referees including “impressive” names in the world of business but of course they would be practitioners. My company will be sad to lose me to academia and these references would be great and very personal, but wouldn’t speak to research ability. Unfortunately none of the prime candidates to write the reference would have PhDs (they would all be MBAs) If I have to provide 3 then it has to be all 3, but my “dream school” only asks for 2 so I need to choose. What would you do? Am asking well in advance as whoever I ask will need appropriate “warming up”! I am looking at top 10 schools so I realise I can’t afford to get this “wrong”. I know I have got a fight ahead of me! Thanks.
×
×
  • Create New...