Hi everyone. I am applying to finance PhD (2021 intake). I would appreciate if you could advice on my profile. Thanks so much in advance!
Applying to: PhD in Finance (Research interests: credit risk, intangible asset on corporate finance decisions)
Test Score (GMAT): V38, Q50, AWA 4 , Total 730 96%
Undergraduate: reputable school in China; Bachelor in Economics; Poor overall GPA: 3.00/4.00, but did good on relevant courses - Calculus and Linear Algebra etc.
Graduate: Top school in Hong Kong; MSc in Finance; GPA: 3.83/4.00
References: Two professors from the grad school. They have not supervised me but I did great on their courses.
Work Experience: 5 years banking experience in China (prior to the master's program). 2 years as a general investment analyst in Hong Kong.
Qualifications: CFA
Research Experience:
- Master thesis in green bond, not published.
Teaching Experience: none
Questions or Concerns:
- Should I just forget about the top 50 schools (or even top 100), given the low undergrad GPA?
- Will the CFA help in any way in the admission process?
- Also a bit worried about age, as I'm already 30 yo.
- I'm also targeting programs in Canada. Are they less competitive than US ones?
Thanks in advance!