Profile evaluation for fall 13 Business PhD - suggestions / ideas

[mlwl]

Hello,

I'd like to receive a couple of ideas/suggestions about mine: am new to the 'PhD application' field, hence any advice will certainly help !

I am an MBA student in the US, originally from Europe and I am looking to apply for fall 13 intake.

I understand that time is limited, but any suggestion on how to improve my profile, correctly select the target schools and hone my application would surely be very helpful, particularly from this forum.

Undergrad: Economics, well recognized business university in Europe

Undergrad GPA: (translated in 4.0 scale) 3.9 / top 5%

Grad 1: Economics, well recognized business university in Europe (same as undergrad)

Grad 1 GPA: (translated in 4.0 scale) 3.9 / top 5%

Grad 1 academic prize: 30,000 Eur scholarship for academic merits (top 2.5% of the class)

Grad 1 research: 6-months financial econometrics research on asset betas in infrastructure investments (using eviews), culminated with honor thesis (same topic) and graduation magna cum laude

Grad 2: MBA program, Wharton @ Upenn

Grad 2 GPA: 3.8

Grad 2 research: nil so far, apart from independent study with Professor on application of new technologies for queuing systems (do ISPs count?)

Work experience: 4 years - 2 years in banking (The GRE Big Book) and 2 years in consulting (McK)

GMAT: 760 (but Q=49) - looking to get GRE to address Q part

Math Courses: Mathematics (year-long math course that encompasses calc 1-2-3 syllabi and linear/multivariate/matrix) A, Quantitative Methods for Finance (grad-level) A

Econometrics/stat Courses:econometrics A+, statistics A-, financial econometrics (grad) A+, thesis (grad) rewarded with final honors (laude)

Econ/Finance Courses: micro, macro, finance, entrepreneurship... - A or A+ in all finance classes (incl. Wharton)

LORs: can get 2 strong LORs from Wharton professors (finance and op.s), but I am not sure about where to get third one (work / undergrad professor / other wharton professor)

Research Experience: as per above, 6-months research with financial econometrics prof. culminated with honor thesis, although not formalized as a US RA position

Teaching Experience: TA position (as part of the grad 1 scholarship) in undegrad classes, although not formalized; volounteer teacher in a primary school in London (underpriviledged students)

Research Interests: intersection between private and public markets in financing energy new technologies, especially renewable energy

SOP: main focus on my research interest and steps taken towards it - i.e. research experience in infrastructure financing/ work experience in energy

Concerns:

- different math courses format vs. US (one class encompassing large syllabus)

- lack of formal RA/TA -ships, although extensive informal econometrics research

- general profile more geared towards private employment than research

Questions/ potential improvements to profile:

1- Which schools should I target? Can I aim at top-10 US business programs or cast wider net? would love to get in Stanford, the big H or MIT, but is it worth spending the time of the application?

2- Which department would fit best my research interest (financing energy new tech / renewables) - BE, Strategy, Finance, or pure Econ? Is my research topic too specific for a SOP?

3- How can I best communicate that my year-long math course in undergrad encompassed what is covered by 3-4 classes in a US program? should I get in touch with the universities? any other international applicant...

4- Who should I choose as third recommender: another prof. from Wharton or somebody from maybe my summer work experience (I will be researching within a private company on fund-raising for renewable energy investing) or an undergrad prof.?

5- I have the opportunity to work as RA with Wh prof. next semester (just before the application) - will this be perceived as 'last-minute fishy enhancement' , or could be positively evaluated by AdCom ?

Any advice will help - Thank in advance!

[trollia]

Have you considered applying to starfleet? They have a really excellent Bus econ PhD program... AND you get to go to space!