<p>Hello everyone, </p>
<p>I am looking at applying to business programs this cycle and I am trying to weigh my options on how to best situate myself to enter a PhD program in the not so distant future. I am interested in a PhD in International Business & I am comfortable with eventually working at a teaching university. To give you my portfolio...</p>
<p>I graduated from a small state school in Maryland in 2009, with a B.S. in Finance; GPA - 3.91</p>
<p>Work Experience - I did a Spring internship at Merrill Lynch while I was in college.
- I have worked for 5 years as an Ocean Lifeguard during the summers, two of which in a supervisory role.
- I completed the "Teach For America" program for those of you who are familiar...I was a school teacher for two years in a city school district and hold a teaching credential in that corresponding state.
- I am currently working as an English Teacher for the Spanish Government & studying Spanish in the North of Spain.</p>
<p>GMAT: 640 (41Q, 37V) Don't know the writing or IR scores yet as I just took the test this weekend...I am disappointed with my score & believe that I could perform better with a re-take, but given that the application window for next year is closing, I think that I gotta roll with what I have & maybe considering taking it while I'm in a Master's program. </p>
<p>I am looking at applying to a couple MBA programs, couple MS finance programs, & a couple MIB programs (Masters of International Business programs) I was looking at MIB programs at Florida International, Georgia State, & Northeastern...</p>
<p>I don't know if a one-year masters is advantageous, but I want to position myself to enter a PhD program and hopefully not having 100k in debt from a MBA program...so if I can get around that, that would be great, but if its a must, then so be it.</p>
<p>I will probably also throw my hat in the ring at a couple PhD programs in Int Bus, just to see how things pan out...</p>
<p>If anyone could give me some suggestions on what schools to apply to, or give me some advice that would be great & I would really appreciate. Where do you guys think I can get accepted? What are my reach schools, my mid-range & safety schools? Which track is best to reach my eventual goal?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for any help that anyone can offer, I appreciate it!</p>