PhD/DBA Business- reality check?s

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Hi... looking for a reality check :-)</p>

<p>I am hoping to get into a PhD program in Business (marketing).</p>

<p>I am currently:</p>

<p>-Undergraduate junior
-Communications major (Marketing & Public Relations)
-GPA: 3.9
-Haven't taken GRE yet or GMAT yet.
-Currently work in real estate as a licensed realtor/marketing rep.
-Will be conducting marketing/consumer behavior research this year with one of my professors. Will be published and presented at conference.
-Participating in accelerated Masters in Communications Management Courses beginning this summer and throughout my senior year. But may not stay for second year if I get into PhD program.
-Will also be taking a competitive full-year paid internship at a major national company in public relations beginning this summer.</p>

<p>My questions:</p>

<p>Do you think I get into a PhD in Business (marketing) out of undergrad?</p>

<p>If so, which schools should I look into? I have been looking at the Financial Times rankings of doctoral programs and am hoping I am around the level of W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU. (Although I currently live in New England and would prefer to stay around here.) </p>

<p>Any and all comments, suggestions, advice...etc... would be GREATLY appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
Do you think I get into a PhD in Business (marketing) out of undergrad?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes you can, although most students at the top programs have significant work experience, and many of them will already have their MBA's. </p>

<p>However, I do agree that getting into a top business doctoral program right out of undergrad is easier to do than getting into a top MBA program right out of undergrad. That may seem strange, but keep in mind that the doctorate is an academic degree that is really designed to prepare you for a career in teaching and research. It is not a "super-MBA". The MBA is a professional degree designed to prepare you for a career in industry. </p>

<p>
[quote]
If so, which schools should I look into? I have been looking at the Financial Times rankings of doctoral programs and am hoping I am around the level of W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU. (Although I currently live in New England and would prefer to stay around here.)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depends on what you want to do and how strong your other qualifications are, like your rec's, your statement of purpose, etc. The truly top program for marketing in New England is obviously Harvard Business School. However, I wouldn't hold my breath trying to get into HBS, because of all thedoctoral business programs, it is probably the most difficult to get into right out of undergrad. The MIT Sloan School also has a highly respected marketing doctoral program. BU also offers a decent one.</p>

<p>If you are willing to look outside of New England, and you want to go to the very best schools, then you should be looking at Northwestern Kellogg, Penn Wharton, Columbia, Stanford, Michigan, Chicago, Berkeley Haas. </p>

<p>However, really, any doctoral program in business is going to be decent. If you are gunning to get tenure at a top school, or you plan to use it to become a marketing specialist at McKinsey or something like that, then the prestige of your doctoral program will matter a lot. But if you don't care about that, then it doesn't matter that much where you get your doctorate from.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for that in-depth response.</p>

<p>I am well aware that a PhD is far different than an MBA... My ultimate goal for now is to teach at the college level. I am more interested in academia and research than industry.</p>

<p>I agree that those are the best schools... I guess I am just unsure as to whether I even stand a chance. I want to do everything I can to improve my chances. Harvard DBA in marketing would be wonderful... but I just feel it is way out of my league.</p>

<p>Thank you again!</p>