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| These acceptance rates are only useful in the abstract; when thinking about your probability to get accepted, it is important to condition on your own background and abilities. Do you have research experience? Do you have good grades from a top institution? Do you have interests that relate to the faculty’s interests? Do you do research before applying (e.g., by reading a guide like this)? | These acceptance rates are only useful in the abstract; when thinking about your probability to get accepted, it is important to condition on your own background and abilities. Do you have research experience? Do you have good grades from a top institution? Do you have interests that relate to the faculty’s interests? Do you do research before applying (e.g., by reading a guide like this)? | ||
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| + | =====How many schools should I apply to?===== | ||
| + | Apply to all the programs that in your opinion will make a fine researcher out of you and where you are likely to be happy for 5 years. It costs about $100-$150 per application, and most applications require similar materials. So go ahead and apply to as many programs as you like; applying to as many as 15 to 20 programs is quite common. If you are slightly unsure, apply anyway. Once you are admitted you can then talk to professors in the department before deciding whether or not to attend. | ||
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| + | =====Should I write to professors before I apply?===== | ||
| + | This depends. Write only if you have questions which cannot be answered by reading publicly available material and by talking to graduate students. If you are interested in working with a particular professor, sending him/her a short email outlining your interests can help sometimes. Your mileage will vary, but if you can get them excited about your application then that is obviously a positive. If you write and don’t get a reply, don’t be disheartened – professors at most schools are incredibly busy and they get many emails from a large number of graduate students. In general the more senior the professor and the more prestigious the school, the lower your chances of getting a reply. So go ahead and apply nonetheless, they will have a good look at your application when you apply through the official channels. | ||
| =====What happens at visit days?===== | =====What happens at visit days?===== | ||
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| =====Should I visit a school if I do not think I will accept their offer?===== | =====Should I visit a school if I do not think I will accept their offer?===== | ||
| We would encourage you to attend any interview or visit day to which you are invited. It is very possible that you will find that seeing the school and talking with faculty members changes your opinion of the school and the program. Similarly, you may find that programs that you thought were your top choices are no longer so appealing when examined up close. If you decide after the visit that you still would not choose to attend the program, be as diplomatic and courteous as you can when communicating that decision. Ultimately, by embarking on the PhD journey, you are entering a community of scholars. It is valuable for your long term career success (especially when you go on the academic job market) to get to know other members of the community even if you do not end up attending their school. | We would encourage you to attend any interview or visit day to which you are invited. It is very possible that you will find that seeing the school and talking with faculty members changes your opinion of the school and the program. Similarly, you may find that programs that you thought were your top choices are no longer so appealing when examined up close. If you decide after the visit that you still would not choose to attend the program, be as diplomatic and courteous as you can when communicating that decision. Ultimately, by embarking on the PhD journey, you are entering a community of scholars. It is valuable for your long term career success (especially when you go on the academic job market) to get to know other members of the community even if you do not end up attending their school. | ||
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| + | =====How do the finances work out?===== | ||
| + | In general the stipend is enough to comfortably cover expenses and leave some over. If you are living with your spouse, it can be harder to manage though it is possible to get through without major debt. As stated before, starting salaries in business schools are pretty attractive! If you are working at the moment or if you are finishing school and have lucrative job offers, remember that the real cost of attending graduate school is in the wages lost while in school. Similarly, those coming from the corporate world might have to make significant lifestyle changes. General statements in this regard are difficult to make since backgrounds vary considerably depending on personal and financial situations and family commitments. | ||
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| + | =====What is the typical age of graduate students in business?===== | ||
| + | Graduate students are usually between 22 to 35 years old when they start. The typical graduate student is around 24-25 years old, though those over 30 are fairly common. In general, there is a definite bias towards those in their mid and late twenties, but if you are significantly older (above 40) you should talk to PhD program coordinators at schools that interest you. It has been done before. | ||
| =====What percentage of students do not finish their business school PhD?===== | =====What percentage of students do not finish their business school PhD?===== | ||