Applying to a Ph.D. Program

So you have decided you want to get a Ph.D. now what? The next step in the process is to decide which programs you should apply for, fill out your applications, hopefully visit several schools, and then make your final decision. On this page, we provide an overview of the process and specific suggestions for being successful in choosing and being accepted into an accounting Ph.D. program.

Selecting the Right Program

Question to consider when applying to programs Here is a list of some questions that you might want to think about when applying to programs (taken from here): How many faculty are working with students? Do students regularly coauthor articles with faculty? How many faculty members are doing research in areas related to my own interests? What opportunities are there to work with a variety of faculty and to be exposed to different research methodologies? Am I sufficiently qualified to enter this program? Many Ph.D. students change their vision of research and many change their intended concentration area after joining the program and being exposed to a variety of research styles. Does my program of choice offer flexibility needed to do so? Is there financial support for students to attend academic conferences to present their own research? What opportunities are there for students to participate in colloquia, both as an attendee and as a presenter? What is the department's placement record? What types of jobs do graduates take and where? Finally, how well do graduates of the program perform in the long term (contributing to the field through publication, practice of management and earning tenure)?

The most important criterion for success in an accounting Ph.D. program is to find a program that "fits" you. In deciding which programs do and do not fit, it helps if you know what you want. Specifically, when you graduate with your Ph.D. what type of career do you want? Are you hoping to spend most of your time teaching or researching (or some combination of both)? How many hours do you want to work a week? How much money do you want to make? What subject of accounting (e.g., AIS, auditing, financial, managerial, tax, etc.) do you hope to teach and hope to research? While knowing answers to these types of questions is not required for applying to Ph.D. programs, it does help in selecting a program where you will "fit" well.

As a very general "rule-of-thumb," academic prestige is usually based on research productivity, that is, the more successful an individual or school is at publishing research in respected journals the more "revered" the individual/institution. Connected to research productivity is pay. Generally speaking, the more research intensive the university, the higher the pay. Finally, professors often change schools over the course of their career. In general, it is easier to move from a research-intensive school to a more teaching-intensive school. Going in the opposite direction is more difficult because it is hard to sustain high levels of productivity as a researcher if you have a heavier teaching load and research-intensive universities will want to see evidence of research productivity/potential before hiring you.

As you think through the research/teaching balance, do not make the mistake of assuming one is a better or worse option. Both options have costs and benefits and whether the costs and benefits are better/worse depends on your individual goals. Thus, knowing what your goals are is important for deciding where to apply. If you have a strong desire to focus more on teaching/research, you will be more successful going to a Ph.D. program that emphasizes the area of your interest. At the same time, do not rule out the possibility of changing your mind as you study in a Ph.D. program. Most academics decide to become a professor because they were originally attracted to teaching. Many, however, find that researching is as rewarding (or even more rewarding for some) than teaching. Keep an open mind as you learn more about the life as a professor and allow yourself to give full consideration to all aspects of the life as a professor.

Once you have decided what you want to do with your career, then the following suggestions will help you decide where to go.

• Gather as much information about different schools as you can. A good starting point is visiting each school's web page and to visit the different university pages on this website. .

• Talk to people who have either been at a school or are currently at the school of interest. See University Information for help finding who has been where from the BYU family. Please be respectful of the time of the people you are contacting. Ph.D. students and faculty are busy so asking them questions that are already answered on the school's web page is wasting their time. Also, don't send out the same email to multiple people at the same school. Students and faculty talk and it looks bad for you to send out a form e-mail requesting information.

• Determine what type of research you are interested in conducting. Certain schools do not support some research topical areas and/or methodologies. Make sure the schools you are considering do what you want to do. Do not expect to go to a school and convince professors to change the area of research they are focusing on to work on projects that interest you. You can expect them to continue working on what they find interesting and letting you work with them if they think you will be helpful to them.

After you have gathered information about schools that interest you, you will need to apply to these schools. Hopefully, you will get to visit several schools and find which one fits. An important warning: while you may be tempted to go to the school other people consider "best," it is far more important that you feel comfortable and like where you will work. Numerous Ph.D. students have dropped out because they didn't fit with the school. Making sure you fit with the school is far more important than making sure you are at the school others consider the "best."

The Application Process

Most schools consider several different factors when deciding which candidates to admit into their program. Which factors each school considers and the weights each school place on these factors differs. However, in general, schools use GMAT and GPA to perform an "initial screen" of the many applicants. Those that surpass the thresholds set by the school move into the "second round" and their applications are more carefully considered. Thus, GMAT and GPA alone will not get you into a program, but the absence of strong scores in these areas may keep you out of a program.

GMAT

Need to fix up... GMAT is important...

The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, is a standardized test designed to measure a candidate's aptitude for graduate management studies.

Strategy

Here are a couple of suggestions on basic GMAT-taking strategies:

1. Study, Study, Study - The GMAT claims it cannot be studied for because it simply measures your intelligence. This is not completely true. One helpful suggestion is to study for 20-25 hours a week for 7 or 8 weeks; this will make a difference.
2. Familiarize Yourself With the Test - Become familiar with the test. You could start by taking a practice test on MBA.com so that you have a starting point from which to benchmark performance. Also, most GMAT preparation books, Kaplan for example, include examples of each section with practice problems. This will help you to understand the kinds of questions that are asked and the correct answers to those questions.
3. Learn Test-Taking Strategies - After familiarizing yourself with the exam, focus on test-taking strategies. The Princeton Review book is a good resource for learning what kinds of strategies are useful. This will help you know how to attack the test and understand some of the tricks the test writers use. One of the best strategies is to focus a little more on the verbal section. It is very difficult to set yourself apart in the math section (most likely due to the quantitative skills that GMAT takers may have). However, a higher score in the verbal section will really skyrocket your overall score. With a little bit of extra time here, you can really learn how to attack the verbal questions.
4. Take Practice Tests - This is where you should devote a significant portion of your time. One source suggests taking between 8 to 10 practice tests. MBA.com has realistic tests that you can take multiple times without seeing too many repeat questions. One great place to find practice tests is 800score.com, which is an affordable, helpful resource. It costs around $40. 800score.com contains some typos and errors, but it contains a lot of information and some very difficult practice tests. One person who used this website admitted that scores from practice tests were generally much lower than on MBA.com and actual tests. One of the most valuable things to learn from 800score.com's tests is time management. The math sections for these practice tests are more challenging, and hence you may not finish in the time limit. Time management is critical for performing well on the GMAT. Additionally, doing lots of practice problems really help.
5. Sit for the Test - One former test taker commented, "When I was taking the test, I chose an answer and then realized I had forgotten to take the square root to calculate the final answer. I spent the entire test trying to win a mental battle with myself. When I took a break between the math and verbal sections, I told myself to let it go and focus on making up for any deficiencies on the back-end. Before deciding to report my scores, I was tempted not to because I knew I had missed an easy question. I'm glad I decided to report my score, because I did well. " One thing to keep in mind is that not all questions are counted (about 1/3 aren't counted in your final score). That means, if you miss a question, don't worry about it. Just focus on doing well on the remainder of the test. You can definitely make up for one missed question. If you're lucky, that question won't even be counted!
6. Report Your Scores - After the test is over, make sure to report your scores. Even if you are worried about one question that you missed, report your scores because it is hard to gauge personal performance on the actual test.

Study Resources

• The internet has several resources for preparing for the GMAT.
  • MBA.com
  • 800score.com
  • kaplan.com
  • veritasprep.com
• The BYU library had study material available to use on their computers (on first floor in the business section). I believe they had the entire Kaplan course that you could study in the library.
• Many second-hand stores such as Deseret Industries have GMAT prep books. However, be careful to note the year the book was published. The GMAT evolves over time. Therefore, saving $40 and studying from a book that was published in the 90's might not be ideal.
• BYU also has a GMAT prep course that is held on campus.

External Links

For additional information, take a look at the following websites:

• MBA.com - The Official GMAT Web Site, which includes registration and other information about the exam.
• Wikipedia: GMAT - This site explains the individual sections of the test.
• 800score.com - This site offers an affordable set of test preparation materials and resources.
• Graduate Management Admission Council - The Graduate Management Admission Council manages the exam.
• BYU GMAT Prep - This is the link to the BYU GMAT prep course.

End of fix up section.

Fly-outs

Appropriate Behaviors during Visits Do's Be cordial in all respects. Call schools and let them know before you visit if you have accepted another offer. Schools will view it as a slap in the face if you have formally accepted with another school and still fly out. If you are highly interested in another school but have not formally accepted, you still may consider flying out to another school if you have already arranged a campus visit. Research on the school. Read about the professors and their work and have intelligent questions to ask them. Read about the area. This is one of the most important job interviews of your career. Send a thank you note/letter/email after visit is over. Make sure the email is not a form email. You should send individual responses if you send a response to each person you met. Remember the schools where you don't go are likely to consider hiring you. Leave a good impression and it will increase your chance of getting a job once you graduate. Do not's Undertake your application or campus visits lightly. How you act during the campus visit will not only affect your Ph.D. placement but also your potential future job placement. The academic accounting community is very small, memories very long, and bridges are easily burned. Act arrogant. More so than any other personality trait, arrogance has cost many excellent candidates the opportunity to attend the program of their choice. There are plenty of other candidates who are as qualified (or more qualified) than you are to enter a Ph.D. program. Make sure you come across as humble, willing to work hard, and a nice person. Schedule visits if you "know" you won't go to that school. If you might go to the school, then go, but if you know there is no way you will go to the school, don't waste their time and money.

As part of the interview process, doctoral programs often bring students in for a campus visit. Only students that the program is seriously considering for admittance are brought in. Some universities will first do phone interviews with the candidates they are interested in before they fly applicants out. It is important to remember that just because you are being flown out does not mean you will be given an offer by the university. In general, the purpose of the fly out is to evaluate the candidate on softer skills (e.g., interpersonal skills, likability, etc.) rather than quantitative skills (e.g., GMAT, GPA, etc.) and to serve as a chance for the institution to recruit the individual and sell the program.

The typical campus visit usually includes meal times, one-on-one time with professors, and attending a workshop/class. During your stay, one or more professors will take you out for dinner and/or breakfast. This is an informal meeting. You should be prepared to talk about why you want to enter a Ph.D. program, what are your research interests (if you have some), what are your future goals, why you are interested in that school, and most importantly be able to ask relevant questions about the school. You should not be asking questions about the school that you can find out for yourself (i.e., make sure you read the school's doctoral program web page and the individual professor's web pages as well).

Your one-on-one meetings with professors usually last 30 minutes. These meetings can range from the professors conducting a mini job interview, to a friendly open dialog. You need to make sure you have enough things to talk about to fill up an entire 30 minutes. One of the best things you can talk about is the professor's own research. Checking out the faculty member's vita before an interview is a good way to get an idea of the type of research they do. Alternatively, you could ask the professor to describe one of their more recent projects. It is not a bad idea to bring a notepad to take notes. On the notepad, you might consider jotting a list of the questions you want answered during your visit.

Often times, you will attend a doctoral seminar or a workshop presentation. If you can read the papers before you get there for the workshop or seminar that would be fantastic. You are not required to make any comments, and shouldn't just to show that you can speak. If you have good questions/comments to make, you can do that, but make sure you aren't speaking to try and show how smart you are. These workshops give you a good idea of what the tone of the school is like.

On a practical note, the school will usually cover airfare, transportation, and meals. The school may give you a budget and allow you to make plans (they usually reimburse you after you provide receipts) or they may book everything for you. If you are unsure, ask whoever is recruiting you how the school handles the finances of the fly out.

Again, remember that during the campus visit you are being recruited and evaluated. You need to make sure you do your best to sell them on yourself and also take some time to evaluate the school to see if you would fit if given an offer. Be forthcoming about yourself and your interests. You don't want to end up at a school whose faculty are uninterested in or hostile to your research interests or that has a culture that doesn't suit you.

You may find this collective list of "Do's and Do not's on campus visits" helpful as you prepare for a campus visit:

The Decision, which Program to Attend

You have done all the research, you have visited schools, you have talked with lots of people, you are not ready to make the decision of where to go to school. How in the world do you make this critical decision?

Steve Kachelmeier's (University of Texas - Austin) story is one of the best illustrations of making the decision the right way. He created a table with the most important criteria that he should consider across the top and each program listed down the side. He carefully mapped how each school fit his criteria, taking care to list the positives and negatives. After he was finished with this exercise, he folded it in half, thought for a minute about which program he would like best, and then throwing his carefully constructed chart away chose to go to the University of Florida. At the end of the day, he went to the program he liked and where he thought he would fit well.

There is no magic formula for deciding where to go. A few pointers will help as you make the decision. First, although this may sound like a broken record, go to the school where you fit best. Fit is far more important than any other criteria. Second, it is hard to make a bad decision. If you are willing to do your best, most programs will help you learn and be successful. Third, if you have a spouse or significant other, include them in the decision. Having support from your spouse during the program is extremely helpful in being successful. Listen to their needs and desires as you make the decision. Finally, quite stressing and celebrate you have been admitted into a Ph.D. program! You are well on your way to a great career.

A word of advice on what to do once you have made your decision. It is important that you notify schools as soon as possible of your choice, especially if you have offers from other schools. These other schools will likely want to invite someone else to their program and while you are deciding, they often hold offers to other candidates. As soon as you have eliminated a school from consideration, kindly and courteously let that school know so they can move on (e.g., you have 3 offers and have decided you will not go to University X. Let University X know as soon as possible even if you are still deciding between University Y and Z). In a similar vein, try and make the decision of where you are going as soon as possible rather than drag the decision out. Schools appreciate being told earlier rather than later so they can recruit other candidates.

Getting into a program

• Study for the GMAT and get a good score. At "top" schools, most students will have a GMAT score of 700 or above with a minimum of 600. (However, the GMAT is just one factor in your application.)

• Take your Ph.D. Prep Track courses seriously and learn as much as possible.

• Get research going with faculty. Take your ideas to them and take initiative so you have the opportunity to have co-authored work in progress.

• Seek the advice of current professors and doctoral students so you know which schools you should apply to.

• Apply to programs that fit your needs and interests. This is critical as those Ph.D. prep students who have not finished their Ph.D. did not fit well at the schools where they began studying.

• Your statement of purpose is very important. Make sure you spend a lot of time crafting this document and have several individuals read it and comment on it.

• Get good letters of recommendation. Although you cannot control what is written about you, you should be professional in your interactions with faculty. A good letter of recommendation can go a long way, and a mediocre letter can shut doors very quickly.

• Consider attending an academic conference Fall of your last year in the MAcc. Doing so will allow you to meet the faculty you could be working with at schools, and making a decision to accept you is much easier if the faculty have met you and know that you are into research enough to go to academic conferences. In the 2007-2008 year, I know of two students that attended conferences, who, as a result of going, got into the program they decided to go to.

Thegradcafe.com is a place where students can post when they heard back from schools. As such, you can see when different schools traditionally get back to their students and how. Find the results for accounting here. Feel free to post your results here so that future students can benefit.

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