If you want to get a PhD in a business-related subject or in a program offered through a business school, you’ll probably have to take the GMAT (not the GRE). Here are a few programs and their GMAT average GMAT score:
University of California, Los Angeles: 712
Purdue University: 674
University of Michigan: 732
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill: 732
Keep in mind that most PhD programs require at least a 650 on the GMAT.
Some of the usual GMAT advice we give to MBA students applies to you. However, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind:
1. There are no rounds for PhD programs.
While MBA program admissions usually take place over several months and three to four rounds, most PhD programs have one admission deadline in the fall (Oct. – Dec.). So basically, if you miss the deadline, you have to wait a year, not a few months. This fact makes proper planning and scheduling for the GMAT even more important. Plan to start your preparation for the GMAT in the early summer so you’ll have at least 2 opportunities to take the GMAT before the deadline.
2. Start your application BEFORE you take the GMAT.
Although there are usually fewer essays required for a PhD program than for an MBA, the application can be much more intense. Your personal statement will be highly scrutinized, your academic/professional CV must be perfect, and a department visit is a must. You can skip some steps if you’re applying to 5 or more MBA programs (or submit very similar versions of your documentation), but not if you’re applying to a PhD program.
3. Request recommendations early.
Since at least 1 recommendation must be from a former professor, you should ask for these early (preferably early August). Unlike a typical corporate recommender who is available year-round, academic recommenders usually follow the academic calendar: they may be unavailable during the summer or extremely busy around the end of August or the beginning of September when the new school year starts. If you ask for a recommendation then, your request will end up in a flooded email inbox.
Make the process easy for them and yourself by contacting them in May to discuss the recommendation and their schedules for providing it. If you wait until October, you’re unlikely to get it within a month. Academic recommenders are also unlikely to allow you to write your own recommendation for them to submit (the typical corporate boss “trick” for quick recommendations).
4. The department should know you before the application.
While MBA applications are reviewed by admissions personnel, PhD applications are reviewed by a panel of professors and administrative staff within the business school. Since PhD applicants have research and/or teaching responsibilities, your application will be evaluated through the other lenses. First, what research contracts/grants/funding are available for incoming PhD students. Second, which professors need research/teaching assistants. Thus, your research interests and academic profile must match up with what professors are interested in AND what research they have funds to sponsor.
It is essential that you research the department and each professor carefully to clearly show that you match an area of interest of a professor. You can start this process with online research but you MUST do a department (not just campus) visit and start a dialogue with different professors. Meet with professors, discuss their interests, do more listening than speaking, sell yourself a little, and make a great (professional) first impression.
Once you’ve started this dialogue with 2 or 3 professors, be sure to email them every other month about something so you can keep the conversation going. Professors and administrative staff reviewing your application should be familiar with your profile before they see your application and GMAT score.
5. The GMAT is a minor part of your PhD application.
If you’ve followed our advice from point #4, you’re on your way to getting admitted to the PhD program of your choice. Professors should get to know you and your profile BEFORE they see your application. This process has nothing to do with your GMAT score. If you made a good impression, the department may consider you a good fit for its program. Therefore, the GMAT really becomes a minor part of your application.
So what are the more important parts? Undergraduate and Masters grade point average (GPA) and proven research. Your GPA should be 3.5 or greater. Every PhD program has GPA requirements. From the department’s perspective, if you couldn’t meet them at an undergraduate or Master’s level, you won’t be able to at the PhD level.
Besides, you’re supposed to be a scholar so your academic work and GPA should reflect that. In addition, you should have some proven research, such as a published thesis, second investigator credit, or a few media articles. You need anything that demonstrates your ability to write and convince others to read your work. Don’t underestimate this important part of being a PhD.
Have an impressive GPA, strong recommendations, and proven research? Then, PhD programs will “work with you” (read: ignore a GMAT score below their average).
We can help!
We can help you navigate the business school PhD process and improve your GMAT score. Email us at eden@apply-me.com or Whatsapp us. We offer private tutoring with American tutors that will boost your score!
