Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CarolinaTHeels]

[PRagic]

The HUFs business jobs are the only ones I've ever seen offering 'full professor' status to non-Ph.D. holders. Even then, I'm not sure that that would necessarily include tenure, just that title.

If you really want to make a go of it in academia long term, especially if you're interested in tenure, the Ph.D. is the way to go.

In a way, I wish I had done a Ph.D. in business, (International )Organizational Behaviour to be more specific; interesting stuff to study and teach, and that degree would have been 'easier' than the one I ended up getting, not to mention pretty damn marketable.

For the most part, the MBA is not a terminal degree and won't get you tenure, or even a long-term position at a decent business school. You also won't be trained to do research and publish, which are necessary to get tenure in the first place.

[Swampfox10mm]

PR, I think you have found a reason to pile yourself higher and deeper once again!

[PRagic]

It's what I do. But, hey, they asked, I answered. If you don't want the news, don't order the paper.

[CarolinaTHeels]

PR,

I would like to try and do a Phd program in International Business after teaching in Korea for a few years. What are some of the things I could do to position myself to get admitted or become a better candidate a program?

[PRagic]

Do you have an undergrad in business or economics? That would be a good start. If not, you'll have a bit of ground to catch up on just in order to knock out an MBA. A lot of people transition to an MBA from non-related undergrad majors (e.g. statistics, biology, chemistry, engineering, etc...), though, so that's not insurmountable.

You'll need to take your GMAT if you want to study in the U.S., even if you get your MBA elsewhere. I'd say study up on the exam; don't take it cold.

It's also helpful to decide before entering an MBA program if you do indeed want to do your Ph.D. (or DBA). The reason I say this is that a lot of schools will let you apply for the doctoral program from the get-go, with the understanding that you'll be doing your MBA in conjunction with your doctorate.

This is helpful for two reasons: 1) it saves you the hastle of having to apply separately for admission to a doctoral program, and 2) it puts in you in line for funding faster.

Next, try to decide on what specialization you want as early as possible (e.g. finance, marketing, organizational behaviour, accounting...). That way, you can get going on your research incrementally, at least the theory and background, as you knock out your MBA. Most people drop out of Ph.D. programs because of lit review, dissertation proposal, data hastle, and actually having to write a couple hundred pages or so.

While more than a semester of stats isn't required in most MBA programs, it's a good idea to take a minimum of 2 years of stats classes on your way to getting a Ph.D. in business or economics. Knock them out as you go along.

Also, have a budget in mind. A lot of business programs don't fund MBAs, and funding for Ph.D./DBA programs can be hit and miss. If you're applying directly into a joint Master's/Ph.D. program, definitely ask what the funding situation is like when you contact schools.

You say that you want to work in Korea for a few years before you get back into school. Do that if you have to, but if possible, my suggestion is always to get the degree underway (and out of the way) as soon as possible.

Choosing a university: If you can get in and can afford it, the bigger the name, the better. However, don't discount big names in state school systems (UNC, USC, SUNY, UC). You get a decent network through any of these and they can be considerably less expensive.

That's off the top of my head. One important last point to remember is that the Ph.D. is just the beginning, and that shocks the hell out of a lot of people who envision the degree being a golden ticket. Remember that after you finish, everyone where you work, if you find work right off, will more than likely have the same degree level.

Cheers, P.R.