Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Unofficial FAQs About Admissions to the Pitt Katz PhD (By M. Zia Hydari, PhD)


Purpose: This document is meant to answer frequently asked questions about admissions to the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business (Pitt Katz GSB) PhD program.  I decided to write this document to avoid writing individual emails to answer essentially similar questions from applicants.

Disclaimer: These FAQs are my opinions and may not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Pitt Katz GSB or the University of Pittsburgh or any employees thereof.  The official FAQs are at http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/phd/faq.php and you MUST READ them.  In addition, you should read the information brochures for Pitt Katz GSB PhD areas of study. Also, you should talk to other business professors and get multiple opinions. While I will give you my honest opinions in this FAQ, these opinions are based on my limited experience and may not necessarily be true in all contexts. 

Before You Send Me an Email: If you have read my FAQ, the official Pitt Katz FAQ, and seriously browsed the Pitt Katz website and your question is truly unique, you may send me an email.  However, if your question is already answered in the following FAQ or the Pitt Katz FAQ or the Pitt Katz website, I will not respond to your email.  While this may sound tough, please realize that I have a full-time job and I cannot handle the volume of emails especially if an email asks me about something (e.g. financial aid) which can be found in less than a minute at the Pitt Katz website.



Frequently Asked Questions About PhD Admissions



Is a business PhD for me?  What is the goal of the Pitt Katz GSB PhD program?

The goal of Pitt Katz GSB PhD program is to prepare students for an academic career at a research university[1].    Pitt Katz GSB aims to place its graduates into research business schools as faculty members.  The role of the faculty at research universities is (primarily) producing research and (secondarily) teaching (please look at Pitt Katz placements at http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/phd/placements/index.php)

While PhD students may place into the industry after graduation, this change in direction is only after discovering that an academic career is not for them. If your goal is to go to industry at the outset,  a business PhD is not likely to be a good use of the next 4--6 years of your life (the usual time to complete a PhD is 4--6 years).


Can you please admit me? {this is usually not stated so bluntly but the undertones are there}

Sorry, I do not have power to admit you.  First, admissions are based on merit so it is your record of academic achievements and fit with Pitt Katz that will admit you (not me).  Second, admissions are offered by consensus of the faculty so I alone cannot admit anyone. And even so, the senior faculty---full professors---have more power than assistant professors. The full professors may delegate some of their power but if they veto any case, it is unlikely that the applicant will be admitted.

I want to apply to a PhD / MS program.  Can you help me start my application?

Unfortunately, I do not have time to help individuals get started.  Most of the basic information is freely available on the internet.  After doing all the legwork yourself, if you have unique questions that have not been answered elsewhere, you may contact me.  While I do not guarantee a reply even if your question is truly unique, I will try my level best to help.

Is the Pitt Katz GSB PhD program similar to an extended MBA?  

While business school faculty teach MBA students, the Pitt Katz GSB PhD is not like an extended MBA.  The MBA is not required for admissions to the Pitt Katz GSB PhD program. Many PhD students have not earned an MBA before starting the PhD program (although a majority of students at Pitt Katz have earned a Master's degree before starting the PhD).  PhD programs may require students to take a few MBA classes just to get a sense of the MBA class environment, which will later help in teaching MBAs.

A business PhD is a social science research degree.  A business PhD program trains students to produce rigorous and relevant business research.  To achieve rigor, most PhD students at top US business schools choose a social science reference discipline (e.g. Economics, Organizational Behavior, or Sociology)  and undergo advanced graduate training in these disciplines.  In addition, they usually (also) choose to get advanced training in mathematics, statistics, and empirical methods (see Pitt Katz PhD requirements).   An academic business researcher uses advanced social sciences methods to answer new questions that have relevance to businesses.  Finally, business PhDs aim to publish in top business journals (e.g. some of the journals listed on http://on.ft.com/zeEInD).


I have an undergraduate degree in Engineering with little background in Economics.  Will I be able to succeed with Economics as a reference discipline? Will I be able to convince the admissions committee that I am ready to take doctoral level Economics classes?


The short answer is: yes, absolutely.  To succeed in doctoral-level Economics training you need to be highly analytical and mathematically sophisticated.  You do not necessarily need an undergraduate degree in Economics.  Most engineering, computer science, mathematics, hard sciences (e.g. physics) undergraduate programs provide sufficient mathematical training to succeed at doctoral-level Economics training.

As to the use of economics as a reference discipline, an early reference (circa 1991) by prominent Pitt Katz faculty member, Prof Chris Kemerer (and co-author), is available here: Economic Theory in IT Research


What does choosing Economics as a reference discipline entail?

As a beginning PhD student, declaring Economics as a reference discipline means that you would be required to take doctoral-level Microeconomics and Econometrics courses.  You may also need to take sections of the Economics qualifiers (e.g. CMU Tepper requires taking the Microeconomics qualifier; see the complete CMU Tepper requirement here). 

If I were your advisor, I would recommend you to take Econ 2001, Econ 2010, Econ 2020, Econ 2100, Econ 2120, and Econ 2150 from http://www.econ.pitt.edu/graduate/phd-program/first-year.  To get a sense, you should browse through the posted syllabuses for these courses.  Also browse through the following books: 

  1. Microeconomics Theory by Mas-Collel et al (esp the first 6 chapters),
  2. Microeconomics Analysis by Hal Varian), 
  3. Game Theory by Fudenberg and Tirole, 
  4. Game Theory by Gibbons, and
  5. Econometrics of Cross Section and Panel Data (Wooldridge).  

These economics courses require a lot of hard work but if you persevere, the pay off would be better research quality later on.


Is it necessary to do well in PhD courses?

The short answer is: yes. The PhD courses are meant to prepare you for social science research and also provide a signal of your quality to the faculty. However, if you are already a "productive researcher", which is rare, then coursework become secondary although you still need to maintain a high GPA (currently 3.3+). By productive researcher I mean someone whose work has potential to get published in top-ranked business journals; you will not be considered a productive researcher if you have written lots of low-impact papers that no one in the business academic community cares about.

Is the Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM) program similar to Computer Science (CS) or Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) PhD?

The ISTM program is similar to the CS or ECE PhD program in its rigour and its goals of producing academic research; however, the ISTM is different from the CS or ECE program in the questions it seeks to answer and the methods it employs.  The best way to get a sense of the ISTM PhD program would be to look at the publications of the ISTM faculty (http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/phd/academics/information-systems.php).  Information brochures for all areas are available here.

In general, the Information Systems faculty at top US business schools aim to publish most of their research at the following journals: Management Science, Information Systems Research, and MIS Quarterly.  Some of the other journals listed at http://on.ft.com/zeEInD (e.g. Marketing Science, Organization Science) are also highly sought after outlets.


Who is an ideal candidate for the Pitt Katz PhD program?

The ideal candidate for the Pitt Katz PhD program is one who has potential to:
 (i) ask new, interesting, and relevant business questions,
(ii) use rigorous methods to answer these questions, and
(iii) communicate well to successfully disseminate the new findings

In addition, the candidate’s interests must intersect with one of the faculty members at Pitt Katz.  This fit issue is very important as business PhD students work very closely with faculty members and it is not appropriate for us to admit someone who cannot be supervised by any faculty member here (no matter how brilliant you are).

To judge the potential of applicants, we use the applicant’s past academic record (undergraduate, graduate), GMAT scores, letters of recommendations, other academic achievements, relevant work experience, and research statement.  To reiterate some what, the desirable qualities in a PhD candidate are:
  • Clear signals of raw talent (good academic record, high GMAT scores)
  • Advanced mathematical training (advanced calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, ...) at the level of good Engineering undergraduate programs
  • Excellent communication---both spoken / written
  • Work experience although internships can count; also, work experience requirement can be relaxed for exceptional candidates
  • Fit with Pitt Katz GSB faculty members



Does the Pitt Katz PhD program provide financial aid?

Yes, please see http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/phd/admissions/financial-aid.php


As a Pitt Katz student, can I take classes at the Carnegie Mellon University?

What undergraduate or graduate degrees are good preparation for the Pitt Katz ISTM PhD program?

In general, all business PhD program seek candidates who have potential to ask good questions in their chosen fields and use rigorous methods.  The candidates should also be able to write well (to publish in journals) and speak well (for conferences, research talks, and teaching).  Any undergraduate major that provides rigorous training in quantitative and analytical methods can be a good background.

Specifically for Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM), students with engineering and computer science backgrounds have tended to do well.  However, an engineering or CS degree is not necessary and anyone with an interest in high technology, training in advanced quantitative and analytical methods (at the level of good engineering degrees), and ability to communicate well has the potential to be successful.


I did not do very well in my previous university degree but I am very bright and hardworking; do I have a chance?

Admission to the Pitt Katz PhD program is very competitive.  We have very few admission slots and a large pool of applicants.  If you did not do well in your most recent university program, your likelihood of getting into the Pitt Katz PhD is very limited.
  
In case you feel your record does not reflect your true potential, it would be best for you to pursue a rigorous MS/MA/MBA, perform well, and apply to the PhD program in a few years. While we do not doubt your potential, we need objective measures to justify your admission.

The only other way to overcome a weak academic record would be to publish a paper in a well-regarded international business journal (or conference) and get an internationally known researcher vouch for your research potential in a recommendation letter.


What is the average GMAT score of admitted PhD students?  

The official FAQ at http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/phd/faq.php says (as of June 2015)  that "the average GMAT score of admitted students each year is between 720 and 730."

My recommendation is to aim for an overall score of 700+ with a percentile score above 90 in all sections of the test.


I do not agree that GMAT is a good indication of my or anyone’s research abilities.

While I sympathize with your views, a high score in GMAT is necessary to get into the program.  Given that a large number of candidates apply to PhD programs, GMAT scores are used as an initial filter.  The GMAT score provide the only standardized measure to compare candidates from different universities / different countries (also GMAT/GRE scores calibrate students across different areas within Pitt Katz).  Even if you were demonstrably brilliant otherwise---exceptional academics, international honors and awards---a score below 650 may disqualify you from the application process.

The current GMAT average for Pitt Katz admitted students is ~ 730.  If you have a good profile otherwise, a GMAT score of 700 may be sufficient too. For you to get admitted with a low GMAT score, say 650, other things in your profile should be exceptional (e.g. top student from a highly competitive university, main contributor for a publication in a reputable academic journal).    


Can work experience compensate for weak academics?  If not, why do you say that you prefer candidates with work experience.

Work experience cannot compensate for weak academics.  These two requirements are separately important.  Work experience will increase your maturity, initiative, and ability to ask good relevant business questions.  However, work experience will (generally) not fill gaps in your mathematical training, which will be essential to develop expertise in advanced research methods in a reasonable amount of time.

PhD programs waive the work experience requirement for candidates with exceptional academics but not vice versa.


Can teaching experience compensate for weak academics?

Teaching experience cannot compensate for weak academics.  Everything else being equal, teaching experience will give you an edge over other candidates---it demonstrates that you are serious about an academic career and it also prepares you for teaching in future.  However, you must realize that the primary responsibility of a PhD student is doing research.  So, the most important thing for admissions is your research potential and weak academics signal weak research potential.

Many, if not most, entering PhD students have little or no teaching experience---they may have been graders or teaching assistants but have never taught a class in a university.


I am the CEO or founder of a startup / non-profit / university extra-curricular group etc.  Does that make me an exceptional candidate?

To be successful in a PhD program, you will be required to write research essays that can potentially be published in good academic journals (e.g. some of the journals on this list: http://on.ft.com/zeEInD).  If your startup or non-profit organization has inspired unique business questions and has given you access to unique real-world data, you might become an attractive candidate.  This attractiveness as a candidate comes from the potential to convert unique questions and data into research publications (not because you are good in extra-curricular activities).

While leadership and initiative required to become a founder of a non-profit may give you an edge over equally-qualified candidates, these activities cannot compensate for serious deficiencies in academics and test scores etc.  


What is your relationship to the CMU Heinz PhD program and the CMU Tepper PhD program?

No official relationship.  I am a CMU Tepper PhD alum and work(ed) as a research scientist at CMU Heinz (during the academic year 2015-2016).  I have quite close links with the faculty at both CMU Tepper and CMU Heinz; a student who joins their PhD programs ultimately adds to the research community in the Pittsburgh area.  

Many at CMU and Pitt have close research collaboration; moreover, there are university-level mechanisms for collaboration e.g. see CMU, PITT, UPMC FORM ALLIANCE TO TRANSFORM HEALTH CARE THROUGH BIG DATA.  The CMU and Pitt communities benefit from research seminars at both universities: see Pittsburgh Social Science Seminar Tracker.  For a PhD student, the proximity of these two research universities provides a very attractive environment---both for direct professional growth as well as building a social network within the academic community.    [side note: CMU and Pitt are physically very close---door-to-door, my current office in CMU Heinz will be less than a 15 minutes walk from my future office in Pitt Katz].


Where can I find more information about the CMU Tepper PhD program or CMU Heinz PhD program.

Please look here for Tepper and look here for Heinz.  The CMU Tepper Business Technologies PhD requirements are available here.

References

Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science by Professor Mor Harchol-Balter (http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf)
[although this article in about CS PhD programs, many of the issues apply to business PhD programs (or in general to any PhD program)---Zia Hydari]

[1] University of Pittsburgh is classified as “RU/VH: Research Universities (very high research activity)” in The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education™ (http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup_listings/view_institution.php?unit_id=215293, accessed on 8th June, 2015).  Read Classify with Care (and other articles on the web about Carnegie Classification) to get a sense of how universities are classified in the USA.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Professor Zia,

    I would like to thank you for the FAQ. It helped me a lot and it was kind of fun to read it. Even for me, who will apply for a Marketing PhD. This kind of material is more personal than the official FAQs and for someone who had already scrutinized the whole PhD website it seems more like a chat than institutional information.

    Again, thank you so much.
    Best,
    Martha Domingues
    domingues.martha@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Martha, thank you for your comments. I am glad that you found the unofficial FAQs helpful.

      Delete
  2. It is very helpful Professor Zia and covers many important aspects not mentioned in the general FAQs. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete