在这里发这个帖子内容可能有点advanced,因为感觉版上大部分人对PhD,research其实了解得很少,也没有真正做过research。phd is a very serious decision. 需要考虑的因素很多,最重要的是对research的passion. 所以在这件事之前,最好知道自己的passion在哪里,越具体越好,不是简单的我对金融感兴趣,我对战略感兴趣,如果做过研究,就会知道研究的问题领域是非常specific的,知道自己的research interest,就知道要盯住哪些scholars,而不是schools, faculty可能在不同学校流动,但是在你感兴趣的领域最好的scholars就是那若干人。能够早弄清楚这一点,对program的选择,学业的顺利完成,以后的research career都是非常有益的。
if one can get into a top program, it wouldn't be that much of a concern of finding THE professor at the very first beginning. with the depth and breadth of their faculty, it won't be a problem. for small programs, i'd agree with lz. applicants must pay close attention to their faculty's interests to make sure there is someone that matches. phd is a tough undertaking. if one is not interested in academia after graduation, phd is not the way to go. it simply baffles me why people with a goal of working in the industry would opt for a phd program in business school while mba or other specialized programs would do just as good, if not better.