Hi,

I am a post graduate from India and I am applying for PhD programs. Given below is my profile.

Program Applied To: Ph.D. (Economics and Public Policy)
Schools Applying To: Princeton, CMU, Stanford GSB, Wharton Business School, Univeristy of Chicago, Cornell University

Undergraduate institution: Indian University
Undergraduate GPA: 72/100
Undergraduate Majors: Commerce, Accounting

Business School: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
GPA: 2.59/4.33

GRE Quantitative Score: 169 GRE Verbal Score: 167 GRE AW Score: 4.5
TOEFL Score: 109 (30 - Reading, 30 - Listening, 24 - Speaking, 25 - Writing)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 7
Years of Work Experience: 4
Describe Work Experience: Did internship at American Express during business school. Post-Business School worked with Ernst & Young for 2 year in their investment banking division. Started my own education services company training students for campus recruitment for over 2 years now.

SOP: I have expressed my passion for education and areas of rural economics. Have spoken about how my experience has given me better insights into these problems and how I would like to work towards resolving these issues

LOR : For most schools 2 professors and 1 from my previous manager at E & Y. Have spoken at length with my professors about my research topics. They are aware of my academic credentials. Hope they highlight those points.

Government Award:
Awarded the Pratibha Scholarship by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for outstanding academic achievement in the year 2000
All India Rank 8 in ICWAI Intermediate Examination, June 2004
All India Rank 2 in ICWAI Foundation Examination, June 2003

Ranks in competitive examinations
Topper in Common Aptitute Test scoring 100 percentile overall and Quantitative Ability section, 2004
All India Rank 24 in The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Professional Education Examination - I , November 2003
All India Rank 29 in Indian Insitute of Technology – Joint Entrance Examination, 2000

Am worried that my lack of relevant work experience will hamper my chances of getting into these universities. Also I do not have any published papers.

Would appreciate your feedback on my chances of getting into these schools.

Hi pendyal, I'm afraid I don't know what your chances are, but I would encourage you to apply regardless - you won't know until you do!

Good luck.