Admissions
Qualifications
We are looking for highly qualified students with clear career objectives to join our PhD programs. Our faculty selects students based on outstanding intellectual ability and a strong commitment to a career in research.
Related work experience is not required, and neither is a previous master’s degree. All applicants who have a bachelor’s or comparable academic degree will be considered for admission. We are often asked if having a master’s degree will shorten the PhD program, and the answer is not necessarily. A master's degree is not a required first step in pursuit of a PhD degree—the PhD is not master's work at a higher level. Master's and PhD course requirements are quite distinct.
The following criteria are evaluated as we strive to get a clear picture of each applicant’s strengths:
- The student's performance on standardized tests. GMAT scores of current students average in the upper 600s.
- The strength of the recommendation letters. We require recommendations from at least three people best qualified to judge an applicant's academic potential.
- The academic record at the applicant's undergraduate/graduate institution.
- The applicant’s research agenda and how it will mesh with the general research interests of the Kelley School faculty.
